The Beast And The Blessed

Fourteen: Killian

Killian's p.o.v.

"I just heard the most interesting thing,” Joselin said as she entered my office with the collection of crystals and candles that she insisted she needed. I had given her a tower of her own to practice her magic and keep all of her belongings, yet she still insisted on bringing them everywhere else and leaving them all around the castle like a toddler.

"I am really not in the mood, Josie," I muttered as I focused on the task before me. It seemed like an impossible endeavor. Every few seconds, I would see a flash of Natalie's hurt expression and all of my focus would go right out the window.

I had almost lost control last night. It wasn't just my beast who wanted to claim his mate.

I wanted her. Her display of power and strength had me ready to bend her over the bed and fuck her until she couldn't walk. Perhaps I would even let her climb on top and show me what it felt like when she took control in the bedroom.

But it wasn't as mates. I wanted to fuck her as just a man and a woman.

Knowing she was my mate was the only thing stopping me. If I gave in and had sex with her, I had no doubt my beast would come forward and place our mark upon her, claiming the beautiful woman as ours forever. That was the exact thing I wanted to avoid.

Once the mark was placed, the pull I felt to her would multiply and she would have the ability to completely destroy me.

Holding her at night and having that contact with her was the only thing I found that could satisfy my beast to keep him at bay.

"Yeah, I got that. Funny enough, that's what I heard." She explained as she dropped her items on the leather seat Natalie had just been in a few minutes prior, once again causing my mind to move to the hypnotizing woman and away from the important matters at hand. ’A servant seemed to overhear you yelling at Natalie to leave you alone and that she was annoying you. Really romantic stuff. It's the talk of the castle, right now. I think the only thing that could top it is if you were to call a meeting and just humiliate her or reject her in front of the entire pack. That way you can really crush her spirit. It'll do wonders for the fact that she has to be willing to fight for you sometime soon." 1

She wasn't wrong. According to her vision, Natalie would save my life, but it wasn't set in stone. Things could still happen before then that would alter the

for me, but I also couldn't let her in. Every time she was near me, it would scare me just how much I actually wanted

marked her, and she

she started to set up around the map, wanting to try for the fifth time to trace the magic that was

apologize to her now, or later?" She asked as the wicks of the candles burst into flames. "This may take a while anyway. If you wanted to go make things right, I'll still be here when you get

her with incredulity. "I am

hands in surrender, but quietly laughed to herself. "When you finally give in and have a happy relationship with a loving mate, that line of

temper getting the better of me. Ever since Natalie

she shook her head in disbelief. "You're really going to turn this on me? You're just trying to pick a fight now! Stop acting like

of my best friends, the only man I trusted to protect my mate except myself, and how long he had been in love with Joselin but could never have her because she wouldn't settle down. These fucking women had too much power over the men. "You've never been in love in

you. We both know the claim of a chosen mate is weak compared to a fated mate. If I chose to be with Tobias or anyone else, they could find their fated a year or a decade from now and walk away from me without ever looking back. I would be left with nothing! You at least know Natalie is it for you, and yet, you're still

frustrated that all of the women in my life

won't expect an apology from you, Your Majesty." Her disgust was clear in her tone as she spat my title, and I clenched

office. I knew she would be all the way at the other side of the castle in her private tower, but my fury was controlling me. I knew if I didn't

beast, landing on all four paws at a sprint. I had too much on my plate and was too tired from not sleeping last night to deal with the upset women

was ready to go back, but my beast was still on edge. I knew he would not calm until we marked Natalie, or at the very least, had her in our arms. Having the beautiful creature mad

The halls were empty, and as I followed my mate's scent back to our bedroom, I finally felt somewhat at peace. Her smell was enough

way to the shower before joining her in our bed. After I rinsed off, I pulled on a pair of boxers before crawling into the bed. I could hear from her breathing that she was awake,