The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 17

Seventeen: Natalie

Natalie's p.o.v.

Killian had done as I had expected and returned to his cold and brooding self the next morning. I was just happy that he hadn't killed anyone else since we had come home. Brooding, I could deal with.

He was already halfway out the door before I had regained consciousness, and the 'good morning' I had thrown at him was greeted by him closing the door between US.

It still made me smile though. The fact that he was there when I had woken meant that once again he had slept in with me, holding me tight against him. His walls were cracking, and as soon as he was ready to let me in, I would be here waiting.

Training had been canceled as Joselin was busy with Killian, and Tobias shook his head at me. I knew right away that he didn't want to have any distractions today. So, having him train me was also out of the question.

Instead, I decided that it was time that I educated myself. I didn't want to keep pestering Killian with questions when it seemed to be a sure way to make him angry, and Tobias guided me to the library where I found all kinds of books on Lycan history and different creatures. It was the information on Vampires that I found particularly useful.

I could come back to learn about Lycans, but the immediate threat was the bloodsuckers that had killed one of our men. If I could educate myself on their kind, then maybe Killian would see some use in me after all and would talk to me about it.

I was lost in their story, learning about how they took pride in capturing the strongest of victims to turn them into bleeders. Lycans were at the top of their food chain. It was rare that they managed to get their hands on them, but when they did, the Lycans had been able to fight off the poison for years. It made them the perfect food source.

Having one of their men attacked and killed yesterday told me that it was far more than just one vampire that had fed from and repeatedly bit him. Killian had said that the man had died from the excessive number of bites.

If a Lycan could stay alive for years with the poison in their system, I had to wonder just how many bites or vampires were involved in the man's murder. It was a lot more serious than just one rogue vampire causing trouble.

"Huh," Joselin said as she appeared in front of me, the black lines dancing along her skin and catching my attention. "I never thought I would find you here."

I closed the book on my finger to save my place, giving Joselin my undivided attention. "Why is that?"

"I pictured you as more of a cheesy romance type than to be reading in the history section." She leaned forward, grabbing the book from my hands, and I let out a protest as she made me lose my place. "Curious about vampires, are we?"

"The king doesn't like it when I ask questions. I am looking for answers." I watched as Tobias shook his head in disappointment as he maintained his sweeping gaze from one door to the next. I knew he wasn't disappointed in me, but his reaction still made me feel embarrassed. 1

I reached forward, trying to grab the book from Joselin, but was too slow as she pulled it out of my reach.

"Fascinating creatures. If they didn't believe that the rest of the world was only here as cattle to feed and serve them, they wouldn't have had to die." The book floated above her palm as she flipped through the pages. "It'll be hard when we have to battle them again."

The attack was only a warning, and I knew from what I had learned of The Great War that history was about to repeat itself. I just wasn't sure what part I was to play in it. If I were to one day be queen, I would be expected to stand by Killian's side as he sent our men and women off to war... to their deaths. 1

It was a guilt that I was not prepared to live with. "I imagine it will be. Is that what you have been training me for?"