The Beast And The Blessed

Thirty-Three: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

I felt a pain in my chest as I realized that he was only seconds away from admitting that he had made a mistake by choosing me and sending me back home. If he did, I could live with it, but I was also frozen. with a deep panic that I wouldn’t ever feel his arms around me again or get to enjoy the way the room. smelled like him after he showered.

He may not have let me in, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t already wormed his way into my heart. Even if it was only a small amount. I was hooked on him. I was jealous of Joselin, and I was angry when I didn’t get to spend time with him.

The sudden realization that I wanted him to stay in my life… that I wanted to learn more about him, not just because I wanted a civil relationship but because I wanted him to be mine, was terrifying. I had never felt like this before, even for Jake. With him, we were just comfortable.

We dated because it felt right, and we enjoyed each other’s presence and touch. If I was being honest with myself, I enjoyed having someone who protected me and he enjoyed being seen as someone’s hero. With Killian, I couldn’t even say if we were officially a couple. But the more time I spent around him, the more I discovered this insatiable need to talk to him, touch him, and be near him. He was a like a magnet, constantly drawing me in and then flipping over when the sun rose and pushing me away.

But he had been right. It had only been one day, but after last night he was putting forward an honest effort to make things better between us. I was woman enough to admit that he was right.

I wasn’t ready to give up on whatever we had or could have in the future.

my heart, or maybe he

do with Joselin. For you to believe me, is up to you, and I know that it will take time for

of

filled with torment. “There was a sighting just outside of the city. I

Vampires.

at him for the

inside the city this time. He was found in an alley. I had to go talk to his family and tell them what happened. I was going to have you come with me, but I didn’t want to take you away from your first ball. I thought with Charlie there, you would still be able to enjoy yourself.” His hazel eyes found mine,

eyes were empty. He was pushing back his emotions, but I could see in the clenched fist on his thigh. and the ticking

stopping and waiting to see if he was okay with me approaching him. The swirling of emotions in his eyes told me that he was, and I closed the space between us, dropping to my knees before him and grabbing his fist in my small

acting like such a jealous brat while he had been dealing with real issues, bigger problems. He had lost two men and had to tell their families that they had been murdered, and I was

didn’t need my

“I’m so sorry, Killian.”

turned it over to grab mine. “I’m trying to make things better.” The repeated statement only confirmed how broken he was by the new development, and I gripped his hand tightly. “Things are getting better. I was just being insecure and jealous. I… I like having you around. I like being around you when you are you.” I whispered, scared to

he would pull away. “You will need to learn to tolerate being around both because that is who I am. I