The Beast And The Blessed

Thirty: Natalle

Natalie’s P.O.V.

My head turned up to look at Killian when they announced me with a title. I felt his arm pull my hand in closer to his side in reassurance as they opened the double doors leading to the long stairs case. He pulled me forward until we were standing just before the banister as he looked out over his people. I tore my gaze away from him, glancing around the room at the luxurious setup and the people filling it.

I had never seen so much wealth in one room. It made me feel even more out of place and uneasy. As their eyes landed on us, I knew they were thinking it too. An omega, a human on the arm of their Lycant king. It was laughable.

I felt my heart hammering in my chest, and I had to wonder how many of them could hear it. Killian sure could as he turned to face me. I held still with my eyes on the crowd as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my temple.

It was simple. Sweet. A silent declaration that I was his.

As soon as his lips touched my skin, my heart slowed, and my lungs relaxed, allowing me to take in a subtle but deep and calming breath.

The crowd bowed their heads as Killian looked back to them before turning with me to face the staircase. that curved around the wall of the ballroom. It was extravagant, beautiful…deadly.

very least, humiliate myself by taking a tumble down to the bottom. But Killian held me steady as we descended the staircase slowly.

face and his posture, he was back to being the king that

soon as we reached the floor, people began to swarm us, all wanting to get face time with their king, but very few acknowledged me. I was just the woman on his arm until I bore his mark and the crown of the queen. Neither of which seemed

at me, but when I turned to face. them, they had schooled their

around those people.

on to a stone-faced Killian who barely acknowledged them, but we had only

blood thickening until it felt like I had also turned to stone. As soon as the man before us finished speaking, I looked up at Killian, enjoying the way he turned and gave me

if he didn’t want to let me step away from his side. He opened his *the respond but closed it again as Joselin approached us, looking rather serious for the

take a moment of your time?” Her eyes

hated it. The more she took him away from me and dismissed

without my heat, I was doubtful that there weren’t deeper feelings there. He was always with her, talking to her, and watching

tell her no, that she may not have him. Not only was it rude to take him away from his alleged mate during a social function, but beyond the pack dinners, this was our first real outing together. There had been several little changes in his treatment of me today, but even I knew it was too much and too soon to ask him to put me above his

and I knew he saw the defeat and hurt in my eyes as his face softened, but I held my chin up and nodded in acceptance. I knew before he even opened his *that

leaned in again to kiss me. He stopped immediately and pulled back with his jaw tight. He didn’t