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.

out of my lungs. I didn't want to believe that what he

controlling him and spouting the insults, but I had to wonder how much of it was true. Were these thoughts

"You may wear my mark, but you will always be alone. No one wants you. We are all just stuck with you. At least

said was true. She did toss me out as a baby, and he didn't choose me. He was

was because I would

sound making me feel more relaxed as his lips were literally sealed shut. I was positive he couldn't part them to speak again if he wanted to, and I kept the

out the needle, and Flora adjusted the angle of my hand before I inserted it into his skin, watching as the tube began to fill with

dark liquid was filled with shimmering black lines, like small worms swimming through his bloodstream. It

it to its owner's body.

done with Charlie, who hadn't been entirely consumed by the darkness yet and was sitting stunned and silent, I stood

But I wasn't there yet. How was I to know if the darkness had been affecting her

right now." I snapped at her as I turned to my mother.' There has to

as she continued to observe Joselin's work over

other end of the room to prevent the darkness from being able to retake control of Killian and Charlie. While I had just been learning about that

to ensure no one else got their hands on my mate's blood. It was bad enough they found

sounding distracted. 'There is nothing I

eyes at

glint in his eyes, and I knew

She responded as she nodded with satisfaction at whatever

of 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 help with my training. The biggest one that had been on my

approaching with two pendants hanging from her