The Blessed And The Beast

Fifty-Seven: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

I left the crystal hanging from the dagger in the ceiling.

Two guards were tasked with the job of watching and writing down every location Cora went to. Once we had all the data, we would have a better chance of figuring out what she was up to. Once we found her final location, we could attack. But first, we needed to be prepared for whatever trap she was setting.

The thought that she could be going around and capturing innocent witches, draining them to become stronger, came to mind. But she was moving too fast as she popped from place to place. She was going to exhaust herself and her magic quickly.

I sprinted down the halls, Tobias hot on my heels. The guards opened the door to Natalie’s study for me before I reached it, and I barreled in.

They had brought up a bed from the infirmary. Flora and one of the other healers hovered over Cyrus, asking him questions. But his eyes were locked on me, and he didn’t answer a single one.

The need to drop to my knees and apologize was burning through me. I wanted to beg for forgiveness, but my regret and guilt turned my stomach to stone.

His pale yellow eyes looked dull and lifeless as he ignored the healers. I stepped toward him, his eyes welled with tears, and my hesitant steps turned into a jog as I rushed across the room.

I had never been one to seek physical affection or comfort from others,and giving it to them was just as out of character. But seeing the familiar anguish and hopelessness in Cyrus’s eyes, I couldn’t help myself from wrapping my arms around him and holding his head to my chest as he cried.

The room remained silent; even Tobias didn’t react to the intimate moment. I think they were all too stunned by my reaction. Even I was a bit taken aback.

Still, seeing the man, the one who had wormed his way into my family and my heart like the little brother I never had, crying broke me.

My fingers combed through his blonde hair as I pulled myself up to sit next to him on his bed, and he gripped my waist. He felt so vulnerable and weak.

For once, it was something that I didn’t hold over him like I would anyone else.

Talia had raised me to see weakness as a flaw, something that made people worth less. She was wrong. She had been wrong about everything.

feel it.” His words had me holding him tighter, wanting to stop his pain and fight his demons. My chest was growing wet with what I could only assume were tears and

and my lips trembled. It took a moment for me to collect myself, to

lessen. The.Jhe feeling of someone ripping your soul open is traumatizing and hurts more than any physical pain ever could.” I felt

had been the wrong

turned my head, meeting Tobias’s eyes, and I knew he

him hope, sweetheart. Tell him something

head as I tried to think about what helped me. I had been a tortured soul when I was brought here. The trauma I experienced shaped me into

my life. He felt and looked like a drop of sun in a dark world. After he

at me from all angles, but I pressed myself into that boy’s

me hope and kept me alive. Have some guards collect Blanche and some of

response. I knew Tobias would run

will be less and less. At first, it may be every night. Then every other night. Until eventually, you only think or dream about it every few weeks or months.’ From the noise he made, that wasn’t

hard to comfort

the time to apologize and tell him it was all my fault? He asked me to protect him, and I handed him over on a silver platter. No. He couldn’t know that this had happened because of me and the blood I had taken from him. Not right now. Not when I was the one

someone he trusted, and even though I felt like I had unintentionally betrayed him in the worst possible way, I had to be the person he could count on right

pulled back, his eyes boring into mine. “I could feel her cutting into my flesh and

for a moment, my bed would feel like stone. The morning Tobias tied me up, the brief second of fear that I was back in the woods being chained up made me feel

over fifteen years

His voice cracked, n.ove.lx.o and I heard Natalie sniffle behind me.’ How… I can’tJt was so dark in that

know it was. But you made it. You’re going to be okay.” I whispered, pulling his face back against me. It wasn’t just because I wanted to comfort him. I also couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t see the despair and the

today… he had died a little inside. Part of him had been stolen, and he would spend a long time trying to figure out how to get

People didn’t seek me out for comfort, so I had to imagine the he

went through. I wasn’t the

I whispered. My voice sounded coarse, and I cleared my throat. “You aren’t alone. When you are ready, we can even call Blanche in. I’m sure she would love to see you. Having

His mutter was heartbreaking, and

pull off these marks