The Beast And The Blessed

Ninety-Six: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

I had never been more in awe of my mate than I was at that moment. I had been ready to take on the world. The need to draw blood was primal, and while I was nervous about my first kill, I was also being spurred forward by my need to protect my mate and my newfound family.

I had no idea where Joselin had taken my mother, but with Killian leading the charge, I had no doubt they would be safe. He wouldn't let the bloodsuckers get through him.

He was a force to be reckoned with, a vicious animal.

As the walls from each side collided, he sliced them down quickly, taking on minimal damage. I kept glancing around, waiting for Lillian or Talia to appear. The witches seemed to have stayed back on their side, and I had the suspicion that they were letting the vampires thin themselves out and thin us out before the witches had to step forward and put in any effort. Either that or, based on the sounds, they were in their own battle.

If they needed to guarantee that their spot on the throne would be secure, they couldn't have an army of vampires there to threaten their rule.

A small pale creature slid in between my occupied guards with a malicious smile. I saw Tobias send me a panicked look over his should while he fought his own enemy, but I focused on the woman before me. My first kill.

'Focus, Tobias. I've got this.' I muttered to him through the pack link and could practically hear his eyes rolling in response.

The beady black eyes of the woman were locked on me, and I pulled back my lip to snarl at her. She didn't wait as she lunged at me, trying to get her arms around my neck. She was small and fast, but it also made it easy for me to overpower her. I slammed her down on the ground, holding her there with one paw on her chest before digging my teeth into her neck and ripping her throat out.

It had been easier than I had expected. Still, she was also very young, more than likely a newly turned human from one of the cities that had reportedly vanished overnight. There was no doubt in my mind that she had less training than I did.

If that were the case, I worried about the witches' real plan. Surely they didn't think they could win a war with a bunch of untrained bloodsuckers fighting against the Lycans, one of the strongest creatures on Earth.

But if they needed us distracted, it was a good plan.

Killian got a grip on him, one biting into his flesh before ripping out a chunk of his arm. He spun out of their grasp, slicing his claw across the throat of one and shoving his hand through the chest of the next before ripping out the vampire's

and only lasted a second longer

He was magnificent.

the three were down, four more surrounded him. Two more came at me, and I did my

the first vampire I had ended, but soon the two bodies joined their fallen comrade, and I was left with

vampires so I could get to the source, the witches, and deal

taking on a few scratches and a couple more bites that had blood dripping down several parts of

but I also knew I couldn't distract him while he was fighting so many. I moved to close the gap when another vampire stepped

giant man before me made my heart want to beat out of my chest in terror. The others had been small, young men and women. But he looked in his mid-thirties and was

larger in that form. Had I been fighting in my human form, I would have been in for a world of pain and would have likely met

ground and tearing him to pieces. His muzzle was dripping with blood, and he looked thoroughly satisfied as he turned his head to look at me. His black eyes sparkled with excitement. I nodded at Damien in

he was to me, and that did not sit well with me. He was

had no idea what to expect from her. I didn't know if he could take her down on his

Her teeth sank into his shoulder, barely missing his neck as I raced toward them. It would be risky to turn back to my skin and use my magic, but I hadn't figured out how or if I

her off, but blood oozed from his injury. His body was working hard to repair itself, but I knew the exhaustion and strain it was under

vampire stumbled before me. A large smile was on his face as he sidestepped his attacker before slicing his blade across the vampire's

my mate ahead. He was knocking them down one

ran by, ripping the skin from his body. He let out a howl of pain before the

Killian. It was similar to my dream. The stabbing pain in my ribs wasn't mine but felt just as real

knowing it would only distract those around me, especially Killian. He was injured. Injured enough to let his wall fall

whirled through the air, skimming my back as I ran. The scorching pain made me let out a yowl before I could

over a dozen vampires surrounding him. He was holding his own, but the blood loss and continuous damage to his body were taking its toll, and he seemed to be moving

son was attacked. Her eyes met mine. She