The Blessed And The Beast

Fifty-Two: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

I placed my hands in my back pockets, admiring the view as Natalie and I approached the small pool of water. The normal crystal blue water was murky and dark, showing that someone or something had just been active and disrupted the stillness and peace of the natural hot spring.

It was only a few miles away from the city, but the time it took us to go there was twice as long as normal as we enjoyed a leisurely walk.

My morning had started at lunchtime when Natalie rang the doorbell, something I was tempted to have Tobias uninstall. Even though I would never admit it, her visit to ensure I was okay meant a lot to me. I was right in choosing her as a friend.

It also meant that I had slept the day away, missing my morning meeting with Killian to go over the day’s agenda and the million other things I had to do each day. I was behind on my work already, but now it has impacted others, which bothered me.

Yet, Natalie insisted I take the day off and walk with her. There wasn’t much of the day left, so I agreed. By the time I had gotten out of the shower and dressed, it was into the early afternoon.

Still, she ushered me out of the house with a bagel in my hand, insisting fresh air would do me good.

I sat on the large rocks, slipping my shoes off and dangling my feet into the water below. I knew there were creatures in there, some that would love to drag me into the water to watch me drown, but it didn’t bother me. We had a mutual appreciation for each other, and they kept me alone as long as I threw them some food now and then. Delicasies, like a fresh liver or a heart, if I wanted to spoil them. A whole body if they were starving.

‘Tm surprised you could pull yourself away from your mate for this long.” I smiled at Natalie, wanting her to see I was only joking. She crossed her legs, observing the three-foot-long waterfall across the spring that led from the larger hot spring above. This one was smaller but deeper.

I watched as the water began to settle until I could make out two glowing pale-blue eyes below, watching and waiting.

I looked over my shoulder at the guard filling in for Tobias, making it clear that I was speaking to her before returning to the creature.

I didn’t know or trust the new guard as much as the others and wanted privacy. ’You, fetch a rabbit.” The creature blinked. Its double eyelids closed one at a time, overlapping before showing the glowing blue again. I corrected myself. “Make it a deer, and be fast about it. I want it to still be hot when you return with it.”

smell of her fear as she took off to retrieve the animal for me. It really was

If he didn’t knock me up by now, it wont happen until next month. Plus, I was really worried about you.” Natalie said, leaning back on her palms

muttered, angry that Rona was not

pregnant? You’ve been tired. Your appetite has changed, and the lightheadedness… it makes sense.” Natalie said, trailing off as the creature disappeared.

threat to his queen, but he couldn’t see it. It could only ever be

but now that it was in my

my hand dismissively at the idea, and bit back a smile as George made a noise that sounded like a mix of a choke and a snort. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but when we all paused to look over at him, he had schooled

Natalie insisted as

hands on me countless times, but they couldn’t touch scar tissue and healed

assumptions instead of stating facts. Maybe you should let the doctor run their tests to see what’s happening.” She shrugged,

one will be touching my blood.” All humor was gone from my voice, and I felt a shift in the air

pulled my legs out slowly, crossing them beneath me as I kept a close eye

uneasy as she slid back another few inches until her knees aligned

I justify killing Rona when she

How could a fetus drain my magic? The female guard returned, a deer over her shoulders in a fireman carry. She tossed it

I said to Natalie as I pulled a pocket knife out and sliced

is ‘he’?” She rose to her feet, stepping back as the water

creature broke through the surface as I tossed it into the air and over the water. His head was the shape of a dragon with a long snake-like body. The curious part was that none of it was solid. It was the same color as

the liver in his large mouth, his massive pointed teeth puncturing the organ

I didn’t have to pee, I do now,” George grumbled, his eyes wide in shock before Thomas hit him, and he regained his composure, standing with his back

bent down and pulled out the heart. As I tossed it into the air, the creature shot out again, and George let out a sound of freight before spinning around, not wanting to

down into the water. “How hungry are you, boy?” His eyes blinked at me