The Beast And The Blessed

Eighty-Four: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

It was time.

The war was here... or rather, we were going to it.

There were a lot of people depending on me not to fail. I couldn't stay in that room. If I did, I would want to touch Killian, to know that I was safe and hadn't been transported back to the darkness.

I needed to fight through it, to stand on my own as a powerful descendant and not as someone who couldn't go more than a few minutes without touching someone to ground me to their realm. It was humiliating that our people had to see me that way, and I refused to let them witness me acting so weak.

If Killian's father was trying to send me a message, then maybe instead of resisting, I needed to listen.

Killian wanted to ignore what happened and tackle one issue at a time, but I knew in my heart that they were connected.

My pace increased as I stormed down the hall, and Tobias shot me a worried look when he realized exactly where I was heading.

The infirmary doors were still open at the end of the hallway, but there was no movement inside.

I paused just outside Lillian's room.

I didn't know what I was looking for, but my eyes scanned the hallway anyway.

"You have a message for me. I'm listening." I said as firmly as I could. But I still swallowed hard as I waited for a response, terrified that I was making the wrong decision.

the corridor, and my hair flew up as Tobias placed his hand on my arm. For only a moment, I allowed the physical contact

wasn't going to hide away, scared of the boogie monster. I was going

I don't like this. The king will not be pleased."

at my back, all three acting like a protective barricade. But it was pointless as I

all three men tense at my command." We both have our parts to play in this war. This is mine, and I will not let my people down." No matter how

encourage them that this was a bad idea any more than they already believed. The air wrapped around

on his face as he tried to decide

dropped his hand to his side, and I could see Tobias resisting the same urge. He nodded his head once, and I knew without him speaking that he was telling

me. I didn't want to go at all. But I

listening!” I called out again as the faint whisper reached my ears. My guards

"Darkness runs free."

again. Even during my short nap on Killian's lap, I heard the phrase repeatedly. Bound in the blood, darkness runs free. He was saying nothing new, but I

"Darkness runs free.”

me as he stood protectively behind me, but there was nothing else here with us. The shadow men were absent, and

darkness runs free. What does that mean?" I turned once more, prepared to push open the door to Lillian's room and face

"It's too late."

my arms. They had come with me, and now we were all

figure appeared before us, letting out a piercing screech that made my hands fly

a stampede of people running toward us, but my glare stayed on

is it too late?" I demanded, stepping toward the

"Darkness runs free!"

the creature. It echoed around us from all angles, and I gritted my teeth as I pushed down my terror. "You've already said that! What does