Chapter 166

Chapter 166Fifty-Nine: Joselin
Joselin's P.O.V.
The news was so shocking that I had difficulty picturing it. Cora and Talia. I didn't even know they
swung that way, but if they were happy...But, I guess they weren't happy since Talia had chosen Queen
Lillian's side during the war a few months ago, knowing it would result in Cora's death if they won.
It made sense for that to be who she had been talking about. But hell... Cora and Talia.
Two women so bitter and angry with the world, living in one house would have been like two angry
hornets trapped in a box together. Did they live together? They didn't two decades ago when Aurora
had noticed their relationship. Nor did they for the next decade while Talia lived in the tower and was in
charge of taking care of me.
I would never forgive Talia for choosing to side with the previous queen and vampires in their attempt to
take the crown out of the hands of the Lycans. She had raised me from when I was found at eleven
years old until I was an adult.
Then Killian had chosen me to be his Royal Advisor. I was more of an advisor of magic, but I would
never argue against the title; it made me feel badass. Talia was livid that she had to step down for the
next generation.
Talia had been losing her mind for years at that point, though, and even if he had chosen someone else
to take over, I would agree it had been the right choice to remove Talia from her position.
She had been best friends with the queen. Talia became furious, siding with the queen when Lillian
went mad after her fated mate and unborn child were killed. The two women had joined together and
created an army of vampires to remove Killian, Lillian's son, from wearing the crown.I had been heartbroken that the woman who had raised me had so easily thrown a dagger into my back
on that battlefield. Talia had been willing to kill me just as easily as my own birth mother had.
I had never been more grateful when Natalie killed her, heating her from the inside out until her organs
burst and her blood boiled. It was part of why I would always deeply respect Natalie.
But to think that Talia might have been seeing Cora the entire time, and I never knew it...
Aurora's eyebrows pinched together as she eyed me with confusion as if I should have known. But I
wasn't the only one in the dark here. Killian didn't know either. ’I don't know how long they were
together. After that, I got pregnant, and my visits were few and far between, and I don't know of the
others she had been with."
"No, no, no!" Cyrus’s pleading made me turn suddenly, but the healer had already injected the syringe
into his arm.
‘What are you doing to him?" I snapped, walking over with a glare, but Tobias stopped me with an arm
around my waist. I felt more protective over Cyrus than ever before, and I knew it was because of the
guilt I had felt about his blood being stolen.
"His body and mind need to recover. It's a sedative that will put him out for a few hours." The man
muttered, but Flora looked just as bothered as I was.
As Cyrus closed his eyes, I felt panic bloom in my chest. "Did you not hear him? He doesn't want the
darkness! He could barely close his eyes before!"
"He needs to rest. If he were to force himself to stay awake, he would just exacerbate the situation." He
meant well, but I was fuming. My hand shot out, and the healer flew back against the wall."Joselin!" Killian snapped, his voice deep and layered as his beast came forward. "Stand down. You're
out of line."
I held the man against the wall for a few more seconds as I debated refusing Killian's command before
giving in and letting the man drop to the floor.
’Let's take this somewhere else. We can get Cyrus to the infirmary with guards and have a private
conversation in the office." Natalie's soothing voice called out, but I shook my head.
’Healers and guards won't be able to do shit if Cora shows up wielding her and Rona's magic,’ I
argued, knowing Killian was right. I was out of line. They may have been okay with me speaking my
mind in private, but there were healers and guards in the room with us, and I was being unprofessional
and insubordinate.
’He's unconscious now anyway," Charlie said, stepping forward as she looked at Cyrus. "What is he?"
His identity was no longer a secret. We had been discussing his powers for a while now, so everyone in
the room knew he had magic. Those that weren't in the room would know because he had used magic
in front of the packed dining hall.
'He's a spell caster."
Her emerald eyes widened with surprise, and I was relieved that she immediately understood and
didn't ask any stupid questions. "I haven't heard of a male witch in a long time. I remember reading
about them when
I was a kid, but it was centuries ago that they were last seen."
Princess Charlotte, a fucking gift from the goddess. She may have abandoned both Killian and me for a
life of chasing and hunting down monsters, but having her here was exactly what we needed right now.She had knowledge that no one else did, and her years of hiding from the toxic people of the court and
reading books were now coming in handy.
I wasn't ready to forgive her yet, and because her hunting party hadn't been at Rona's cottage, the
bitter side of me just figured she had abandoned them too.
‘Do you know what book that was in?" Natalie asked, looking around her study like the book would be
there. If anything, it would be in the archives, but when Charlie shook her head, disappointment filled
me.
’No, I went back for it a few years later, but I couldn't find it. But there had been a whole council of male
witches. They had been wiped out, and the council had been replaced.’ Charlie moved further into the
room, looking uncomfortable but forced a smile on her face and squeezed Natalie's hand in greeting
before giving her brother a painfully awkward hug.
Killian wrapped his arms around her tightly, glad she was back. He missed her everytime she left, but
when she returned and threw little comments at him about how he had let her down and wasn't a good
king, he wanted her to leave again.
She wasn't good for him, and I knew her selfish ways were the product of her upbringing. Charlie
wasn't good for me either, but I continued as I had been since she walked out of our lives several years
ago. I would plaster on a smile, be polite, and show feigned excitement that the princess had returned
home.
’ No doubt replaced by the ones who led the charge to get rid of them," I mumbled bitterly. Just how
many male witches had been killed? If we kept committing genocide at this rate, there would only be a
handful of species left in the next few centuries.
I spun on my heels, making brief eye contact with Tobias before heading toward the door.’Where are you going?" Natalie called out, sounding curious.
’I need to see the history of the council lineage." My mind was going a mile a minute. There had been
new bloodlines on the council through the decades, but I had suspicions.
I heard Charlie chasing after me and Tobias. She should stay with her brother, see how he is holding
up, and reconnect with him.
Even though I doubted she knew they were trying for a baby or some of the changes Killian had made
to better the kingdom, I was glad she was joining Tobias and me to locate that book.
’I noticed your mark," Charlie said softly as we walked down the hallway quickly. I turned to look at her
briefly, not sure if I wanted to catch up with her right now. Was there a point to bond when she would
just leave us all again when this was over if she even stayed that long?
I couldn't be mad at her for leaving, everyone had to live their own lives at some point, but the way she
had gone about it was the coward's way, and I had lost most of my respect for her that day.
’Yes." My reply made Tobias smile as I glanced at him for help.
Yes. That was not exactly the correct response to that statement.
Charlie picked up on my tension and let out a deep breath before trying again. "Congratulations."
I bit my lip, pushing out a "Thank you" as we reached the library. I was grateful for the subject change
as I rushed to the back where the archive was and immediately located the ledger. I flipped through the
pages.
Tobias was reading over my shoulder, and he gripped the back of my seat.It was right there. There had never been a break in her chair's lineage. Her ancestors would have been
a part of the genocide that wiped the Earth of the male spell casters.
Cora wanted to keep magic controlled by women, by her.
‘Her family was one of the original members. She would have known about what they did to the spell
casters. She just lost her... well, whatever Talia was to her, and now Cyrus popped up. She probably
felt like her position on the council was threatened too. I wonder if Talia had tried to help her with the
ritual in the mountains that night,” I muttered as Charlie continued to search the shelves.
‘So, she is trying to keep the council run by women.’ Charlie stopped at the end of the aisle, her fingers
pushing at the leaning books and straightening them. When she released her hold, they slid back
down. Charlie turned with a shake of her head. "I still don't see the book on them.’
’She probably took it," Tobias grumbled, and Charlie's eyes almost popped out of her head.
’You spoke! He spoke!" She shoved her finger in his direction and turned her incredulous stare from
him to me. I rolled my eyes as she let out a glee- filled laugh. "When did that happen? Holy crap! Is that
a mark, Tobias? I thought the two of you..."
'We are. That is my mark." I said nonchalantly, looking through the names again. Two generations after
the genocide, Aisha's family joined the council. Three after that was when Margot's family joined.
I could only hope that meant they were clear of any involvement.
’Wow! I didn't know you could mark someone. I am so happy for the two of you! I can't believe I missed
so much over the past few months." Her excitement switched to sadness as her curly brown hair slid
over her shoulder to shield her face as she looked down at the book I had been studying.Navig@te back to th€ roots of thïš substance at n0v^lebook'Yeah, well, that happens when you leave for long periods of time and don't ever check in." The room
fell silent. I closed my eyes and instantly
regretted my words. She walked away for her mental health and left all her responsibilities to Killian
and me.
’So, you're mad about that too? I left to find happiness, and I did. I'm sorry that I hurt you when I left."
Charlie whispered, reaching her hand out, but I stepped back with the book.
’I'm just saying next time, maybe let us know that the only heir to the crown is still alive occasionally."
My tongue ran along my lips feeling just how chapped they were. I should really take better care of
myself instead of always putting everyone else first.
Charlie smiled sadly at me, and I knew without needing to say it that she understood I had been hurt by
her leaving, but I had also been worried about her while she was away. When her hand landed on my
arm this time, I didn't move back. "Of course, I'll make sure to stay in touch."
I nodded, swallowing hard. Fucking horm...emotions. Just emotions.
’I need to go check on the location tracker on Cora." I couldn't get out of the room fast enough. Tobias
laced his fingers in mine, giving me the support I needed without a single word.
He pulled me into a side room, cupping my cheeks in his calloused palms." Are you okay, sweetheart?"
I nodded, leaning up and pressing my lips against his in a greedy kiss. He was all I needed. Even if
everyone turned on me or left me, as long as I had him, I would be okay.