The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 164

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. novelxo 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, novelxo 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.

’I can still feel it." His words had me holding him tighter, wanting to stop his pain and fight his demons. novelxo My chest was growing wet with what I could only assume were tears and snot as he let out a shuttered sob. ’How do I make it stop?"

My head shook back and forth slowly as I felt my eyes well up, and my lips trembled. It took a moment for me to collect myself, to swallow down the emotion that it wasn't my turn to show. Once I was calm, I pressed a firm kiss to his hair.

’You can't. It will take time for the pain to lessen. The.Jhe feeling of someone ripping your soul open is traumatizing and hurts more than any physical pain ever could." I felt his fingertips press harder into my back, and I clenched my teeth together as his cries grew louder.

That had been the wrong thing to say.

I turned my head, meeting Tobias's eyes, and I knew he saw my plea for help.

'Give him hope, sweetheart. Tell him something to look forward to.'

I closed my eyes, novelxo resting my cheek on Cyrus's 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 the fucked up person that I was today, but there was only one thing that made it better.

When I was hiding in that hollowed log, that little boy popping his head inside and offering me his hand changed my life. He felt and looked like a drop of sun in a dark world. After he pulled me out, I refused to let him go.

I was covered by an oversized jacket, and questions were flung at me from all angles, but I pressed myself into that boy's side and held on for dear life. He had felt safe to me.

I spoke to Tobias using the mate link and felt warmth flow through our bond from him at my words. 'It was you. You were what gave me hope and kept me alive. Have some guards collect Blanche and some of her belongings. novelxo She should stay here to be close when he is ready to see her.'

There was no need for me to wait for a response. I knew Tobias would run it by Killian and then do as I requested immediately. He trusted and loved me.

'It will hurt for a while. You will have nightmares and think about it often, but over time it will be less and less. novelxo 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 the correct answer either.

Fuck. It was so hard to comfort other people.

Was this the time to apologize and tell him it was all my fault? novelxo 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 he was seeking comfort from.