The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-One: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

It amazed me that his walking away from me made me feel giddy.

After what we experienced together the night before, I had expected him to want to either pick up where we left off or to be done with me. I never, in my wildest dreams, expected his declaration that he wanted me for me and wanted us to be mentally prepared to start something deeper before moving forward.

No man I had been with before had ever thought about me on that level.

I felt like I should be annoyed that he left me high and very wet, but I couldn't. He chose me tonight. Not my body and not my power.

Me.

That meant more to me than anything.

I would have let him have his way with me if he had tried to. I would have loved every second of it too, but it wasn't the right step for us tonight. He knew it and respected me enough to stop.

My hand moved up to my lips, pulling the bottom one down slightly as I giggled. The sound was startling as I hadn't made a noise like that in a long time, if ever.

I felt ridiculous chasing after him, but I couldn't help it. The door to my tower flew open, and I rushed down the hallway toward his retreating figure. Tobias froze, turning to face me just as I collided with his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck.

He looked stunned as I smiled widely at him before kissing him with everything I had. His arms wrapped around the small of my waist, and he picked me up off the ground as he kissed me back.

I wanted him to feel it, to show him how much I loved him and appreciated his choice.

This was different than any kiss we had ever shared before. It wasn't a kiss of lust and desire. It was love. I pulled back, still smiling widely as his eyes trailed over my face, reflecting the same happiness. His smile made my heart skip a beat as he set me back down on the ground.

"Soon," I whispered in agreement before stepping back. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked back to my tower, looking over my shoulder to catch one last look. He was standing with his suit jacket unbuttoned and his fingers in the front pockets of his pants, the smile never leaving his face as I closed the door between us.

The following day did not come soon enough. I was eager to see Tobias again, but I still had a job to do.

the sun was up, a knock echoed through my tower, and I rushed to hide away the sample of Rona's blood that

the door was stronger than the others on the council, and I let out a breath of relief that

at me as she looked over my shoulder. " You're up early and clearly up to

knew I was dabbling in a bit

her back in a loose braid. I jogged forward to catch up with her, closing the door behind

bothered me, Joselin." The

imagine what Holden would have said. After Tobias threatened to kill Holden for touching me, I immediately had my guard up, ready to defend my man

she cleared her throat and reached out to let her hand run along the tops of

of darkness and shadows, but Holden informed me that is how you travel all the time." We slowed to a lazy stroll the further we

mine ahead, almost nervous about having such a powerful witch examining my abilities. Still, I had already

easy, while mine was dark and

like she would a daughter or a niece.

job as the royal advisor and was very close to the previous queen, Lillian. When Queen Lillian turned on us, Talia

she found someone she felt

had been one

to his royal advisor, Talia. At first, she didn't know what to do with

ascended as the new king and chose me

expected she

taught me most

rest of it I had learned in books and from other witches when we crossed paths during

is very unfortunate. She loved to

turned to me, stopping us from moving forward as she reached for my arm. I jerked away. There were very few people I allowed to touch me, and witches were not on

learned that they always had

vials of blood I had in my safe were evidence

blankly for a few seconds. This was one of the reasons I had wanted to seek her out upon her return, but who knew what would happen when

faded. It was different. Traveling into this realm was softer than the way it flickered with static when I

had been bright, and the air felt thinner. I couldn't see anything in the empty white