The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty-One: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

Tobias held me tightly that night, and what was supposed to be an hour- long power nap ended up being a full night's sleep. I had a moment of panic when I realized how much time I had lost. We were lucky that nothing had happened with Cora while we were asleep, and I couldn't risk wasting any more time.

Yet, the way Tobias's breath fanned over my neck and he nuzzled against me, felt so good that it almost hurt me to pull away from him when I woke.

As soon as I did, Tobias was up and on high alert. He scanned the room before his gaze landed on me, and I felt guilty that he was so on edge. I knew it wasn't just because of Cora. He was concerned about our relationship too.

His dark hair was in disarray, and his beautiful brown eyes could have melted my soul if he wanted them to.

’Good Morning," I whispered before approaching him and kissing his cheek, hoping he wouldn't smell my morning breath.

Any concern I had about that was washed away when he wrapped his arms around me and kissed his mark on my neck. It sent a shiver through me, and when he pulled back, I could see the warmth and happiness in his eyes.

He looked like a completely different man than last night.

'You look beautiful.” His deep voice washed over me, and my cheeks flushed at his compliment. I knew it was a lie. I had just rolled out of bed. My hair and teeth hadn't been brushed, and I knew with my luck that I would probably have dried drool on my chin.

‘Thank you," My hands traveled up his biceps, and never in my life had I been happier that he preferred to sleep naked. It was, by far, one of the best sights a woman could wake up to. "You look incredible."

'Last night was one of the best night's sleep I have had in a long time," Tobias murmured as he stepped back, pulling me with him to the bathroom. He looked happy. He sounded happy.

The sudden switch in his demeanor from last night, when he was concerned about our relationship, to now was startling. Something had changed, but I wasn't sure what it was.

'Shower with me.” His insistence made my mouth water, and everything in me screamed to agree. I needed to shower anyway, but I could only ignore Cora for so long before she acted out again. Tobias noticed my hesitation as I glanced back to the table where the list of locations sat. He turned my chin to face him. 'Please, it can be fast."

The day I said no to showering with him was when I had lost my mind, especially when he said please, like he would be willing to beg for that small moment with me.

pull me into the bathroom. He stripped my shirt off first, his

against the shower wall

me with a kiss, telling me to use the restroom before leaving the room. I was stunned and would have been

care of my business, washed my hands, and brushed my hair and teeth, I found Tobias standing over the list of Cora's known locations. Only it wasn't the same list as before. A fresh sheet of paper was on top with

the world, and I had guards tracking her movements. The list they had given me was shorter than the one before, and I knew she was slowing down. Her

at the bigger map later to see if there was something in each location I had been

top of my head and going back into the

and I was being pulled from the list once

I had expected it, craved

more than once, making sure to be thorough with slow and loving touches and strokes. Once satisfied, he took the

undivided attention on me and having him show me how

ready to take on the day and anything that could be thrown my

saw Cyrus moving stiffly toward us through the hallway. He looked sore and in pain. The color hadn't returned to his face, and his eyes were just as bloodshot as they had been

two men that I was keeping important

suspicion that I was withholding from Tobias could wait. I had a reason to keep that

Cora using the blood I had stolen from him, and she had then stolen from me... it felt

or attack me for

had caused. I looked back over my shoulder at Tobias before glancing back at Cyrus. "I was told you've been tracking her, and she's up to something. Maybe I can help figure out

The annoyingly chipper way he usually spoke was gone, and the wrinkles around his eyes

at him, I might

we can go to Killian's office and work there." My stomach growled, and Tobias touched my lower back, gently guiding me toward the private dining hall. I was in no mood to eat with the rest

but one low growl from Tobias had him

saw the group of people already eating. Killian sat at the head of the table with Natalie to his left. Aurora and Henry were on his right, with Aisha and Margot on

were still several open seats, and I moved forward to sit next to

before taking an elbow to the gut from Margot. Those two women couldn't get along

was a wonder that they always sat and stood by each other. Like siblings who were stuck together and loved to annoy each other and fight, but