The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty-Two: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

Loud talking disrupted my sleep, and I fought the urge to yell at them to shut up. But I was distracted by the sparks shooting through my hand. I knew right away that it was Killian. I had felt them before but never this extreme. Was this how he felt our bond? Was it because of the ceremony when I drank his blood, or was it because I had finally shifted and my wolf was present?

It felt as if I had drunk too much alcohol and had blacked out. I had no memory of last night beyond the first stabbing of pain once I had been crowned the queen.

"Did I do it?" I mumbled in my sleep-infused and groggy voice. The talking stopped, and the sparks danced over my cheeks as Killian cupped my face.

"You're awake. Thank the Goddess, you're awake!" He pressed a firm kiss down on my lips before pulling back and kissing my nose and cheeks in a flurry of happiness. I giggled as I forced my eyes open. His beautiful hazel eyes stared back at me with joy.

"What did she look like?" I wondered, the smile growing larger as I tried to feel in my mind for my wolf.

Killian pulled back, and the room fell silent.

It was then that I realized I was not in our room. The overhead florescent lights were harsh, and I glanced around the rows of empty beds and the healers who were watching me with sad smiles. My head fell back against the pillow as my hope was crushed.

"No. No. No. No." The repeated whisper had Killian pulling back slightly, rubbing his hands back over my hair as if he were smoothing it down.

crack in the

shift!" My protests were wasted on deaf ears as I dug harder in my mind to find any trace or proof of my wolf's

nothing would. I was going to be trapped in a human body forever. I would never be strong enough to save Killian on the battlefield, and I would never

system. She was toying with me. She was punishing me for something I wasn't even aware I had done. Was it this life or a past one that I

a wolf but refused to let me shift. She gave me a mate and a crown, but she would be taking that away too when

and I would be dead. The

need you to get better first." Killian insisted. The heartbreak in his eyes had me closing my own. I didn't need to see how I had let him down too. He deserved a strong queen, and I

Just forget about it." I whispered before opening my eyes as Killian used his thumbs to wipe away the tear tracks down my cheeks. "I just

to imagine the glee my old pack must have been feeling as they watched me fail to shift once again.

in my current form,

bitter voice said as she approached. "We haven't tried everything, don't get all

she interacted with people to be entertaining, but I really just wanted to punch her right now. "Do tell then. What's the plan? You want to take my blood

other until the real world forced us to return to it. Instead, I was

want to take you to the Sanctum of Light as soon as you are feeling better. I think it will be good for you." His explanation only left me with even more questions, and I waited patiently for him to elaborate. Instead, his eyes moved up to the male healer, and the unfamiliar man nodded once before making himself scarce. It was only when we

other, and the weaker side fades away over time.

cleared her throat loudly, and Killian

some believe it is a direct connection with