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.

said, curtseying to the princess with respect. When I looked up, she was staring at me with her

raised eyebrow, but

it away from the table before taking a seat, making sure to tuck it back in before he could get a single finger on it. He had never pulled my chair out for me before. Why put on a show

look of amusement Charlie sent me made 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

From what I’ve gathered you are a quick study.” Charlie said as she took a

bite before responding, placing my hands back in my lap. “Thank you, your highness. I have heard the stories of your adventures and would also love to

I were a side attraction at a circus, but I refused to look his way. He wanted me to act as if I were

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

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

I rolled my eyes as

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 me to

You of all people should understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I will be right back. Something urgent has come up, but it should only take a minute.” He said as he rose to his feet. I did the same out of respect for his title, but

As

the room again with the next course. She gestured with her finger for them to place Killian’s

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

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

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

are my brother’s mate, the next queen. Your position is soon to be above mine.” She said as she dipped her roll in the juice from her steak. “You have no idea how