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.

speak, I narrowed my eyes as she did the same and growled at her,

jaw shut before glaring at Killian like a pouting child. I shook my head in

anything!” Killian growled 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

at me, but I could see the fire burning in her eyes. Once I had children with Killian, our children would become the heirs, and Charlie

of your mother, and I respect that, but you have no right to lash out at me for something I didn't do, especially in front of others!" I wanted to be civil,

was forced back against the cushion and was unable to move. "You say you're the princess, so stop acting like you're the queen. You also say

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

but her mouth stayed shut. I wasn't sure if that was my doing or if she didn't have anything

We all 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 now held because of the

proud of me for holding my own against Charlie, but the hatred was still on his face as his

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 to the chair I had been sitting in before in a silent order to take

silent as I waited for him to speak. I had won the first battle, but this

to seek out the voice after I asked you to leave it alone until after the war ended." His statement was filled with disappointment, and I bit my lip as the very same flooded through our mate bond from him. I tried to push to reach for

that was a wall, as if he were intentionally holding

confusion in our bond. The way he was staring at me was not that of a mate nor an equal. It made me feel about two

His rewording of the

Are you mad that I could have put myself in danger or that my new

Would he really be so shallow as to be bothered by having a

disobeyed me. What kind of precedent do you think that sets for the rest of the council who were under the same order?" His disapproving tone was

it! She hurt you time and time again, and now she attacked

has always had a special connection with my mother. She is very protective of her, and I agree that she should have some say in what happens to our mother." Killian placed his clasped hands on the desk as he leaned forward,

it all the time?" I stood,

mask over his emotions only seemed to