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.

hand on my arm. For only a moment, I

a strong queen. I wasn't going to hide away, scared of the boogie monster.

king will not be pleased." George said as he stepped closer

my back, all three acting like a protective barricade. But it was pointless as I knew the biggest threat was in

to play in this war. This

them that this was a bad idea any more than they already believed. The

debate on his face as he tried to decide whether to shift. We could see no enemies, but that didn't mean danger

touch me. He 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 that no matter

to pull them into that realm with me. I didn't want to

the faint whisper reached my ears.

"Darkness runs free."

I heard the phrase repeatedly. Bound in the blood, darkness runs free. He was saying nothing new, but I didn't know what he meant by

"Darkness runs free.”

but there was nothing else here with us. The

prepared to push open the door to Lillian's

"It's too late."

goosebumps covered my arms. They had come with me, and now we were all going to face my demons together. Somehow that made it easier than when I had been alone the day before. "No, it's not too late. I

too late!" The voice said again, and Tobias growled loudly as a dark shadow figure appeared before us, letting out a piercing screech that made my hands fly up to

the distance, I could hear a stampede of people

Speak! Why is it too late?" I demanded, stepping toward the figure and

"Darkness runs free!"

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