The Beast And The Blessed

Eighty: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

The tone of the council changed after the announcement that Talia had chosen the other side and that I was Aurora's daughter, making me a descendant as well. They focused even more on tracking the witches, trying to get a lock on them before the battle. If we could take them down, the vampires would be no problem.

But the magic that was protecting them, hiding them, made it almost impossible to fight them in battle.

No one had brought up Talia again, but I could see the anger and disappointment in everyone's eyes. Especially Charlie's. She seemed to have a connection with the witch and had been excited to see her. For the rest of the night, the princess looked crushed. She and her brother had mastered masking their emotions, but even she couldn't hide how upset it had made her to hear of the treason.

I kept glancing at Killian in the mirror as we prepared for bed, but he was void of emotions. The eerie feeling that had settled over the castle only worsened when the sun went down.

”Bound...darkness...runs free."

The low and deep voice barely reached my ears, and I looked up at the mirror, watching as Killian rinsed the soap from his hair through the glass shower wall. It was a sight that normally took all thoughts from my mind and left me a desperate mess.

"What did you say?” I called out, hoping to be heard over the running water and thoughts going through his head. Killian opened his hazel eyes, staring at me with confusion as he shook his head.

’I didn't say anything."

I hummed in response as I brushed it off. No one else was in the room, and if Killian hadn't spoken, then perhaps I had picked up someone's thoughts in the pack link. That was even more concerning than if Killian had been the one who said it.

words so close

Killian would need to know about something like that. "Is it possible to cross signals in the

torso. "Thoughts can never be heard in the pack link. You have to

it couldn't have been one of our pack members then, and a quick scan of the room proved it to be empty. "I thought I heard someone talking about darkness and running free, but it must

the water. He didn't seem concerned, so I

as he grabbed the towel and dried off. I felt dismissed,

under the blanket. Killian didn't say anything more on the subject as he joined me, spooning me

***

had felt this, I

turned to Killian. He had rolled onto his

them moving behind his eyelids as he remained deep

I called out, placing my hand on his chest. His usually hot skin felt chilled, but his body moved as he took in deep and even breaths. I pushed against his body again, trying to wake

there was a cold barrier between us that prevented

The whisper left my lips as soon as the thought crossed my mind, only to be confirmed as the bedroom door opened

either my mind wanted me to see, or the owner of the voice wanted me to see. If it could help save my people, I needed to know

hallway and found the guards standing

I went until I stood before the door I had once dreaded. The heavy wood opened on its own, and I stood still as I glanced into the dimly lit room. The ominous feeling I once had associated with the dying or

gems had been replaced with

back from the clutches of whatever spirit had brought

was a trap. I just didn't know who or