The Beast And The Blessed

Eleven: Natalle

Natalie’s P.O.V.

Even if he didn’t speak to me very often, I was starting to get the impression that I was winning Killian over. His brooding and constant glaring during the day did nothing to prevent the butterflies that filled my stomach each time he crawled into bed with me late at night.

Even if he wanted to pretend as if he hated me when the sun was up, it was no longer a subconscious action to pull me close. Now, he would wrap me in his arms and curl around my small body as soon as he got under the blanket with me.

It had secretly become my favorite part of my day.

He was the most attractive man I had ever met, and while I knew nothing about him, his touch seemed to quiet all the noise in my head and of the world around me. I felt at peace when he held me. I had to wonder if he sensed it too, and if it was why he had chosen me.

During the day, I was pushed to my limits by Joselin or Tobias when Joselin was unavailable. I found his. method of communicating fascinating and effective. It was on day two of my being in the castle with Tobias assigned as my bodyguard before I discovered that he never spoke. Over the past week, I had yet to determine if that was by choice or if it was something more permanent. By the animalistic noises he let out, I had to assume, he just didn’t like talking.

He wasn’t a fan of sparring with me either, and while Joselin had moved on to teaching me self-defense, Tobias was more interested in making me weight train and do bodyweight exercises. Whatever they were trying to prepare me for, I felt like I would be ready to take on the world by the time they were done with me. Never again would I be the damsel in distress.

My hand held my side as I moved through the corridors of the castle, Tobias hot on my heels. Joselin had been particularly brutal today, but I knew she meant well. It didn’t mean that the damage she inflicted on my ribs would hurt any less. While I healed faster than a human, without shifting, my body still liked to take its time in recovering.

My arm and wrist were no longer an issue, but the new discovery that it hurt to breathe after taking a kick from Joselin’s freakishly long legs put an end to today’s training early.

The sight of Killian walking out of a bedroom ahead made me pause, and all hope that I had for things to be better between us vanished. Whose room was that? Why was he spending his day there?

an odd feeling of unease and jealousy that

quietly behind him, he looked up and met my stare. My eyes flickered from him to the door. The way he snuck out made me think whoever was on the other side was sleeping. probably exhausted from whatever unmentionable activities they

me. He looked absolutely menacing for a man that loved to cuddle, and I tried not to flinch back as he stopped a pace before

was hiding must have meant a

aback by my reaction. I wanted us to have a civil relationship, but I also didn’t want to go back to being in a position where people didn’t treat me as an equal

to avoid looking past him when I heard a door open and close. Was the person he was with leaving? Who

he looked me over. “I told Joselin you couldn’t handle it. I warned her to back

and as my palm made contact

but it was still something I would expect people to be killed over

just fine.” I insisted, my voice softer than before. All thoughts of the room and possible woman in it were gone from my mind, and I lowered

wanted a repeat of. I would play nice to survive another day and try to form an acquaintanceship, if not a friendship, with the man who

If that came with an angry and

it, Tilly.” His deep voice came out firm. The underlying threat in his tone made me step back. But it was the use of that name.

pain in my ribs was joined by the frustration pumping through my blood at the reminder that I would always be seen as the *little girl who didn’t know her place and

liquid, refusing to let them fall. Killian stood unmoving in front of me, and I looked around his shoulder, seeing the open double doors at the end of the hall that led to the infirmary where rows upon rows of empty beds were waiting for

glanced back, hoping he would get the hint and move out of my way or give me permission to pass, I watched as the anger melted away from his face. He looked confused, torn almost as I gave up

heard him jog to catch

in respect to the king. I pulled

warm and grew even warmer as she

rumors about healers, but I had never heard of anyone. seeing them in person. I thought they were a myth or extinct,