The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 155

Forty-Eight: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

My sports bra and legging were typically my go-to workout clothes, but with Tobias being sent out to assist with border patrol, it felt wrong to work out with so much skin showing. Before, it was a tactic to get his attention. I wanted his eyes on me and hands on me.

Without him here, it almost felt dirty being so exposed.

Instead, I pulled on my usual clothes and grabbed one of his t-shirts, tying a knot in the side to keep it covering my stomach but out of the way while I worked out. It felt so intimate, and it made me fucking proud.

I wore his mark on my neck, but wearing his shirt around all the other warriors was empowering. I adored the feeling of openly showing that he was mine and that he had claimed me.

After waking up this morning stiff and drained of the energy I had yet to use, I made it my goal to stay fit. I hoped to keep my body strong enough to fight off the curse for as long as possible. I didn't need my magic and my body breaking down on me before Rona returned.

Nothing felt different about my physical ability beyond the lightheadedness and stiffness. I could still push, pull, press, and curl my normal weight, but I had to reduce my reps to take breaks sooner than I usually liked to.

If I didn't, I felt like the lights would turn off in my head, and I would go down. Passing out twice in one week would not have been a good look for me as the Royal Advisor and the Head of the council. I refused to do it. Mind over matter.

Rona could kiss my ass. I had debated talking to Tobias and getting his opinion on me gutting Rona without evidence or a trial. If I cut her down as soon as she stepped back into the city and was sent to live the rest of my life in the dungeon, would he forgive me and still love me? Would he support my choice, or would he demand that I not do it so that he can keep me to himself longer?

If the roles were reversed, I would tell him not to do it. I was aware of that. It was a stupid idea, but I was bloodthirsty.

I wanted her dead so that I could live. So my mind was playing the game of 'How many ways can I murder Rona, and how to get away with it?'

My eyes kept roaming across the gym, expecting to find Tobias training, even though I knew he was miles away at the border. He had volunteered to help out, getting bored without a fixed assignment. Being on call for the queen to leave the castle was bothering him. While before, he just stood outside the room that Natalie was in for hours at a time; he was still doing something. He still felt needed and helpful. Lately, he didn't.

I wanted him to be happy and to see that sinful smile across his lips.

At one point, between reps, I stood up to stretch and found myself looking out into the training field for his large Lycan. I was desperate to catch even the tiniest glimpse of him as he sparred, but I needed to get used to him being away and busy again like he was before we mated. At least now I knew he would come home to me at night.

Was this how he felt when he had downtime and I was busy? Did he ever look for me out in the crowd?

I was addicted to the man.

"You haven't been yourself." The soft but accusatory voice said from behind me as I remained bent over, hands on the ground and stretching my hamstrings. They were tight from the weights, and I wanted to loosen them before running.

She wasn't wrong, though. I hadn't been myself. My mind was jumbled, my magic felt like it was failing, and my body threatened to quit.

Natalie's brown hair cascaded over her shoulder as she bent down and sat on the mat beside me. She wasn't dressed to work out, and it disappointed me as I missed training with her. Not that I would admit that.

Since she had taken up training her magic, she had cut back on her physical training...unless her activity with Killian counted. If so, she was way ahead of the game.

Her pale green eyes made me feel like a bug under a microscope. For a moment, I debated covering my body with my hands under her stare, like the shirt I wore wasn't enough of a barrier from her calculating gaze.

"Don't worry. As soon as Tobias returns, I'll strip off my extra clothes, jump him, and everything will return to normal." I smirked, sending her a wink. It had been meant to lighten the mood, but that didn't make my statement any less true.

She stretched her legs out in front of her, her palms resting on the ground as she leaned back and tilted her head to the side. Her jeans and light pink blouse screamed business casual, so it was clearly not her plan to come to the gym to work out.

"Funny. Just like your potato joke last night." Natalie crossed her ankles, and I spread my legs, moving to hold my chest against one knee, keeping my back as straight as possible.

Black spots danced in my vision from hanging upside down for so long, and I stood up slowly, not bothering to stretch the other side. My arms swung at my sides for a minute before I crossed one over my chest and held it with my other arm.

"I've always been funny. You've just been too distracted by my good looks to pay attention to it." I adjusted my feet, hoping she didn't notice the slight wobble as I regained my balance. I glanced up at the treadmills. Maybe I should call it a day and come back tomorrow.