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.

said, urging her again 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

I couldn't help myself as I 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 table, but she

wanted to make her happy, her well-being also came first. I was

go. I was on to something!" Joselin shouted, her body twisting to break out of

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 her legs, keeping her in place

fabric slid across her smooth skin, and her breath fanned my face

tonight," She whispered, and while I had no intentions of having sex tonight, the way the name 'baby1 rolled off her tongue sent a

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

"What's going through that pretty

to look away from me. I wiped the cloth over her collarbone once more before letting it fall on the

my thumb moved up from her chin to run along her plump bottom lip. It

as if dazed from my kiss. Goddess,

me with her cheek on my chest. “I'm just exhausted. We should leave when this is over and go on a

my lips to her head as I spoke into her hair. "I had been thinking

something about it drew me in more than usual, making me want to wrap myself around her and never let her go. After a few more deep breaths, I turned

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

would go

down at her. She had been slowly blocking me in our mate bond over the past few days,

an hour 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

but I still wasn't a big fan of that when

me out?" I felt sick with

drop over her face that he had shut me out. Joselin shook her head before quickly apologizing as the wall

a sigh, looking terrified and

confidence in us was strong, and I was sure we could make it through anything, but seeing how she looked at me right then made my heart

I could see on her face that it