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?

was an odd feeling of unease and jealousy that had to push

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 had

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

a lot to him based on

and his eyebrows pulled together, taken 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 or

I snapped, trying to avoid looking past him when I heard a

masked his surprise with irritation as he looked me over. “I told Joselin you couldn’t handle it. I warned her to back off!” He growled as he grabbed

my palm made contact with his skin, he froze. His face was red, and the vein in his neck was pulsing angrily beneath

It was a light tap, but it was still something I would

insisted, my voice softer than before. All thoughts of the room and possible woman in it were gone from my mind, and I lowered my gaze to his chest, submitting

and take care of me before I had come here and that was a mistake. It was not something I wanted a repeat of. I would play nice to survive another day and try to form an acquaintanceship, if not a friendship, with

most people only dreamed about. If that came with an angry and possibly unfaithful man, then I would just live with it. It wasn’t like I loved the guy or even had any

came out firm. The underlying threat in his tone made me step back. But

old pack, I couldn’t get away from it. The 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

my name,” I whispered as I pulled my wrist from his hold, blinking back the excess 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

permission to pass, I watched as the anger melted away from his face. He looked confused, torn almost as I gave up

to mind this time. Instead, I heard him jog to catch up to me as I passed the mystery door

me, guiding me to the bed closest to me after curtseying in respect to the king. I pulled myself

and grew even warmer as she worked. The tingling sensation was matched by heat in my side, and I looked down

about healers, but I had never heard of anyone. seeing them in person. I thought they