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

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

room. There wasn’t a single green thing

wasn’t daft enough to think that he favored that

surface between us. The physical attraction was undeniable, but it was the walls he had up around him that made it so difficult

no hesitation in his answer. He willingly told me something about himself. Even if

I looked over my shoulder at the heavy wooden barrier. I wished I could send them away, but it wasn’t proper nor was it polite. More than likely, it was Joselin telling me that I had to train today, and I would owe her an apology for my actions and words

that I had lashed out at her. Now that I knew I had been wrong

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

fork as he looked away from me and to the

safe,” I said trying to hide

talking to me this morning. It may have only been one question and a one-word answer, but it

as she walked forward and grabbed the uneaten English muffin half from Killian’s plate. He let out a growl as she proceeded

I could see that he was feeling torn. If I had to guess, he was enjoying our

when I used his name again. The brief moment of happiness vanished as soon as his little sister looked at

and as he walked past me toward the door,

I held my breath.

scared animal, and he was trying to approach me on his terms. I didn’t want to make any sudden

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

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