The Beast And The Blessed

Nineteen: Killian

Killian's p.o.v.

I couldn't sit still. Every time I moved, her scent seemed to grow stronger. I had searched every part of my office and couldn't find the source. It was almost like she had left something of hers in here just to drive me crazy, and I was completely oblivious as to where she had hidden it.

I had known having her in my office was a bad idea, but now I was positive that nothing good could come from having Natalie around.

The only thing I could admit out loud was that I enjoyed having her in my bed. Before her, I slept for only a few hours a night, and they were not consecutive. Now with her in my arms, I could sleep the entire night, and most of the morning if I wanted to.

But that was it. I had to keep reminding myself that Natalie was not here for anything more than the upcoming battle and our future children, my heirs. Everything else I needed to force to the back of my mind and lock it away.

I could not let her in. Loving her would be too painful in the end.

Joselin appeared before my desk. Her scent had been revolting to me today, and I had been shorter-tempered with her than usual. Everything about her seemed to piss me off, and I didn't want her near me. It was something that hadn't happened before during our long friendship. I knew she was getting frustrated by my attitude, but she bit her tongue for the first time in her life.

I was surprised when the most intoxicating scent came from her, and I reached over the desk and grabbed her arm, lifting her hand to my face. I knew that scent anywhere. It had been burned into my brain since I first met her. It filled my office even after I was left alone in it.

It was my mate.

Her scent was more potent, toxic almost, and I felt myself losing control. My eyes burned as my beast came forward. As I unconsciously took in a deeper breath, I moved up her hand to her forearm. A growl ripped free from my chest at the sudden change from sweet to rancid. Joselin's smell was offensive today when she normally had barely any scent.

"It's Natalie," She said with annoyance, seeming uncomfortable as I released her hand, and she wiped it on her thigh.

The uncertainty about what to say had her mouth opening and closing before she took a deep breath and settled herself. "What I'm going to say, please hear me as a friend and not as your underling. I mean no disrespect, but you're going to break her, Ian. Natalie is in her heat right now, and she's not doing well. She just accused me of having an affair with you behind her back. Her eyes were glossy and crazed. For a moment, I thought she was going to shift because she was so angry. You pushing her away is only hurting her."

straighter at her words, the realization sinking down in my gut that maybe I had been pushing her too far. There had to be a balance where I could protect

out after the battle. I needed a queen. I needed an heir. I needed a mate. But I wanted it to be her. I hated to admit it, even to myself, but she was it for me.

wanted to do was drive her insane

to care for her, and that was a dangerous game. The more she forced her way into my life and heart, the easier it would be for her to destroy

the very least, be around me, and I

the other side of the desk. "You need to mark her already. At the very least, go

anyone else fighting over her when she

said with a smirk before flickering

as I hit the hallway, I could smell her scent thickening around me. It was pulling me in, designed specifically for me. But by the sounds of the other men in my pack, I knew it

would be pulled in, wanting to

warning every man and woman from laying a hand on my mate. She wouldn't want them, not now that she

I reached the banister, moving past it toward my room. His red eyes were frantic as he sniffed the air, following the scent of

over the

to get past the guards,

I approached the siren that was calling me to her. Joselin

air enveloped me like gelatin as I moved through it to the other side of her spell. I heard

a yelp of pain sounded from behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see another one of my guards in their Lycan form, laying on the ground outside of the barrier. Knowing

someone made it into

me. Even the idea that she was

threw the door open, my hand leaving an indent on the metal of the brass doorknob, and I rushed past the sitting room to the bedroom. I

of her breast just below the surface as I stood in the doorway. But it was the slight ripple in the water, signaling movement that

beautiful siren touching herself in the water before me. She was mesmerizing, and