The Beast And The Blessed

The Beast And The Blessed Chapter 85
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.
As I opened my mouth to speak, I narrowed my eyes as she did the same and growled at her, “Stop talking over me!”
Charlie snapped her jaw shut before glaring at Killian like a pouting child. I shook my head in disappointment.
“First of all, you do not get to order me to do 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 continue to put up with your tantrums.” 2
Charlie gaped 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 would no longer get to keep her title as the princess.
“Second, I did nothing to your mother or take her anywhere. If you had used any bit of your brain instead of feeding your actions
from your emotions, you could have asked any of the witnesses there with me. You’re protective 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, but the
petty voice in the back of my head wanted to make sure that there was no question in Charlie’s mind about where she stood in
the hierarchy of this family.
“Lastly,” I snarled as I placed one hand on the end of each armrest and leaned forward until our faces were only a foot apart. My
magic was swirling beneath my skin, and I felt victorious as she 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 we are sisters, but you don’t know the meaning
of the word. You don’t even see me as part of your family. Regardless, you were the one who attacked me, Princess.
Attempting to murder the queen is treason. Don’t forget your place. If anyone is going to be executed, it will be you. I’ll inform you
of your fate once I decide your punishment.” 2
She glared at me as her eyes watered, but her mouth stayed shut. I wasn’t sure if that was my doing or if she didn’t have
anything to say.
I wasn’t going to execute her. 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 mark on my neck. I turned to Killian.

A small part of me expected him to be proud of me for holding my own against Charlie, but the hatred was still on his face as his
eyes met mine.” Charlotte, go cool off.” 1
Killian’s order surprised me, and I let my hold on Charlie drop. Why hadn’t he reprimanded her for attacking his mate? Perhaps
he was satisfied with how I had done it, but 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 a seat.
I almost felt like a stranger with the desk between us as I sat down. This time I stayed silent as I waited for him to speak. I had
won the first battle, but this would be our war.
“You went 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 more, but
that was the only card he was showing.
Beyond that was a wall, as if he were intentionally holding everything else back from me.
“I knew the two were related, and it felt wrong to ignore it. It came to me for a reason, Killian.” I hoped that he felt my 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 inches tall, and the
confidence I had during my conversation with Charlie rapidly vanished.
“You disobeyed a direct order from your superior.” His rewording of the same statement suddenly made more sense to me. 1
“Funny, as your mate and queen, I thought we were equals. Are you mad that I could have put myself in danger or that my new
abilities allowed me to go against your command?”
The silence in the room somehow sounded so loud. I could hear my blood pumping through my veins. Would he really be so
shallow as to be bothered by having a mate more powerful than he was?
“I am mad that you 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 irritating me further and making my blood boil.
“You’re going to ask me that as if you dismissing Charlie didn’t undermine me the same way? She is acting like a spoiled brat,
and I am sick of it! She hurt you time and time again, and now she attacked me publically. I don’t deserve it. Neither one of us
do!” I leaned forward in my chair as I spoke.
“Charlie 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, his glare

unwavering. 1
“That doesn’t excuse her behavior toward either one of us! Why do you let her get away with it all the time?” I stood, throwing
one hand up in exasperation as I began to pace in front of his desk.
His negative feelings toward me didn’t seem to be lessening, and the mask over his emotions only seemed to be hardening with
each passing word.” She gets a little more leniency, especially regarding my mother.”
“What about with me?!” I snapped, glaring at him. He was clearly choosing sides. I just hoped he understood that he was doing
it. “She tried to kill me, and you did nothing! You just stood there watching!”
I watched as his eyes narrowed, and he laughed cruelly.
“You had everything under control. I wouldn’t let her kill you.” The magical mix of color in his hazel eyes and the sharp features
that made him so handsome suddenly looked sinister.
“Just injure me a little, is that it?”
“No!”
“Well, you wouldn’t have let anyone else close enough to touch me if they were the ones who attacked. Why the hell do you
keep Charlie up on a pedestal when she continues to push the limits? What is so special about her that after she abandoned you
time and time again that you would still choose her over me?” Angry and fat tears rolled over my cheeks as I yelled back at him.
“She was the product of rape! She deserves a little understanding.” Killian shouted back, his face red and his vein bulging as it
tried to break free from his neck.
My mouth pressed shut as I stared at him, feeling my anger dissipating.
“My mother gave my father a son, an heir, and thought she was done. When my father said he wanted another kid, she didn’t.
No one knew what happened until a nasty fight when I was fourteen, and they spilled that dirty secret over a family dinner. It was
hard for her, and she deserves a little understanding.” He closed his eyes and ran his palm over his face as he leaned back
against the chair.
“She was a little kid when that news came out then! She is a grown woman now! There is understanding, and then there is
coddling. She may have wanted to have a say in what happened to your mother, and knowing what I do now if that were an

option, I would agree.” I watched as his eyes opened and felt the disappointment lower in our mate bond. My heart clenches as
the lack of emotion felt like a bottomless void.
“But it’s not an option anymore, is it.” Killian’s eyes hardened as he spoke.
“No, it’s not. But I have the feeling you will see her again soon.” I said as I turned toward the doorway. My chest physically hurt
as I felt my heart breaking.
I knew there was a difference between the man and the king. But this side of Killian was different. Where had my mate gone?
It seemed there were more sides to Killian than I had thought, and I hated this one.
He didn’t speak as I left the room, and I wondered if that had been our first real fight or our last.