The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty: Tobias

Tobias's P.O.V.

She had been hunched over the table for hours, staring at a smaller map covered in pins from the list of locations, trying to find a connection.

Everyone who had been helping had long since gone to bed, deciding it would be safe to take a break for the night and come back with fresh eyes tomorrow.

Joselin didn't.

So we sat together, looking for a pattern or reason for why Cora was visiting all these places. Her motive was hidden in there somewhere. We just had to find it, and the puzzle would drive Joselin mad if she didn't get some sleep.

“Please get some rest," I whispered, taking her hand in mine and pulling on it gently to get her to face me. She glanced my way before turning back to the list of locations.

Joselin still had dark circles under her eyes, and I knew she was running out of energy. My worry for her only increased when I saw her find that hair in Rona's room. She had slipped it into her pocket and went on her way.

After seeing that, I knew Rona wasn't cursing her as we thought. But she still felt like shit, and it was obvious. Her movements were slower, and her appetite was still suppressed.

Her face would flush every now and then, and I could hear her swallow hard when a bought of nausea would hit her. Something was wrong, and I could only support her until she was ready to open up to me about it. With the stress of Cora running free, there was no way she would be honest with me right now if I asked her.

She would probably tell me it was nothing to worry about and go on pretending that she was okay. But she wasn't okay, and I watched her like a hawk.

"There has to be a reason," She muttered, her fingers lacing into her hair as she rested her elbows on the table. "I feel like it is right in front of me, and I just can't see it."

“Even if it is only one hour, let's get some sleep, and we can come back to it with fresh eyes." My insistence went in one ear and right back out the other. She was either intentionally ignoring me or was so lost in thought that she really didn't hear me when I spoke.

The food I had asked to be brought to her tower sat untouched, but she drank the glass of water. It was a small win and a lot of worry.

to look at me, but her hand was limp in my hold. My frustration grew, and I was ready to snap at her because I was worried and wanted to be heard. I wanted to know she was okay, but she didn't deserve me snapping at her. She was clearly burnt out, didn't feel

stood, my chair sliding back loudly before I slid my arms behind her knees and back. Joselin struggled as I carried her away from the

her well-being also came first. I

on to something!" Joselin shouted, her body twisting to break out

woman! We both know you have no idea what the connection is between those locations. Right now, no one does besides Cora. You cannot fight her without being well-rested, so we might as well return to this once you are stronger." I brought her to the bathroom, setting her on the counter with my body between

slowly and carefully. The fabric slid across her smooth skin, and her breath fanned my face as she sighed when I moved it down her neck and

of having sex tonight, the way the name 'baby1 rolled off her tongue sent

I just want to take care of you." Her hands rested on my hips, gripping my shirt as her lips parted as though

going through that pretty little head

her collarbone once more before letting it fall on the counter and

plump bottom lip. It moved with me

as if dazed from my kiss. Goddess, that kind

and gently pulling at my shirt as she stared down at my chest. Her shoulders were hunched forward, and she leaned into me with her cheek on my chest. “I'm just exhausted. We should leave when this is over

her head as I spoke into her hair.

me want to wrap myself around her and never let her go. After a few more deep breaths, I turned to

want to go?" She asked, excitement in her tone as her arms

would go

a long moment before turning her head and kissing my chest. I leaned back to look down at her. She had been slowly blocking me

ago, she had built a wall between us so tall that I couldn't reach her at all. It wasn't just her emotions she cut off. She had silenced me. If I wanted to talk to her, I had to

in private, but I still wasn't a big fan of that when we were

what's going on in your head. Why did you shut me out?" I felt sick with the distance

watched the realization drop over her face that he had shut me out. Joselin shook her head before quickly apologizing as the wall crumbled slowly. "I didn’t mean to do that!

let out a sigh, looking terrified and guilty. So

how she looked at me right then made my heart clench. We could survive anything, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to

needed to tell me, I could see on her face that it would knock