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.

could hear the wind whipping through the corridor, and my hair flew up as Tobias placed his hand on my arm. For

wasn't going to hide away, scared of the boogie monster. I was going to tame that bitch and keep it as a

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

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

not tell him," I ordered, and I felt all three men tense at my command." We both have our parts to play in

the last thought to myself, not needing to encourage them that this was a bad idea any more than they already believed. The air wrapped around us violently, and I felt the darkness threatening

the storm surrounding us. He shook, and I could see the debate on his face as he tried to decide whether to shift. We could see no enemies, but that didn't mean

Tobias resisting the same urge. He nodded his head once, and I knew without him speaking that he was telling me that no matter what happened, he would stick by my side. He understood that I needed to do this... even if he didn't like it. We were a team, and I nodded back

I didn't want to go at all. But

I called out again as the faint whisper reached my ears. My guards stiffened, and I

"Darkness runs free."

the phrase repeatedly. Bound in the blood, darkness runs free. He was saying nothing new, but I

"Darkness runs free.”

he stood protectively behind me, but there was nothing else here with us. The

prepared to push open the door

"It's too late."

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

and Tobias growled loudly as a dark shadow figure appeared before us, letting out a piercing screech that

hear a stampede of people running toward

too late?" I demanded, stepping toward the figure and pulling my

"Darkness runs free!"

us from all angles, and I gritted my teeth as I pushed