The Beast And The Blessed

Eighty-Five: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

The tension in the room was so thick that I felt like we were swimming in it. Charlie's glare was locked on me, and I matched it with as much anger as I could muster.

Killian was fuming as he sat behind his desk, staring at us like a father about to scold his daughters instead of my mate, who had saved me from his blood-thirsty sister. I wasn't sure what I had done wrong, but from the curl of disgust on his lips, I had done something.

It might have been because I had thrown his sister through the wall of their mother's bedroom in front of a dozen people. Perhaps it was because I hadn't told him I was planning on returning to where his father had tried to talk to me before I did it. I knew he had been worried about me after yesterday, and he would have said no to me going...which is precisely why I didn't ask for permission.

It was now time to beg for forgiveness.

"Killian," I started before biting my tongue, knowing that the one who spoke first in any argument or negotiation almost always lost.

He lifted his hand as he closed his eyes. If he hadn't been so angry, I would assume he had been in pain from me saying his name. But if he was, he hid it well because hatred was all I could see when he looked at me again. 1

"The fighting stops now. Figure your shit out!" He growled, sitting back in his chair with his hands crossed over his stomach as he looked between Charlie and me. The relaxed stance was a farce, as his knuckles were white from how tightly he held his hands together.

I turned to Charlie, seeing her glare had never left me. "I did not...."

"You may wear my mother's crown, but you had no right to go near her! I expressly ordered for my mother to be left alone!" She yelled, pushing herself up to stand but stopping when Killian gave a feral growl of warning.

"You..." I tried again, gritting my teeth when she yelled over me again.

"You can be executed for harming a royal family member." Her claws extended, and her nails made small popping noises as they punctured the fabric over the arms of the chair.

I flinched at her clear separation of me from her family... so much for being sisters. We were bound by our connection to Killian but nothing more.

eyes as she did the same and growled at her, "Stop talking

at Killian like a pouting child. I shook

at me as I stood, and I shot him a glare, daring him to do it again before looking down at Charlie. "I am the queen here, not you! You are nothing but a spoiled princess, and that title has an expiration date. Make peace with that now because I will not continue to put

Killian, our children would become the heirs, and Charlie would no longer get to

that, but you have no right to lash out at me for something I didn't

back against the cushion and was unable to move. "You say you're the

is treason. Don't forget your place. If anyone is going to be executed, it will be you. I'll inform you of your fate once I decide

her eyes watered, but her mouth stayed shut. I wasn't sure if that was

knew that. She was Killian's little sister. He needed her, loved her, and would always protect her. But it was an impactful reminder of the power I

part of me expected him to be proud of me for holding my own against Charlie, but

drop. Why hadn't he reprimanded her for attacking his mate? Perhaps he was satisfied with how I had done it, but the look on his face said otherwise. Only a moment later, the office door slammed shut, and we were left alone. His eyes moved from me

desk between us as I sat down. This time I stayed silent as I waited for him to speak. I had won the first battle, but this would

I bit my lip as the very same flooded through our mate bond from him. I tried to push to

if he were intentionally holding everything else back from

a reason, Killian." I hoped that he felt my confusion in our bond. The way he was staring at

a direct order from your superior." His rewording of the same statement suddenly made more sense to

mad that I could have put myself in danger

I could hear my blood pumping through my veins. Would he really be so shallow as

do you think that sets for the rest of the council who were under the same order?"

you dismissing Charlie didn't undermine me the same way? She is acting like a spoiled brat, and I am sick of it! She

of her, and I agree that she should have some say in what happens to

all the time?" I stood, throwing one hand up in exasperation as I began to pace in

to be lessening, and the mask over his emotions only seemed to be hardening with each passing word." She