The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 46

Forty-Seven: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

"Absolutely not!" I snapped as we walked away.

Joselin pursed her lips as she looked away from me and to Killian as if she was expecting him to take her side over mine. 'She felt it!"

He let out a deep breath, and I knew that if I looked back he would be pinching the bridge of his nose. It was his tell that he was frustrated. But I didn't look back, because I knew in my heart that we had grown past this. He wouldn't be taking her side over mine, not over something as significant as blood.

"It couldn't hurt to do some testing."

My body went still, and he caught himself just as his chest collided with my back. His hands found my hips, and he steadied me as Joselin smirked in victory. He didn't bother to unhand me as I spun around in his arms, glaring up at him.

"Seriously? It's my body, my blood. I said no."

He must have not realized how angry it would make me for the two of them to not respect my decision.

Joselin groaned out in irritation, and I turned my glare to her as she spoke up. "I thought you were over this whole you versus me thing! Friends, remember?" 'We are friends, and I'm not mad that he's siding with you right now." I tried to step back, but Killian's hold on me tightened slightly. "I am irritated with both of you equally. I said no to you wanting to take my blood, and I don't need the two of you trying to pressure me or gang up on me, so I am stopping this conversation here before we get into an actual argument." "But you felt the magic. Do you know how rare that is for someone who doesn't come from magic?" She asked, and she lit up with excitement.' This could explain why you didn't shift!" "I felt death. I felt a darkness that made me want to jump in the shower and scrub myself clean as if I had just been standing in a room full of rotting corpses. There was nothing magical about it." I lowered my voice as I spoke, knowing others could still hear me with their supernatural abilities, but hoping it wasn't loud enough for the sound to get back to the infirmary where said infected men were resting.

"Just a few tests. You can watch me do them, and then you can dispose of the blood yourself." Her pleading was unexpected, but I knew she needed a win. After failing at finding more information on the curse, she seemed eager to get answers about me.

But while I wanted to trust her, I had heard about witches. I had heard what they could do to you if they got their hands on one of your personal items. Handing over blood was suicide if it got into the wrong hands.

I let out a sigh.

'There is something else I want to try first to trigger my shift." I felt Killian breathing pause as he held his breath for a moment, and I knew he was thinking about the mark I had asked for. "If that doesn't work, I will let you run your tests, and I will dispose of my blood when you are done. But... if the council is here, the deal is off. I don't want any of the other witches to know about it. They don't need to get their hands on my blood."

Joselin pulled her lips in before popping them out and nodding in agreement. "I agree to your terms."