Chapter 47


    Forty-Eight: Natalie


    Natalie''s P.O.V.


    The room spiraled into chaos as Joselin, Killian, and Charlie all began to talk over each other. I tried to


    keep up, but I was so amused by the fact that it was the first time I had seen Killian in this kind of


    situation. It was like they were kids again, and he was fighting with his siblings.


    And he was. But even Joselin was loud and vocal about this mysterious woman... Talia.


    A sh of unwarranted jealousy had spiked through me, and I pushed it down. My head shook as I tried


    to clear the thought from my brain. I heard one female name, and my mind jumped to the worst-case


    scenario. It was unreasonable and only encouraged me to want the mark even more. I wanted to know


    that he was mine and only mine, and I wanted to be only his.


    "She was ready to tear the fucking castle down when she left!" Charlie shouted as Joselin jumped to


    her feet until all three of the ''siblings'' were leaning in close to yell over the other. I sat back in Killian''s


    chair as I watched them fight across the desk.


    "If anyone is going to be drawing blood, it will be me. I still want to skin that bitch!" My eyes widened as


    Joselin mmed her palm down on the desk, her hair flying away from her face, and the ck lines


    along her body vibrated rapidly.


    "She was bitter and angry at the time, but I''m sure when she gets here, she will have moved past


    everything. It''s been almost a decade!" Killian insisted, the tip of hisrge index finger pressing down


    on the desk where my hips had previously been. My eyes stayed locked on the digit against the


    hardwood as he tapped the surface again.


    Maybe it was because of how badly I wanted my mark, to officially be Killian''s mate. But I resented that


    he spoke with a fondness that hinted at an emotional connection to this mysterious woman.


    "She was vindictive!" Joselin snapped before turning and walking to the open area of the room behind


    the chairs to pace back and forth. The three of them fell silent as they all stood up straight, the two


    siblings turning to watch the witch. "If anyone turned against us, it would be her."


    Killian''s shoulders dropped, and I stood from his seat and ced my hand on his back.


    ''We need a n. Some way to test their loyalty without letting on that we are suspicious of them. The


    chest was pressed against my back, and he wrapped his arms around my waist as he rested his chin


    on my head.


    "I have an idea, but I would need to make a few renovations to the entryway. I have never tried it this


    way before, but I have read about it." Joselin paused as she let her head fall back in contemtion.


    "We don''t know if we can trust anyone. I was considering this for those that had been infected, but I


    would need to do more research." ''Can you be any more cryptic? Out with it already.'' Charlie muttered


    as she slouched down into one of the visitor''s chairs.


    "I want to use a trapping rune in the foyer. I will have to make some adjustments to the casting, so it


    applies to the living and not just demons. We can use it to trap anyone who has been working with the


    other side." Joselin muttered, and I could see the wheels spinning in her head.


    "And the council won''t take personal offense because it will apply to everyone and won''t target them


    specifically." Charlie agreed before her eyebrows squeezed together. "Can you make the necessary


    adjustments and have it ready before the council arrives?" ''It''s going to take some time to figure it out.


    I''m not even positive it is possible just yet. I need to do some research." Joselin said before flickering


    out of the room.


    Charlie stood up, letting out a deep breath, seeming more rxed with the counciling for their visit.


    As she began to walk away, Killian''s voice rang out, making her freeze.


    ''The next time you have a problem with how I am running my kingdom, you can talk to me in private. I


    have put up with your public disys of disrespect long enough. It ends now." Killian''s low and


    threatening growl had Charlie''s eyes widening slightly before anger took over, and she red at her


    older brother.


    The woman turned on her heels, storming toward the door when Killian spoke again. "Oh, and Charlie?


    You have a lot to say about stupid decisions, but don''t think I am blind to the bear shifter that has been


    hiding in the forest just outside of the city. You''ve done a piss poor job of masking his scent on you."


    Charlotte didn''t turn this time, but her hand did visibly tighten around the door handle. I could feel the


    mortificationing from her. Her posture was rigid and ufortable as she yanked the door open


    and let it m shut behind her.


    I bit my tongue as he sat back in his chair, pulling me with him. We sat infortable silence as I gave


    him time to dpress. His hand slid up and down the side of my thigh, sending a shiver of pleasure


    down my spine.


    "Who is Talia?" I took it as a bad sign that the sound of her name made him rx. Yes, there was


    definitely a history with them.


    "She was my parent''s right hand, just like Josie is to me. She was practically family until I chose Joselin


    over her as my advisor. She was livid and acted as if I had betrayed her by recing her. I had


    intended to keep her around, but she went a little mad after everything that happened with my parents.


    I didn''t think she was in the right mindset to continue in her current role." His hand stopped moving, and


    I reached for it, squeezing it gently before pulling it up to my chest and holding it close.


    "Charlie told me about what happened with your parents. I am so sorry you had to be a part of that."


    His eyes closed at my words, and I could see the pain sh over his face. "You are, smart, strong, and


    loving. I am proud of the man that you became despite what you had to witness. I don''t want you to


    ever think for a moment that you have to hold yourself back from me. Our rtionship will never be like


    theirs was."


    He shook his head, and I picked his hand up, cing a kiss against his fingers.


    "It won’t be. We will be great together. I didn''t know it before, but I do know it now." He said as his fiery


    eyes met mine. The mixture of green, blue, and yellow in his hazel eyes swirled with emotion. "I was


    chasing you." "You were chasing me?" I repeated, knowing he wasn''t talking about the beginning of our


    rtionship or him escorting me to the infirmary.


    "You told me to think about it, but I didn''t need to. Before I heard you saying you were going to visit


    Heath and Nn, I was nning on throwing you over my shoulder and taking you right back to our


    bedroom where I was going to make love to you before cing my mark, right here." Our joined hands


    moved up as he ran the tip of his index finger when my neck met my cor.


    "Yeah?" I moaned before blushing deeply and clearing my throat. Killian looked amused, watching me


    while I took in a deep and shaky breath.


    ''Yes, my mate." "You can mark me here...now." My statement made his eyes sh red before he shook


    his head. His hand didn''t seem to listen to his mind as his thumb rubbed small circles on my inner


    thigh, teasing me.


    "I will mark you. But I will not do it here. Not in a chair or bent over my desk. You deserve to be treated


    as a queen, and I will take you in our bed when I mark you." My eyes closed as I savored his words,


    thinking about all the ways that he could take me in our bedroom. We had covered most positionsContent property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    during my night of heat, but I was positive that there were things we hadn''t done yet, things that only he


    could teach me.


    "Let''s go now then. Turn in early for the evening." I slid off hisp, feeling aplished and excited


    when I saw his hard member under his dress pants.


    His eyes raked over me, making me feel hot and unsteady. I wouldn''t have minded bending over his


    desk again, or climbing on top of him in his chair. If he wanted, we could do it on the floor or up against


    the wall.


    "You''re too good to me, my mate." He growled, rising to his feet as his eyes turned ck.


    It was only a brief moment, but I knew our time together hade to an end. He was getting called


    away, and there was nothing I could do about it. His people needed him. My orgasm and marking


    would have to wait until tonight.


    Excitement filled me as ideas flooded my mind, different outfits I could wear or positions I could be


    waiting in for him when he turned in for the night.


    But his smile fell, and his hands curled into fists as his eyes returned to normal. "I am so sorry, Little


    One."


    I sent him a sad smile before pushing up on my tippy toes and kissing the side of his jaw. "Don''t worry. I


    am not going anywhere. I''ll be here." "I can''t get a fucking break." He didn''t say it outright, but I heard it


    clearly in his tone. What he was indirectly trying to say was, Tm exhausted.''


    He leaned in, stealing a kiss as his hands curled into my hair before pulling away and cing his


    forehead against mine. "I will see you soon, my mate."


    As he made his way to the door, I could help but chuckle as I heard him muttering about bears fighting


    with wolves.