The Beast And The Blessed

Forty-Two: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

Tobias grunted as I turned to him and let out a deep breath. My eyes felt dry, and my smile fell as soon as Killian was gone. It finally made sense why I felt so connected to him... why I felt like something was missing when he wasn't around. But what I was feeling now was more than just my mate being away from me. I felt a crushing pain in my chest from the news of my parents dying.

They hadn't birthed me, but they were still my parents. I loved them, and now I had lost them. I couldn't even find it in me to be angry at Killian for showing my mother mercy. He had done right by her and sent her to be with my father in the afterlife.

She was dying anyway. He just put her out of her misery.

I met Tobias's eye, and he tilted his head toward the hallway. It was time for me to act like the queen and to be there for the man who had risked his life to protect mine. It wasn't time to grieve, and the more I thought about the events of today, the angrier I was becoming. I wanted revenge. I wanted blood.

It took a moment for me to collect myself, but I lifted my chin and made my way out of the room.

I nodded in greeting to each person I passed on my way to the infirmary, and they dipped into a bow or curtsey in return as I walked by. I could hear the shouting of multiple men over the sound of screaming, and I slowed.

Maybe now wasn't a good time...

But it was too late. As soon as I reached the doorway, I was spotted and several heads turned my way.

his wrists and ankles hung free, no longer attached to the floor as he thrashed to get away

between his lips and spilled over

at my side as I resisted covering my mouth in

made the air feel thick and suffocating. It reminded me of the previous queen's room. The scent of death was hovering like a plague, ready to strike

stop as the screaming cut off. Heath’s head snapped up so that he was looking in my direction. Our eyes met, and a shiver ran down my

been expecting. Whenever Killian had spoken with his beast, it was deep and rumbled as if he was in a constant state of

It sounded evil.

lump in my dry throat barely moving as I

come to see how you were and extend my gratitude. Is there anything I can get you?" It was difficult not to fidget as his glossy eyes held mine. They swirled, the whites turning black as

to hold him down even though he had stopped struggling. The veins were straining beneath

still see around him. I still watched as a smile stretched over Heath's face, and

my eye, I saw others moving closer to me, keeping their focus on Heath as they stood protectively between us. His eyes never left mine as he pulled at the hands restraining him once again, and began to scream. "I'll kill you myself if I have to! I'll kill

feet were fused to the ground as I masked my

my death as the healers joined the attempt to hold him down.

blinked quickly as I watched the scene unfold. One of the healers moved in rapidly with a large syringe in their hands, and I flinched as they stabbed the needle into the side of Heath's neck. He struggled for a few more seconds, his glare burning into me before he went

had taken care of my ribs looked up at me, "Your Highness, I do not think it would be wise to have you here when he

I wanted to be supportive and helpful to my people. She was right. He had escalated and had the potential to

my fingertips brushed Tobias's lower back to signal to him that I would