The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Seven: Natalle

Natalie’s P.O.V.

The night was awful.

I didn’t get a wink of sleep, and I was positive that Killian didn’t either. Although with him sleeping in the sitting room, I moved from the uncomfortable armchair to the empty bed so I wouldn’t have to sit up all night.

It made me smile when he came back into the room. Even if we were mad at each other, I felt heard. He had listened to me the last time we fought and even if he didn’t want to sleep next to me, he still came back. He didn’t go sleep somewhere else, and he didn’t stay up working all night. While his legs hung over the end of the couch, and he was clearly uncomfortable, the small gesture made me very happy.

The next morning breakfast was brought to our room, and I was stunned when Killian sat down with me at the small two-person table and began to eat in silence. We had never shared breakfast before, and I felt self-conscious as he watched me eat.

“What is your favorite color?” His question after a long night and morning of silence took me by surprise, and I blinked at him from across the table.

Civility. I had asked him for civility, and he had heard me.

I smiled softly as I realized that he was making an effort. He hadn’t stormed out of the room and slammed the door between us. He slept in our room, stayed to have breakfast together, and now was trying to learn more about me.

“Blue,” I looked away as I felt my cheeks warm. His piercing, hazel eyes were burning into my soul, and my tongue felt like it was tied in a knot as he continued to stare at me.

After I left him high and dry last night, I had expected him to be angry at me. But if he was, he didn’t let it

show.

anything, he seemed more at peace now

my cup as I took a sip of my orange juice. His eyes. locked onto mine, and I smiled at him as I swallowed my

and I forced my eyes away from him to glance around the room. There wasn’t a single green

wasn’t daft enough to think that he favored that color because of my

long way to go before any deeper feelings could come to the surface between us. The physical attraction was undeniable, but it was the walls he had up around him that made it so difficult to get to know him or develop feelings

been no hesitation in his answer. He willingly told me something about himself. Even if it was as small as

it wasn’t

Now that I knew I had been wrong about

1/3

she cracked open the bedroom door slowly as if she was scared for what she might find

hand tightening around his fork as he looked away from me and

I said trying to hide my disappointment behind

had finally started talking to me this morning. It may have only been one question and a one-word answer,

as she walked forward and grabbed the uneaten English

at me briefly, and I could see that he was feeling torn. If I had to guess, he was enjoying our civil

his name again. The brief moment of happiness vanished as soon as his little sister looked at him. He pushed his chair back aggressively as his eyes met mine. “It was

amount at my words, and as he walked past me toward the door, he stopped by my

I held my breath.

like he was a scared animal, and he was trying to approach me on his terms. I

for me, hovering over my shoulder. His fingers flexed before he curled his hand into a fist and pulled his arm back

he walked away, my eyes followed him. I couldn’t help the small feeling of longing for his touch. He hadn’t held me last night and refused to touch me this morning. My chest almost ached as I watched him leave. My lips parted as I took in a deep breath wanting to say that I appreciated the effort he had put in this morning, but not wanting to do so when his sister was currently sliding into his chair and eating the rest of his food. Instead, I called out, “Have a good