The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Three: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

Their low talking could be heard as I rounded the corner, and I felt my stomach tie into a knot as Killian and Princess Charlotte stood waiting for me. I was late, and it was not welcomed based on Killian’s look of disappointment.

My nerves about meeting his sister somehow managed to surpass my anxiety about meeting the king himself. While I was terrified of him for his well-known history of murder and aggression, the stories of her made her all the more fearsome. When her brother took the throne, she took to mercenary work.

The stories of her slaying dragons, sirens, and banshees were known across the world. She was a warrior.

“Here she is now,” Killian said, but the way his eyes narrowed told me that I would be hearing about my late arrival later. “Natalie, this is my sister, Charlotte.”

The young woman turned to face me, and my jaw dropped at the stunning princess. Her hair was a light. brown that fell into perfectly styled ringlets. The bright green of her eyes made what portraits I had seen. of her mother seem dull.

“Please, call me Charlie.” She said as she extended her arm toward me. I moved forward, expecting a dainty shake suitable for a member of the royal family. Instead, I was met with a slightly calloused palm and a firm shake as if we were conducting a business transaction. “I’m really happy Killian found you! He needs someone to knock some sense into him every now and then.”

Oh, I wanted to knock some sense into him alright. But I would start with the long overdue fight we

needed to have.

up, she was staring at me with

hummed in response before looking to her brother with a raised eyebrow, but he shook his head and gestured toward the

He said as he pulled out his sister’s seat before moving toward mine. I grabbed the back of my chair and dragged it away from the table before taking a seat, making sure to tuck it back in before he

me blush, but I held my head high as the servants came forward and placed the first course in front of us. It was not lost on me that the guards had been stationed outside the room for our privacy,

your training. From what I’ve gathered you are a quick study.” Charlie said as she took a large and improper bite of her roll. “I would love to train with

for my glass of water and took a sip as I swallowed my bite before responding, placing my hands back in my lap. “Thank you, your highness.

circus, but I refused to look his way. He wanted me to act as if I were his mate, but he did not want me to actually fill the

have plenty to share. From what I understand, my team and I will have new stories before we leave here. Rumor has it that there has been an attack, and we have come to join the guard.” Her declaration of wanting to fight against the vampires made me feel relieved, but

his direction and cut him off before he could protest. “No need to argue with me, brother. We are more than capable of

rolled my

Charlie muttered, and I could see her annoyance as Killian placed his fork back down. “I haven’t seen you in months, and you can’t even spend a dinner with

he rose to his feet. I did the same out of

watched as her interest peaked even further. As

found you weeks ago. Yet, you bare no mark.” She observed, falling silent as the servants entered the room again with the next course. She gestured with her finger for them to place Killian’s food down before swiping one of the fingerling potatoes from his plate as the staff made their way toward the

began to cut into my steak. If Killian wanted me to be good, then I would do my best to

Charlie. We’re family now.” She insisted as she took a sip of

appropriate given my position,” I said, placing another bite of my dinner in my *and chewing slowly. No matter how many meals I had in the castle, the quality

she dipped her roll in the juice from her steak. “You have no idea