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."

down in my gut that maybe I had been pushing her too far. There had to be a balance where I could protect myself and keep her

I wanted it to be her. I hated to admit it, even to myself, but she was it for me. She was the only one I wanted to be with. That was how I

her insane the way my mother had done to my

I was starting 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

or, at the very least, be around me, and I pushed her away each time. I had no reason to believe that she would be okay during

other side of the desk. "You need to mark her already. At the very least, go fuck her so she can stop stinking up the castle. Your men are fighting over her as we

is mine!" I growled as I stood, towering over Joselin. The thought of anyone else

She said with a smirk before flickering out of

pulling me in, designed

would be pulled in, wanting to serve her...to

laying a hand on my mate. She wouldn't want them, not now that she had found her soulmate, but it didn't mean that her scent

past it toward my room.

threw him over the banister. He would live, but the

he had managed to get past the guards,

was calling me to her. Joselin stood at the entrance to my wing of the castle, finishing what appeared to

side of her spell. I heard Natalie's heart beating quickly, and I could practically taste

looked over my shoulder to see another one of my guards in their Lycan form,

my heart stop. Had someone made it into

to understand where she was coming from about Joselin and me. Even the idea that she was with someone had me shifting into my Lycan form, ready to challenge them

of the brass doorknob, and I rushed past the sitting room to the bedroom. I could feel the pull urging me forward to follow her scent into the

was thrown back against the tub as she lay back in the water with her brown hair pulled off her neck in a bun. I could see the peaks 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 had my attention. Her arm was completely submerged, but she had one leg up and on the edge

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