The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 97

Ninety-Seven: Killian

Killian’s P.O.V.

My world stopped spinning momentarily as I felt her body collapse on top of mine, shielding me from the inevitable blow that would end my life. I expected it to be cold and dark as I entered the veil, but there was a sudden heat instead.

I opened my eyes and watched a large blue flame leave Natalie’s body, rolling off her like a wave. There was a loud collection of hissing and screams as the vampires stumbled to the ground, trying to extinguish the flames, but it was useless.

I felt the warmth and the heat, but it didn't hurt me. The flames that would end the lives of so many were almost comforting and calming to me.

Joselin had seen Natalie saving me in her vision months ago, but so many things had happened since then. There was no certainty of it coming to fruition. I had been encouraging Natalie to study and practice her magic. Still, she had only had a couple weeks between getting her powers and using them in battle.

So, I fought. I fought tooth and nail, prepared to fight to my death to save my people and my mate. I knew I was going down, and I made it my mission to take down as many of them as possible.

Natalie shouldn't have had to see it. I hated that she did.

I had hoped she would be strong enough to save herself, but I hadn't expected her to save me... to save everyone.

It took several minutes until the screaming stopped, and the field went silent.

I could only see the blue. The blue of her flames. The blue of the sky above me.

The poison was pumping through my veins rapidly, and I struggled to pull in my next breath.

’Your Majesty, we need to tend to the king!" A soft voice hesitantly whispered. Natalie was lifted from my body an inch before she scrambled to cover me again, holding me tighter than before.

Her fear pulsed through our bond as her face remained tucked into my chest, shielding me protectively.

I needed to get up. I needed to make sure she was safe. It was only a few dozen bites and cuts. I had experienced worse. If I hadn't been outnumbered and held down, I could have easily taken a hundred more bites before letting their poisonous fucking saliva beat me.

I was positive I had a broken rib or two, but I had given better than I got. Undoubtedly, I had taken down a minimum of a hundred. I had been ready to slaughter them all to keep them from my mate.

The world began spinning around me again, and my head felt ready to explode from the movement as I tried to sit myself up too quickly. We weren't safe yet. This wasn't over.

The last thing I needed was my Healers running to the front line and risking their lives for mine when their kind was already on the edge of extinction, and I did not need them. But at least one of the doctors was already here by the sound of it.

I also didn't know what our situation looked like. How many were left? Was my mate still exposed to further danger?

My arm lifted and let it fall over Natalie's back as I forced myself to sit up again. She tried to pull away, staring at me with wide, water-filled eyes. My vision was blurry as I let out a groan of pain but pushed myself up further.

Where were my men when the vampires were swarming me? Were they injured...dead? They had a powerful force against us, but we should have easily matched them in number.

I clenched my teeth together as I forced myself to look around, terrified I would see my people dead around me. It was the outcome of war. Death. But I had never seen so much of it so fast.

The sun hadn't reached the sky's center, yet thousands of bodies were strewn across the ground, burned beyond recognition. All eyes were on us, and as I looked over the familiar faces, I met my mother's eyes. She stood in chains with the remaining standing council members watching her closely. I had no doubt they had injected my mother to limit her powers, and the other traitorous witches sat on their knees to the side, waiting to pay fortheir crimes.

"My apologies, your majesty." The voice came again, and I ignored them as I felt a slight pressure on my neck. I knew it was the antidote to help me heal from the vampire venom. The entire pack would need it, and we brought a few trucks of it just in case. The Healer pulled the needle out quickly before whispering softly. "May I examine your wounds?"

"No," I ordered, looking down at my mate. I was healing slowly but surely, and I didn’t need to take any more of her time than I already had when others in my pack could be more seriously injured. "Tend to the others."