The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne

Nine: Tobias

Tobias's P.O.V.

'I don't like this."

The words continued to run through my mind, flooding me with guilt as I tried to understand what I had done wrong. Joselin had called it flirting, and I called it seducing, but in the end, we were both enjoying each other.

I didn't want her to seduce me. I wanted her to fall in love with me.

I leaned back on the couch, needing a minute to myself while Natalie was with Killian. I was no longer on her full-time detail as her bodyguard, but as I was on-call and worried about the new threat Joselin was looking into, I was staying close.

Joselin was the only positive thing about being stuck in the castle all day. Having her around made dealing with the rest of the council members tolerable. Still, I felt out of my mind, surrounded by all these women trying to kill each other constantly, even more so now that I had upset Joselin.

I thought we were having fun, flirting, and sparring. But she didn't like it.

I needed to talk to her about it, but she seemed more determined than ever to avoid me. Something that she hadn't done in a long time. How could I understand what I had done wrong when the infuriating woman wouldn't speak to me?

"You look tense. Want to talk about it?"

I glanced down, my top lip curling up in disgust as a hand was placed on my shoulder from behind the couch. Her long grey nails curled to have their points against the skin of my chest, and I bit back a groan of annoyance. She was a council member, one that I was very familiar with.

Rona laughed at her own joke as she moved around the arm of the couch, her hand sliding across my shoulders and the back of my neck as she did so.

She had been a little terror as a child, and I knew she was just as bad as an adult. It had been an enormous disappointment when her mother died. As soon as the news reached the kingdom, I could feel Joselin's turmoil at the realization that she would have to work with Rona now.

"Oh, come on. Don't be so serious."

I refused to look at her, staring straight ahead as she sat on the couch next to me, so close that her thigh pressed against mine.

My beast bristled with irritation, and I ignored her, checking in with one of the guards stationed outside the hallway of Killian's office to see if Joselin had left yet. She wouldn't get away from me without telling me what I had done wrong and how I could make it up to her.

I knew she wasn't so arrogant as to be angry that I had bested her in front of a crowd. She had never had a problem with that before. It used to just make her try harder to win. It was one of the things I admired about her.

My quiet solitude had been interrupted by Rona. But it was entirely destroyed by a group of warriors entering the sitting room to relax on their break. If I couldn't wait here alone, I would just go into Joselin's tower and wait for her there.

The guard confirmed she was on her way down, and I tried not to smile at the news.

I pushed off the arm of the couch, ready to stand but freezing when Rona lifted her legs and placed them over my lap.

"I've been trying to figure out what makes you tick for a while now. What it is that you like. I think the silent act is all a game, and you probably like

being in control.” She placed one hand on my chest as she leaned in, her other resting on my knee as she let out a low, airy giggle that made my skin crawl. "Is that it? Do you like taking control, Tobias?"

I almost snorted as I imagined tying her up and leaving her hanging in the dungeons. Maybe then she would get the hint.

My beast was ready to come forward, to take control and rip the wicked witch's legs from her body to get them off me, but I held him back. I couldn't disrespect a council member, especially one as crazy as Rona.

I lifted my hands, not wanting to touch her. But without physically removing her, it didn't seem like she was going anywhere.

Joselin's scent tickled my nose, and I felt my beast calm as I looked up and saw her standing in the doorway. Her hands were in fists at her sides as she glared not at the woman putting me in this uncomfortable situation but at me. She was livid. The designs on her skin vibrated quickly like she were a bomb ready to explode.

I jumped up, ignoring the malicious laugh next to me as Rona's feet roughly hit the ground. She knew exactly what she was doing.

"Josie," Rona called out, standing up next to me. I started moving away from Rona, stepping toward Joselin but pausing when she backed up. The pain on her face was quickly masked by anger, and I shook my head as I silently denied whatever story or theory she had brewing in her brain. "Don't you just love a man who takes control? I was just learning how Tobias loves to dominate in the bedroom.”

Joselin's head turned as her eyes fell on the redhead next to me. "I warned you that today was not the day for you to start your shit.”

My eyes widened as Joselin thrust her hand forward, sending Rona across the room and through the window. The sound of the glass shattering was followed by guards running to the source of the noise. Those already in the room stood frozen, watching with wide eyes.

"Oh, this is going to be fun.” Rona chuckled as she stood in the grass, shaking the pieces of glass from her hair. A small shard stuck out of her cheek, and she pulled it out without flinching, letting her blood drip from her cheek and onto the ground.

Joselin flickered for a moment before appearing on the other side of the window, a twisted smile on her perfect lips. "I've been looking forward to this for years."

My bones popped as I jumped through the window, shifting into my Lycan form as quickly as possible to stand by Joselin's side. I may not have magic, but I could fight for her until my last breath.

The fact that she was willing to fight for me too, made me hopeful that there could be more between us one day. I let out a snarl as Rona walked forward, flinging her hands in front of her as she threw rapid castings at Joselin. I wasn't concerned about Joselin's ability to handle herself. Still, I was relieved as my witch easily blocked each attack without any effort.

If anything, Joselin looked bored, angering Rona even more.

Joselin rushed forward when Rona was only a few feet away, slamming her fist into Rona's face. I let out a growl of excitement, eager for my chance to defend my woman but enjoying watching my little warrior witch kicking ass.

Rona's head snapped to the side, and Joselin pulled her arm back to strike again.

I didn't understand why she wasn't using her magic, but I knew how good a solid punch felt, and I think Joselin needed to get it out of her system. Her whole body seemed to relax as she let out her anger in the hit.

"That is enough!” Natalie shouted, using her powers to separate the two women. "I am tired of always having to break up fights!"

Joselin didn't bother to struggle against the hold Natalie had on her, but Rona was furious. "She tried to kill me!"

"And I'm sure you were the instigator!" Natalie yelled back, her power pushing out around her, making me want to submit to the Queen.

Rona went silent and crossed her arms with a glare but eventually gave in, submitting to Natalie. Natalie growled lowly, and Rona lowered her head even more before turning and walking off. Joselin also dropped her head and turned to walk away, with me following right on her heels. Her actions only added to my questions. Had she been fighting for me?

She didn't bother closing the door behind her as she took off up the winding staircase of her tower to her study.

"You didn't need to do that," I smirked, crossing my arms as I noticed she avoided looking at my naked form. "I didn't touch her or encourage her. But you fighting over me was really fucking hot.” Her back stiffened, and I was tempted to walk up and start rubbing her shoulders, maybe trail a line of kisses between her shoulder blades. "Don't worry, Tobias. You made your stance clear. I'm not going to keep throwing myself at you. Your virtue is safe.”

She snorted as she forced a laugh, just like she would have before she had become open about her attraction to me. The knowledge that she wouldn't touch me or try to get my attention anymore made me feel empty and cold. My beast was livid inside me, and I held him back from taking control as I tried to figure out how to tell Joselin to wait a little longer for me.

Joselin carefully pulled the ring off her swollen knuckle, lifting it to be seen clearly in the sunlight. The wet, crimson-red liquid on the stone's setting made me feel pride for my witch. Having the blood of an enemy was a powerful tool. "Besides, I got exactly what I was there for."