The Beast And The Blessed

Eighteen: Natalie

Natalie's p.o.v.

Tobias seemed to find it amusing how much harder I worked in training the next day. My body was running hot, and I was angry that Joselin had tried to invade my thoughts. I didn't want anyone in my head, least of all someone I didn't know I could trust. I just couldn't figure out why she had done it. What was she looking for?

Having her around Killian all the time was driving me crazy too. It was so hard for me to get him to bring his walls down and not be so cold toward me, but then he willingly spent all of his time with her.

It was unreasonable as my physical attraction to him held no emotional ties, but I was jealous.

He spent every day with her but fought me every moment that I tried to spend with him. I had to wonder if they had a past or if something was currently going on between them. It would only make sense that she was trying to forcibly get information out of me if she was jealous too. She would want to know if he and I had done anything.

Her flirting with Tobias was confusing, but maybe that was why he wasn't giving in to her. How many men did she have wrapped around her finger in the castle? Why did the man I was to mate with have to be one of them? Women could be cruel, but I never thought I would have to experience one so brash as to openly throw it in my face that she was sleeping with the man I was to spend the rest of my life with.

The effects of the upcoming full moon were making me stronger than before, not as strong as a wolf, but my bloodline allowed me to be stronger than any human. I was pushing, pulling, and throwing around the weights like a woman on a mission. Each time I felt myself struggle, I thought about Joselin and Killian locked in his office together, with no witnesses, and I would see red.

I didn't like it.

I turned to glare at Tobias as he flinched back when I got up from the machine to stretch between sets. His nose wrinkled, and his eyes squeezed shut as he moved back.

My hard work was showing, and I knew I had been sweating a lot more than normal, but his reaction was almost offensive.

nDo I smell bad, Tobias?" My frustration sank in through my words, and I placed my hands on my hips. His eyes opened showing the familiar glowing red of his Lycan, making me take a step back this time.

The longer I stood, I expected my body to begin to cool, but I only seemed to get hotter. My face was burning, and my hands were shaking as pain stabbed through my abdomen.

the balls of my feet, trying to work out the muscle cramp from over-exerting myself, but failed. My body curled in

looking up to see that he

him look so scared. His glowing eyes were flicking back and forth, and I gasped as he stopped his scan of the area and sprinted toward me. His body contorted

curling myself in a ball with my arms wrapped around my head as he collided with one

snapping jaws were dripping foam as they snarled and bit

young maid shouted as she ran into the room. "You can't be

whimpered in pain as she pulled at my

girl shook her head and yanked me toward the exit. I couldn't get my legs

shiver down my spine, and I felt my muscles begin to uncoil for a moment of relief before they knotted once more. "Healer," I gasped as I struggled to pull her hand from my arm when she began to take me

than before as if there were more than just the

forward gasped as the witch I had been picturing punching appeared before US. But I

she reached forward to grab my arm from the

I glared at her. "You don't get

together, and I watched as she waved her hand with annoyance. My body slid across the floor toward her from her magic, making my head jerk back

tried to kick myself free. The small voice in the back of my mind was telling me that I was being unreasonable, but the way my body was burning up, I couldn't seem to separate the fever-induced

and she stepped back as I kicked my foot at her, just barely

rolled onto my hands

her. "You aren't doing anything for me! You're training me so I can give up my life for your precious king, but you don't

words. Her surprise was evident as her jaw dropped and her

his chosen mate. I'm here to be his sacrificial

myself to my full height, refusing to let whatever curse was trying to kill me win. Sweat was

You're not thinking clearly without him here." She whispered in awe as