The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 58

Fifty-Eight: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

Damien was great.

I firmly believed that he was a good fit for Charlie, and after he seemed to warm up to me, he ended up being really funny. At the beginning of dinner, it was all one-word answers after Killian snapped at the couple, but as I asked him more questions, he began to open up.

Killian just grunted or growled each time Damien made the rest of us laugh. Charlie was happy that Joselin and I were getting along with her mate, but I didn't miss the glare she would send her brother every so often.

She wanted him to like Damien too, or to at least put in an effort.

"How long are you going to ignore me?" Killian asked, dropping his head down on his pillow as we got into bed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

I rolled onto my back, turning my head to face him. "I was only irritated that you snapped at me, Killian. I was over that within a few seconds. I am angry at how you handled tonight."

He shook his head with a groan, "I am allowed to handle it how I see fit. She is my sister!"

"And she has found her soulmate and is happy!" I said, sitting up and letting the blanket fall to my hips, taking it down a few inches on his chest as I did so. "Do you think maybe the reason they were keeping it a secret might be because they knew you wouldn't be accepting? All she wanted you to do was be civil and maybe get to know the man she loves."

”1 was civil! Isn't that what you asked of me, civility? I could very easily have killed him and been done with it since she didn't wear a mark.

Charlotte would have survived. I held myself back for you!" Killian lifted his hand in exasperation as he grumbled his annoyance. 2

My heart fluttered in my chest at his admission. He wanted to be a better man for me, a just man. I had seen him kill without blinking, and now he was...changing.

When I had asked for civility, I had meant his treatment toward me. But seeing that he had heard me made all my anger melt away.

"I appreciate it. Maybe one day, the two of you will get along. He seemed to make Charlie very happy. Plus, he was chosen for her by the Goddess, it wasn't like it was an ill-thought-out one-night stand. They are in a

relationship. They are soul mates." I smiled with excitement as I placed my hand on his stomach, feeling the warmth of his skin through the sheet.

"We'll see." He grumbled before wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me back down until my back was against his chest. The grumble of defeat and annoyance made me smile brighter as I knew I won. He would end up giving Damien a chance, and I had the feeling once he did, he

would really like him. "He will need to show me the respect I have earned though."

I rolled my eyes, knowing his speech of Tm the big bad wolf, and everyone bows to me' was coming. "He seemed very respectful tonight."

"Toward you," Killian mumbled as sleep grew thick in his voice.

I thought back to the evening, but I didn't pick up on anything out of the ordinary. The way he was treating us tonight was the same as the rest of the kingdom. I couldn't remember any blatant disrespect from anyone beyond me eating before Killian out of spite for him snapping at me.

"I don't..."

He shushed me softly, nuzzling his nose into my neck. "Don't worry about it. We have bigger things to focus on tomorrow with your coronation in a couple days. The bear can wait."

Butterflies filled my stomach as I thought about the ceremony that thousands of people would watch. I had no doubt by the mad rush through the castle today that it was going to be bigger than I ever could have imagined.

"Do you think your people will be okay with me by your side?" My whisper was met by his slow and even breathing. It was something that I would have to talk to him about tomorrow if there was time.

***

'They went sparring! Can you believe that?"

The loud bang of the bedroom door being thrown open made me jump. My hand swung to Killian's side of the bed, seeking protection, but the sheets were cold. I groaned as the blanket was pulled back, letting in the sunlight and cold morning air as Charlie climbed beneath the bedding, leaning back against the headboard.

"Good Morning," I mumbled as I let out a yawn and tried to find the exact position I was in before, putting my back to her.

"How could he think that this is what I wanted when I asked him to give Damien a chance?" The dramatics were too much for me so early, and I blocked it out as I let my eyes close and sleep pull me back under. "You would think they would grab a drink, play a game, maybe work out... but no. They were both happy with sparring."

I cracked one eye open, cringing at the offensive sunlight before closing it again. "So, go watch them and make sure they don't kill each other."

Charlie's hand slapped back down on the bedding, "I tried. The guards wouldn't let me in. They said Killian ordered the training room to be closed off to everyone."

I bit back my groan as I rolled onto my back and blinked several times until I was used to the light, knowing I wasn't going to get the peace and late morning that I had hoped for. The clock on the wall said it was only seven. Since I had to stay up past midnight for the ceremony tomorrow, I had wanted to sleep in each morning to make it easier on my body.