The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Five: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

Killian was shocked that night when he got back to the room and found me curled up in the armchair by the balcony. His eyebrows were raised as he examined the throw blanket I had wrapped around me and the pillow I had taken from the bed.

“Natalie,” He started after I stared at him in silence for several minutes, waiting for him to crack and speak first. I didn’t need to be the king to know that was the first rule in negotiation, not to speak first. ” We need to talk.”

My hands clasped together on my lap, and I stared blankly at him. All my anger from earlier had melted away, and while I wanted to still yell at him, it almost felt like I had no ground to stand on anymore. I was nothing to him. Yelling and venting my feelings would do nothing if the recipient had no interest in them.

His hands tightened into fists when he realized that I would not respond, but I watch with curiosity as he let out a deep breath and relaxed once more. “Only those that need to know about my mother do. You will need to keep what you saw today to yourself.”

My lips pursed out as I dropped my gaze in frustration and nodded as it dawned on me. I was not in the need to know. Whether I was to mate with him, *for him, or rule by his side, I was not one of the people that he trusted to know about his family. If I were to be his mate and queen, he would have told me about it. I would have needed to know. But he didn’t because I was nothing to him.

“Is that an order or a request, Your Majesty?” I said, letting my frustration sink into my words and my bitterness into his title. In the privacy of our bedroom or in public, I would no longer call him by his name. Not until he had earned it and proved that he was more than my king and I was more than his underling.

Killian almost flinched as I avoided his name, and I watched as his shoulders fell a fraction of an inch. If I had blinked, I would have missed it.

“It is a requirement of your position to keep classified information to yourself.” His avoidance of my question answered me. It was an order.

my breath away from the beauty. I had to wonder what it would have been like to have made

as the silver and diamond pendant they placed around my neck, but the outcome would be

I tensed when Killian moved up to stand next to me. His gaze was not on

His name. I was very aware. I had moaned it hundreds of times last night, just before he shattered what was

my lips, and I heard him take in a sharp breath, making me instantly regret opening my *. The memory of him. ripping out my packmate’s heart in front of

on the tremor in my voice but didn’t acknowledge it beyond taking a

“You are scared

you?” The greater distance between us meant nothing. He could still just

fear me, the ones who live outside. of my walls. They remain under my rule, but know nothing of loyalty or the lengths my people go to for them.” He sounded so sure,

night, but not wanting to start the fight that I knew could either end my life or end

I hurt you?” His question took me by surprise, and I turned my head to look up at him only to find he had looked away from me and was now staring out at his

whispered, feeling my body still and my fear melt away. It was the pained look on his face as he considered having hurt me that told me that he never would. What he did to my hips had been welcomed and the

I have been distant but I am doing my best. I

him. “What makes you think you know what would make me happy? You know nothing about me! This is the most

the wall next to

had me the