The Beast And The Blessed

Eighty-Eight: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

I didn't trust anyone with Killian or Charlie's blood; everyone in the room seemed to understand that. The healers had also come down but were sitting off to the side after caring for the king's and princess's battle wounds, waiting in case we needed them further.

My hands were shaking as one of the healers, Flora, talked me through inserting the needle into Killian's arm. She could have done it, but the fewer people handling his blood, the better for my peace of mind, and I knew he would feel the same way.

They had said the vein in the neck would be best, but getting a good stick there was impossible with him moving and snapping at me.

He was enjoying my fear.

The back and forth of warmth toward me had died, and there was nothing but malice on his face. The darkness had taken over, leaving me with a man I didn't recognize.

"So weak. I don't know why the Goddess picked you for me. You are a disgrace to the crown." His voice was deeper, his eyes darker. I had expected to see the pure black orbs that would have mirrored Heath's before his death, but the hazel coloring I loved was still there. My teeth clenched together as his words hit me harder than I had anticipated.

"Hold his arm still," Flora said firmly to the guards assisting in restraining Killian.

He was strapped down to bolts in the floor, but there was only so much the chains could do to keep him from moving while I tried to get the needle in his vein, so we had to ask them for help. I was so distracted by the venom he kept spitting at me with every word that I couldn't focus my magic long enough to restrain him myself.

I was still working on using it on command and not just as an emotional reaction.

"You're nothing but a whore. I should have known by the disgusting scars on your back that you weren't worth my time. You weren't even pure when you came to me, begging me to fuck you. You were tainted." His lip was curled in disgust and turned into a snarl as I aggressively shoved the needle into his arm, missing the vein.

the air right out of my lungs. I didn't want

wonder how much of it was true. Were these thoughts already in his head about me

wear my mark, but you will always be alone. No one wants you. We are all just stuck with you. At least your mother had the

filled the room from the doorway, and I refused to look up as she entered the room. What he said was true. She did toss me out as a baby, and he didn't choose me. He was stuck with me. He hadn't wanted a mate and made

had wanted me here was Joselin, and that was because I would

lips were literally sealed shut. I was positive he couldn't part them to speak again if he wanted to, and I

adjusted the angle of my hand before I inserted it into his skin, watching

filled with shimmering black lines, like small worms swimming through his bloodstream. It was almost mesmerizing, but I moved quickly to

it of the darkness to return it to its

done with Charlie, who hadn't been entirely consumed by the darkness yet and was sitting stunned and silent, I stood behind them, not ready to face Killian. She was a more willing participant and allowed me to insert the IV without

looked up at me with wide eyes, begging for understanding. But I wasn't there yet.

her as I turned to my mother.' There has to be something

observe Joselin's work over her shoulder. Joselin didn't

from being able to retake control of Killian and Charlie. While I had just been learning about

hands on my mate's blood. It was bad enough they found a workaround by

stronger every day." She responded, sounding distracted.

narrowed my eyes at her,

rolled his head back, unable to face me fully. But I could see the evil glint in his eyes, and I

she nodded with satisfaction at whatever Joselin was doing

the vague answers, but my mate came first, and as soon as he was better, I would sit her down and talk to her. I wanted answers, and I wanted to ask if she could

was approaching with two pendants hanging from her