The Beast And The Blessed

Seventy-Two: Killian

Killian’s P.O.V.

I smiled as I saw Natalie leaving the library up ahead, presumably to get ready for the pack dinner. She looked around the corner in front of her before moving forward, and I laughed as I knew the paranoia today was caused by her interaction with Rona this morning.

The witch was new to the council but not someone to be trifled with. It was common knowledge that she had been the one to kill her own mother, Melinda, for her seat on the council. There had been no proof, and no one dared to openly make a claim against the witch.

Like most of the council members, Rona and Joselin had personal conflicts. Only theirs were not magic or title related. I knew Rona had stayed in her room the entire day, according to my guards. Joselin was itching for a fight as she wandered the castle, hoping to run into our new arrival under the pretense of working.

I was not looking forward to having them all here at once. Every time they had been called together, it was nothing but drama and fighting all day and night. I remember as a kid that they had almost taken down the castle’s north side when a fight between two council members resulted in a load-bearing column of brick crumbling to the floor.

It would have been bad for all involved if they hadn't used their magic to hold the floor above them up while the other fixed it.

They all seemed to hate each other but shared a love for their land and people.

It had been a relief when Rona walked over the casting in the foyer without any issue. Still, while she may not have been against us, I wasn't positive that I could trust her entirely. I didn't trust anyone besides Natalie, Joselin, and Charlie.

They were my people.

breath before lifting her chin, and turned the corner. Her eyes still glanced both

are you doing?1' I whispered against her

jumped before spinning around with her hand on her chest. I glanced down at the small amount of cleavage there as she breathed rapidly,

to my lips, where I pressed a kiss.

narrow as she pulled her hand from mine and spun on her

shuddered at my words. Now that I knew she enjoyed hearing me say the word love, I would tease her with it as often as possible. The blush on her cheeks alone was

our closet. I leaned against the door frame, admiring her body as she stripped off her jeans

her against the wall and take her right here and now. But tonight

and Heath were finally given the all-clear that they were okay. There was no sign of the

that

her heels on, she brushed past me in the doorway. I didn't move, and she looked at me from beneath her eyelashes with a heated stare

not to react, but I enjoyed watching as her eyes dilated and her breathing picked up. It was glorious to see that she

ducked her head as her cheeks lit up and rushed toward the bathroom to style her hair with a meek, 'Thank you' thrown over her shoulder. I had the feeling that she

shoulder at me as I began to unbutton my shirt so I could change was empowering. It didn't matter that I was the king. One look from her, and I knew I could be a beggar in the streets and still

everything to the back of my mind as we finished getting dressed. Natalie placed her hand in the crook of my elbow as I guided her down the hallway

talking loudly and animatedly with excitement as they welcomed Nolan and