The Blessed And The Beast

Sixty-Two: Joselin

Joselin’s P.O.V.

It had been the longest day of my life.

I had tried to build a wind barrier down the center of the room to prevent Blanche’s voice from reaching me, but a sharp jab from Cyrus’s elbow made me drop it. Tobias slammed the spell caster into the wall, and Aurora had to separate them because I was too shocked to do anything but watch.

It was officially the most turned-on I had ever been, seeing him acting so protective and possessive over me. He was like my personal bodyguard, and I had quite a few fantasies I could make into reality.

I would have jumped him during our lunch break if we didn’t have an audience in the room. But everyone had their food brought to us and stayed to continue working. Killian was the only one not present, and that was because he had a to-do list longer than the hallway.

Charlie and Damien were in his office, helping him, and I hoped they were catching up and bonding. That relationship needed a little extra focus, but it was their business. I had said my peace with Charlie already.

Aisha and Margot acted very civilly, and I think it was because their hatred for Blanche was strong enough to give them a common enemy. It made me feel good to know they didn’t hate me as much as I thought they did. Or at least, they didn’t hate me as much as they hated Blanche, and that was something.

The girl had rattled on about everything from her morning before she joined us at breakfast to every fun and historical fact she could think of for each location Cora was popping around to. It made sense now why she stayed in the city and worked in real estate. The woman was book-smart, and I suspected that she had a photographic memory with how she was reciting information like an encyclopedia.

“This was where the war of 2042 started. I read that they had lost over fifty­thousand humans in this first battle. It really is a shame that they couldn’t get their act together and be a united front. They just had to let their government get in their heads and turn them against each other. If I were there…” Blanche rattled on, and I rubbed my fingers in small circles on my temple.

She was annoying as hell but also very helpful. Every place Cora had gone to had one type of historical event or another happen there. It was the only connection we had found so far. But even the kind of events didn’t align. Some had mass deaths; others didn’t have a single one.

But a quick search found that there was always something document worthy in the history books or online.

thumb rubbed in soothing circles. I could feel his heartbeat against my back, and I leaned

I just knew that the Goddess had her hand in it. There was no way the mark would have stayed if you weren’t mates. Witches have never been able

but we were mates nonetheless, and my short temper with her today didn’t allow me to hear her compliment for

doesn’t mean that you weren’t fated to be together. Wasn’t he the one who found you all those years ago? I remember you showing up here with me. I was so excited there would be another girl in

But he was a good man, and even though he

Goddess works in mysterious ways. Perhaps Blanche is onto something. Lycans have difficulty finding fated mates they have for decades, but maybe it’s because their mates aren’t always the same species?” Aurora offered as she winked encouragingly

knew Tobias already had a mate before me. If she did, she probably

my head during our bonding ceremony, telling me to bite him.

Maybe they just haven’t realized it because

my chest fill with hope. “I have always felt a pull to Henry, but his beast recognized the mate within his own kind. Even after he left me and began a life with her, that pull to him never went away. My love for him never lessened. Having him with me again only confirms that while I may not have been his match as a wolf,

on me, placing a kiss on my mark before resting his cheek

the day he found me hiding in that log, naked, covered in blood, and terrified, I hadn’t gone a single day without thinking of him. I have always loved him, and I

able to mark him at our bonding ceremony because I am possibly one of his fated mates?” I asked, unable to hide the excitement at the prospect. I knew it wasn’t likely, but it made me incredibly happy that this hunch was coming from the

it been the Goddess urging me to mark my fate, mate? Was that the sign I needed that our mate bond had always been there even before he marked

that could be true?’ I asked Tobias through our mate link, and he adjusted his hold on

felt like I belonged to you. I found you first. You were always mine.’ Tobias nuzzled his nose against the side of my head, and I heard him take in a deep

when he had found her, he couldn’t find it in him to feel the

want another over their fated mate. The pull to a fated mate was stronger than anything. Even a marked, chosen mate wouldn’t be as strong as the pull to their unmarked, fated mate. It was one of the reasons I had been so hesitant to make a move on Tobias

I fall in love, I want my man to have a bonding ceremony with me. Can you imagine how romantic it would be? Under the full moon, just the two of us, we would mark each other….’ Blanche cut off,