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.

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

his own and only lasted a second longer before

He was magnificent.

three were down, four more surrounded him. Two more came at me, and I did my best to dodge, bite, and slice through

vampire I had ended, but soon the two bodies joined

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

bites that had blood dripping down several parts of his body. His skin was healing as fast as

distance he had placed between us, but I also knew I couldn't distract him while he was fighting so many. I moved to close the gap

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 easily comparable

larger in that form. Had I been fighting in my human form, I would have been

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.

following after Killian, not wanting to be separated, but he was a good way ahead. He was closer to his smirking mother than he was to me, and that did not sit well with me. He was strong, but he had struggled with the idea of her death for

idea what to expect from her.

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

shook 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

me. A large smile was on his face as he sidestepped his attacker before slicing his

my mate ahead. He was knocking them

leech's sides as I ran by, ripping the skin from his body. He let out a howl of pain before the wolf fighting him

then that I felt the first emotion from Killian. It was similar to my dream. The stabbing pain in my ribs wasn't mine but felt

knowing it would only distract those around me, especially Killian. He was injured. Injured enough to let his wall fall for a second, so I could

I ducked and dodged the attacks. A fireball whirled through the air, skimming my back as I ran. The scorching pain

surrounding him. He was holding his own, but

people, watching with no emotion as her son was attacked. Her eyes met mine. She lifted her hand to her