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.

final crack in the damn, and a

I was going to shift!" My protests were wasted on deaf ears as I dug harder in my mind to find any trace or

in a human body forever. I would never be strong enough to save Killian on the battlefield, and I would never

me for something I wasn't even aware I had done. Was it this life or a past one that I had offended Her

me 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 I failed to save my mate. I would be a human among a field of

and I would be dead. The poison would be

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 would do my best to give him that. But I also needed a moment to embrace my emotions before I pushed them back

his thumbs to wipe away

must have been feeling as they watched me fail to shift once again. I would

my

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

really just wanted to punch her right now. "Do tell then. What's the plan? You want to take my blood and run tests on it?

each other until the real world forced us to return to it. Instead, I was the only one in a bed, and

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

and the weaker side fades away over time.

loudly, and Killian rolled his

other, which is why the dominant one hasn't come forward yet. The Sanctum of Light is a very powerful place, some believe it is a direct connection with the Goddess, it may help the stronger side to rise up."