The Beast And The Blessed

Seventy-Five: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

"I'm very curious about you," The strong female voice said from behind me, and I tried not to flinch as I continued to eat my breakfast in the private dining room.

I had learned my lesson the last time I ate alone in the main dining room and didn't want to put myself under that scrutiny after what happened last night. I also wasn't ready to be back in that room quite yet. The nightmares I had without Killian by my side only a few hours ago were horrendous.

He was my heart and soul. Without him there, I was tossing and turning all night. It was amazing that I was ever able to sleep before him.

The short and curly-haired redhead flicked her finger a few millimeters by her thigh, and the chair beside me slid away from the table as she sat down. I had sat in Killian's chair as he was out for work. It felt wrong to leave the head of the table empty for someone to swoop in and claim...like Rona.

I didn't know her yet, but it seemed like something she would do.

A servant quickly brought her a glass of water before going to the kitchen to gather Rona a plate of food.

than before as I was

seemed to entertain her as a smile stretched over her face. Yet her stare was calculated, and she scanned me over like she was dissecting me in her

disrespect, but I pushed it down and did my best to keep my

I have yet to see it for myself to validate that rumor." Rona eyed me from the seat to my left, where I would typically sit when Killian was here. I hated that she was in my chair, getting her smell on it. "But now I've experienced for myself that you have magic. There are so many different stories about you being told by people.

placed my fork down. "I heard that you murdered your mother for her seat on the council and that you're here to try

but I had heard the rumor from too many people as I passed by them for me not to give it merit. The second was only reinforced for me when I heard that Rona had been looking for Killian earlier in the day, not realizing that he had left. After the way she had looked at and treated us when she first got here, I knew I was right to feel

looking for someone to sink her nails

to play nice, but I didn't know how. Not when she was intentionally antagonizing me. "I will tell you that I feel you growing stronger,

anger. Everyone knew I could shift into a wolf,

useful if you had helped her cast it." Rona's words made me sit up

to Rona about this instead of me, but I would

night would have known it was a piggyback

her bitter mocking of Killian's nickname for Joselin. I waited silently, expecting her to elaborate, and she did. "It's a dormant curse until needed. Most curses stay active and constantly work to fulfill their purpose. With a piggyback curse, they hold on and don't activate until

more. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her nose was slightly pink as if she had been crying. Yet she held herself