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

the other side was sleeping. probably exhausted from whatever unmentionable activities they had been up to. The pain in my chest at the thought startled me, and I looked away as my hand dropped slightly from my injured

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

hiding must have meant a lot to

at him, 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 heard a door open and close. Was the person he

his surprise with irritation as he looked me over. “I told Joselin you couldn’t handle it. I warned her to

my shirt, and as my palm made contact with his skin, he froze. His face was red,

I had just hit the king. It was a light tap, but it was still something I would expect people to be killed over based on the

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 my gaze to his chest, submitting to

repeat of. I would play nice to survive another day and try

how to look after myself, and while doing so, I was living a life that most people only dreamed about. If that came with an angry and possibly unfaithful man, then I would just live with it. It

came out firm. The underlying threat in his tone made

the frustration pumping through my blood at the reminder that I would always be seen as the

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 the infirmary where rows upon rows of empty beds

glanced back, hoping he would get the hint and move out of my way or give me permission to pass, I watched

turn my back on him, but he didn’t seem to mind this time. Instead, I heard him jog to catch up

me to the bed closest to me after curtseying in respect to the king. I pulled myself up, aware of Tobias standing

up, exposing my ribs. Her hands. were warm and grew even warmer as she worked. The tingling sensation was matched by heat in my side, and I looked down in surprise to see her hands glowing as she held

I had never heard of anyone. seeing them in person.