The Beast And The Blessed

The Beast And The Blessed Chapter 60

Sixty: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

Killian stood, keeping his chest to my back with his arms around my waist as the priestess approached us from the shadows, having waited patiently for our bonding ceremony before she could lead the coronation.

It was still unreal to me that this was even happening. I had been running away from my abusive pack only a few months ago, ready to live among the humans and hide from the horrors of wolves. Now, I was mated to the strongest shifter of all. More than that, I was in love with him and about to be crowned his queen.

I leaned back further into Killian’s embrace as he kissed the side of my neck one last time before taking my hand and moving to stand next to me.

The priestess stood tall in a floor-length black gown. Her blonde hair was pinned back into a neat bun, and she smiled warmly at me before she extended a greeting to our spectators.

Her soft voice was soothing as she dove into prayer. The long-winded blessing was inaudible to me as my heart pounded violently in my chest. Had it not been for Killian’s continued hold on one hand, I was positive that I would have been shaking like a leaf in the wind.

It felt like hours that she spoke when, in reality, it had only been a few minutes. Her lips pressed together as she nodded to me slightly, signaling that it was time for me to push aside my nerves and focus.

Killian dropped my hand but remained at my side. The crown on his head caught my attention every so often as he stood tall.

I bit my lip nervously, suddenly regretting having a conversation with the priestess without talking to Killian about it first, but it felt right.

as a large, blinding smile stretched across Killian’s face. I refused to look at him as I nodded once for her to continue. It had only seemed right when she had talked to me about this

and now bonded before the Goddess. We may not have been married as human tradition required for taking the last name of a partner. That ritual seemed ridiculous compared to sharing a soul and being chosen by a

respective laws and customs?” The priestess’s voice called out louder than during her

promise so

Two things that I had

power, cause Law and Justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your

Mercy.

question, but I felt like my mother was with us… that my parents were watching over me in this momentous moment and were proud of the woman I had become.

’I will.”

power, put your people above all?” The priestess spoke

to do

to hide my flinch as she lifted the dagger from the altar, handing it to Killian with a respectful lowering of her

power.” Killian slid the dagger over the meaty part of his palm, slicing the skin open and holding it over the chalice in the hands

his pocket, pressing it down on his cut for a moment before tucking the blood-soaked fabric back away, the cut now

of crimson liquid. I swallowed hard as I tried to push back the

strong leader, and I had to prove that I could give them what they needed. They didn’t want or need a weak woman who lost her stomach in the middle of her

was as I lifted the cold chalice to my

lurched as it rejected the copper-tasting drink, but I closed my eyes and forced it down. Killian smiled proudly as I resisted the urge to grimace, handing the priestess back the now-empty chalice. My tongue darted out to lick my lips. The air hitting my

longer it sat in my stomach, the stronger I felt, the more I could see, and the louder the arena became. I tilted my head to the side slightly as the glorious sound of my mate’s heartbeat reached my ears,

black box sat on the right side of the table, and the priestess lifted the lid. The gold crown was covered in diamonds and gems, catching the