The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty-Five: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

Killian shifted back to his Lycan, his joints popping loudly at the sudden change as he stood tall in front of me.

"Come out!" He demanded. The Alpha command was thick, and even I felt the need to step toward him at his order. His body shook with anger, and while I was excited to have shifted, I was in no way ready for a fight in this form. I had no training in my fur... I had barely learned how to walk.

My gaze moved to the mouth of the cave, wondering if our guards would come to assist, but there was only silence.

The magic in the air grew thicker.

I shifted, not worried about my lack of clothing. My training had all been in my human form, and I wanted to be ready to fight.

My fingertips touched Killian's back, and his fur bristled as a female peaked her head around the corner of the cave above us before transporting down to stand only twenty feet away.

We both took a step back at the action. The only person that we had known who was strong enough to do that was Joselin. Even then, her ability wasn't as clear. She flickered in and out, while the stranger before us popped from one place to the other.

The power she must have had to master that skill was terrifying.

She was breathtaking. Her long ebony hair was curly and wild. Her eyes were a pale, sea-green. I shivered when I met them and found them locked on me. "You have grown so beautiful, my dear."

Killian's hackles rose. For me to have grown meant that she had seen me when I was little. But I had no memory

you here?" Killian asked her with a low rumble behind his words. The underlying threat made me anxious. While he had been doing better to control his anger and reactions, pissing

but if my memory serves me correctly, this is not the first time." She laughed as she pulled her gaze away from me and landed on my mate. "You seem to have a habit of bringing women to my home.

refused to pull in air. Beyond our height, we didn't have very much in common. There was little to no resemblance in our coloring. While she had black hair, I had brown. Her lips and eyes

I failed to find a matching

not possible." My denial caused a flash of hurt to go over her face, but she quickly masked

up, to gesture toward her surroundings. But I refused to take my eyes off her

she was a threat to our safety or just a threat to my mind and heart.

told me herself before she died that they had found me and taken me in. If the wrong person learned that fact, they could use it against me. I

side, not bothered by my being nude. "We are connected by our blood. If you try, you

Killian's side as he eyed her with distrust. He shifted to place his shoulder ahead of mine to shield me in case anything should happen, and I stood still as I tried to

the magic in the air with every ounce of my being. Having her here, someone to connect it to, was like fine-tuning an instrument. The pull of

that she was not lying. But knowing she had been here this

Selene. Her gift runs through our blood, and nothing will ever be able to mute or turn that part of

to look at my mate. Killian growled as the

that you had his eyes and hair, I figured that your wolf would be the same. I'm glad that you share at least that with me." Aurora smiled warmly at

in front of my torso to protect me as Aurora walked around us to take a seat on a thick section

were you?" My voice cracked as she gestured

She smiled sadly as she continued

you abandon