The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty-Five: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

Aurora stayed for a while before doing her part and exiting, replenished, and stronger than before. She smiled widely as she spoke into a phone, laughing loudly and assuring Natalie that she would be home soon as she left the Sanctum.

Of course, it was all for show. I doubted Natalie was even on the phone. As soon as Aurora was outside, she teleported back to the castle in case Cora was watching her location, and we all sat in wait.

The longer it took for Cora to show up, the more nervous I became. I couldn't afford to have taken so many resources away from those who needed protection in the castle and be wrong. This had to be what she was searching for, a place of unbridled power.

If Cora could harness the power of the Sanctum, she would be unstoppable.

’Joselin,' Tobias said through our mate link, and I felt my back stiffen at the sound of my full first name. No, Josie, no, sweetheart. It wasn't a good sign. 'Don't take any unnecessary risks. I need to know that you will put yourself first when she shows up. I need to know that you will make it out of here in one piece. I know how strong you are, but just humor me, okay?'

His arms around my waist tightened, and his thumbs rubbed circles into my stomach. I glanced down. Could he know? Is this his way of telling me before I had the chance to test and find out for myself?

I looked up, not wanting to spend more time considering it until after this fight. I had told myself that same thing hundreds of times, yet it still kept coming to the front of my mind.

'This is my job. I'm responsible for the council, and I am responsible for handling magical entities who pose a threat to the crown. I can't promise to come out unscathed, but I can promise to do my best, so we can go home together.'

He wasn't satisfied with my answer. He didn’t like it at all.

'I would let the world burn down around us and everyone in it before I lose my family.' His firm tone left no room for argument, but I was distracted by his word choice.

There it was again, that subtle hint. Family. As in more than one person. He wasn't just concerned about his mate. He was worried about losing a member of his family.

It could be that he was referring to Killian and Natalie, but the feeling in my gut told me that was not the case.

'I can't do this right now, Tobias.' I felt water line my eyes, not just from the emotion pouring from him and the fear of what I was risking for the crown, but from anger. I was in a pure rage that Cora had put me in this situation. It wasn't like I could just walk away and let one of my rogue council members continue to commit genocide.

I was in charge of her and should have figured out she was up to no good sooner.

kiss to my lips. It was the kind of kiss that made me dream about forever while

snaked up to his neck, and as he pushed me back to rest his forehead against

my emotions, letting the anger fuel me. I

hang out her entrails to

demand for more information had been frequent over the past few hours since Aurora had left, and Tobias shook his head. It was time

has been no

Cora was either still sleeping or hiding in her home. Either way, it was a good

my head as I crouched back into hiding. I knew he would have also informed the

stopped.

around me as my anger fueled my emotions. I could feel Cora's excitement as she drew near, moving through the cave entrance that led to the ambush we had

younger than before, the thick grey streak in her hair had almost vanished, and I narrowed my eyes, no longer doubting if she had taken Rona's magic and life force. She

like she had just won the battle she didn't

planned sound of a rock hitting the wall across the cavern had Cora tensing. Her back was to me as her hands lifted,

Tobias in hiding. I couldn't show all of my cards up front. This would be a duel of magic; the Lycans showing themselves before needed would only put them at risk. As terrifying as they could be in

stepped back inside

her, masking her surprise and hopefully forgetting about the noise she heard

Aurora asked, and I pulled the needle

"Are you really so ignorant when you come from the blood of the Goddess? The males of our kind abused their powers. They were stronger than us women and used it to their advantage. Why do you think the first council was all men? They thought they could

either. I'm doing my job! I'm

roll my eyes.

make. How many Cora? How many innocents have you killed?" Aurora asked, and as I slipped out the second needle, I listened for the

not

hand, the air pushing it faster than any creature could possibly throw without magic driving it forward. As soon as it left my fingers, I teleported through the vast, white emptiness and appeared behind her. She raised her hand, knocking away the flying syringe from her side with ease as

her stopped my attack only inches from her person, and I gasped as a jolt of electricity and agony ripped up my arm as the object in my hand began to melt. I released it quickly, shoving my energy toward her and sending her flying into

items before, but never on a moving person. It made me angry

herself back to her feet. "Tsk, tsk. I wasted years eliminating those cockroaches the hard way when I could have been taking their power. Now, I know better. I have the power of four

my power, I held

when I was only eleven. I was