The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Two: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

Of all the inconceivable requests Aurora could have made, this one was the most irksome.I had more important things to do than trampling through the forest, looking for some creature she wanted to collect, like prized cattle.

'Find him.Convince him to come here"

Her vague instructions then included no more than to tell me I had to do this without using magic and I had to go alone.

I had yet to determine if I would be capturing a human, a troll, or a dragon.

All I knew was that she was wasting my time, trying to get me to prove myself to her before she would accept the offer to be my pledge.It was infuriating...and fun.

I loved a good challenge, and whatever game Aurora was playing, I wanted to win.It was almost a sickness, the need to excel at everything and prove myself as the best.

What frustrated me the most was the time it would take.

The thought that this was a trap to get me away from the castle while the threat closed in on my people, my family, was brief.

Aurora was a descendant of the Moon Goddess, and I had faith in Her.I had to trust that she wouldn't and hadn't turned her back on the Goddess or her daughter.So, I had to weigh my options.

Do I risk another getting a permanent spot on the council by staying to protect my people, or do I inform the others of the threat and have them look out for it while I am gone? It wouldn't be such a hard decision if I knew how long I would be gone.I would go, in a heartbeat, to keep the council trustworthy if it was only a few days.But I had no idea what was in store for me or how long I would be away.I was sulking and lost in thought as I stormed toward the dining hall.

If I was going to make a rational decision, I needed food.Aurora was already sitting at the head table with Henry and Holden.

Holden looked amused and slightly disgusted, sitting next to the mushy couple as Henry kissed Aurora's knuckles before whispering something in her ear that made her cheeks turn the darkest shade of red I had ever seen.

My usual seat to Natalie's left was still open, but her chair remained empty.She had probably taken lunch in Killian's study as they preferred.

Holden sat to my left, and he smiled brightly when he saw me approaching.I felt eyes burning into the side of my head.

The way my body lit up to alert me of his presence told me exactly who it was.His brown eyes bore into mine from where he sat at the long stretch of the table, and butterflies filled my stomach when I saw him glance from me to Holden.He was still jealous, that foolish man.He should know by now that I was his and had been for years.

I glanced back to Holden, trying not to flinch when I saw how his mouth turned down, and he nodded in acceptance.I would have to make time for him as a friend, but this choice was more important to my future than anything.My feet carried me forward, and I watched as the corner of Tobias's mouth twitched as he tried to hide his smile.

I took the seat next to Tobias.His hand landed on my thigh, and he squeezed it once, but I could

result

together by the chef and served to us while the rest of the pack ate buffet style.It was so we could reduce the risk

no problem making his plate, and I wrinkled my nose at the large amount of green beans he

turned to face him, wanting to tell him everything about this morning but unable

listening in, trying to find something to gossip about as if my choice of

felt nervous for the first time in a long while and

white teeth at me before leaning

hand that was not on my thigh picked up his sandwich, and he began to eat, rubbing his other thumb along the outside of

pressed my

to enjoy public displays of affection, but I did peg him for the guy

not looking in our direction, I felt my chest tighten when I realized Tobias did it because

man could do to me and

you free after lunch? I want to

or whistling.I would have

I stood up, aiming my hand toward the man laughing

the ability to speak freely.You have

lips as he began to scream, his lips sealed shut as I cast a short-lasting curse over him.He would be

you a hundred times over.Show respect, or don't show your face in

have to eat

They chose to.

hall was open to everyone, but no one was

could eat at any one of the inns or restaurants,

them want to come

before they craved the company of other their

began clawing at his face, trying to open his mouth before racing

would go to the healers,

as I sat back down, and Tobias watched me with amusement.I waited for

have been amusing to watch him mime for me to fix him, and I was very disappointed that he didn't.By the time we had finished our meals, Tobias had looked

was shocked when he took me out of the castle and to the familiar house on the outskirts of the town.It looked run down and forgotten, unlike the place I once knew

would occasionally bring me here, only when

would stay