The Blessed And The Beast

Fifty-Five: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

Charlie was the definition of beauty. Everything about her was perfect and symmetrical. Her curls looked immaculate even without products or styling tools out in the woods.

“Are you okay to be here?” Charlie asked lowly, but everyone around would still hear her question. It was the curse of not having a pack link.

But I could talk to Tobias privately, which was good enough for me. He was all I needed.

Most of the pack knew my story. Those who had been there the day I was found heard my story, and word was spread through the pack. But from the horrified looks on their faces when they saw Rona tied to the rock with her skin carved up, I don’t think this is what they had expected.

At least Rona had been knocked out during it. That wasn’t a luxury I had been given, and from the way he was moving and screaming, neither was Cyrus.

“I am fine,” I said as calmly as possible. Because I was. I had come to terms with my past a long time ago, and after facing the alter in the mountains with Tobias, this one didn’t seem so bad…even though there was a body on this one. ‘You saw her? Cora? Did you see her here with your own eyes?”

My head tilted down as I examined the dirt beneath us, seeing the signs of a small struggle in the loose soil. The indents from feet and paws were deep.

“Yes. I saw her. Damien almost had her too. He got a bite on Cora’s arm before she got away.” Her words made my eyes widen, and I glanced at the beast of a man with excitement. There was barely any on the corner of his mouth, but the tiny spot of red there was good enough for me.

He drew blood.

I bent my knees, squatting by the disturbed soil. My fingers slipped through the Earth as I closed my eyes and pulled the foreign object from the ground.

“Woah.” One the guard said, and as I opened my eyes, I watched as three drops of blood began forming at the top of the dirt. With a swipe of my hand, they collected, and the large crimson blob hovered over my palm.

It wasn’t until I looked up that I noticed all of Rona’s blood had risen, too; the pool of liquid was far too large and sloshed angrily at the disruption. As I rose to my feet, the invisible wall holding it up broke, and Rona’s blood rushed out and back over the dirt and grass before reabsorbing. There was no use for it now that she was dead.

Aurora stepped back, the blood barely missing her toes as she released her hold on Rona’s arm. “No one deserves to die this way.”

Her murmur made my chest tighten as I bit back my response that no one deserved to live that way either. Once you experience the horror that Rona did… that I did …that Cyrus did, it scars you.

taking me back to that

I glanced back down at the redhead before turning my back to her. “If she can teleport, we need to get back to the castle and track her. We are wasting

blood on the edge of my shirt, something I could take with me and keep my magic focused

with?” I asked over my shoulder at Charlie and the bear behind her as

just going to leave the body like this?” Aurora asked, appalled, disgust lacing her words and on her face. She could judge all she wanted, but taking care of the body of a woman who had tried to kill me through my childhood and who had

an almost defensive stance, her hand clutching the cold one of

need to waste time on the dead when

killer was exposed, they tended to panic, and their actions would become more erratic, normally messier than before. She would be angry and possibly scared. She should be. I

of you!” Aurora argued, thrusting her finger back toward the body. “She was

a woman who had lived her life hiding in a cave, I had been stupid

rest of our people, the ones still living.” I turned back to Charlie, who shook her head

I’ll help take care of the body.” She said as Damien stepped forward with a dip of his chin in

my arm, and I watched as several guards linked together. A handful remained, determined to protect the princess and the mother of the queen,

will see you soon.” I said firmly, subtly insisting that

slower than last time, and I had a brief moment where my confidence faltered. It was more people than I had ever taken on my own, and I felt like a kid trying to peddle my bike up a hill. But

I let out a breath of relief. Tobias held under my elbow to

for anything that could indicate where she was hiding, to check on Cyrus,

the walls. There were more than normal, two on every door and one blocking the entrance to each

on full lockdown, just

good. Safe. I was confident in our warriors and guards to protect the crown. Since Cyrus was with them,

would listen, and

barrier Cora had in place to protect her room. Clearly, she had cast it before when she was weaker and felt no need to update it. Either that or she used minimal effort, knowing it was

Like she night

could have gone or done

the mattress lifted off the box spring, showing nothing was hidden beneath it before it fell back down.

Empty. All of them.

I want to know everything they saw and touched!” I shouted angrily, grabbing the tray from the dresser containing a water pitcher and an empty glass and throwing

dry with no fingerprints or lip marks. The