Chapter 78

Seventy-Eight: Natalie Natalie's P.O.V.

My head moved up and down on Killian's chest with every breath he took. Since I had shifted, mystamina had significantly increased. While our time together was wild and exhilarating, it wasnothing like now. Now it was pure, raw, and primal.

Killian seemed to be enjoying that he could let himself be free and wild with me. He held nothingback, and I enjoyed every second of it. Being too rough wasn't an issue when we healed withinseconds. My nails, his nails... my teeth, his teeth. They scratched, scraped, and bit the other personas we lost ourselves to our natural instinct, but not a single mark was left in the end.

My fingertips trailed over his chest in small circles, enjoying how his fingers mirrored mymovements along my spine. After so long without his touch, I was half tempted to climb back ontop of him and never let him leave the bed again. I felt whole when he was here, even more so whenhe was inside me, but I couldn't keep him as a prisoner here. Eventually, someone would barge inlooking for him, demanding he leave our bed.

I didn't want him to, but he had to. As the sun rose in the sky higher with each passing minute, Iknew he was about to.

"Do you want to get an hour or two of sleep before we start the day?" My breasts pressed againsthis side as I bent my elbow and rested my chin on the back of my hand over his peck. He wasstaring at the ceiling, his hand continuing to travel over my bare flesh, and I could practically see thethoughts flying through his head. He was with me physically, but the sun was up, and he was now inwork mode.

"I can't, my love."

My eyes closed as I savored the way the word rolled off his tongue.

There had been a moment in our relationship where Killian went from calling me Little One to MyLove. I hadn't pinpointed exactly when the change from sexually desired to adored happened. Still, Iwould cherish my new term of endearment. Because even though, at the time, he hadn't been readyto tell me that he loved me, he still indirectly told me in his own way.

I would never get tired of hearing it. But Killian's next statement had me opening my eyes andanxiously picking my head up.

"We have their location now, but we lost four men. We must plan our attack before they canprepare any more defenses.” His jaw was tense as he refused to look down toward me, and I knew he was angry at the loss of more of his men. But thatwas uncontrollable in war. There would be losses. We just had to do our best to minimize the casualties.

"How can I help?" My lips pressed against his skin, and he sucked in a breath through his teethbefore clearing his throat.

"I need you to keep training.’ Killian looked down at me, rolling onto his side slowly until we werechest to chest. "I could care less about my life, but I can't have them take you from me. Even if wewere to lose, I need you to live."

"We won't lose. The good guy always wins, right?" I forced a smile as he pressed a kiss to myforehead. I knew it wasn't true. It was a very ignorant statement, but I was trying to stay positive."History is written by the victors, and the person writing it will always write themselves to be thegood guys."

I mulled over his words briefly, but he changed the subject before I could respond.

'Did you talk to Charlie?"

I winced at his question, knowing I had let him down. Secretly, I hoped I could talk to her before hedid, and we could work things out without him knowing. But he would find out one way or another.I wasn't going to keep secrets from him.

Killian sighed at my silence and closed his eyes as I pushed myself closer, pecking his lips multipletimes to remove the disappointment from his face.

“Natalie. His knowing tone sounded almost as if he were scolding me, and I let out a grumble ofdefeat.

'I tried, but then we argued, and she hasn't talked to me since. But she's still here, and I'll makethings right with her. I promise.” I pulled my lip between my teeth, gnawing on it nervously as guiltwashed through me. He had asked for me to take care of his sister while he was risking his life tosave our people.

Instead, we avoided each other for a week, fought, and then went back to silence. It was not whathe had asked of me, and I felt like I had let him down.

"Should I ask what you fought about?" His question made me feel ashamed because it had beenhim. I had said things to Charlie that weren't my business to say.

"No, I saw her talking to a few women who aren't exactly trustworthy. It made me angry because Iwas sure she was talking about me. When she tried to talk to me later, we just didn't see eye toeye.” Killian pulled his eyebrows together, and I could feel the disbelief in our bond. Even I didn'twant to believe that Charlie had said anything against me, and I had no proof to say that she did. "Idon't even know what she said. But I was just so angry that she was talking about me to thatwoman!"

'What woman?" Killian's voice deepened.

I rolled away from him, wanting his comfort but not wanting to talk about the woman he had beenfucking before me when we were naked in bed together. It felt wrong..dirty.

"The woman from Charlie's ball. The one who said you had been sleeping with her, and I was justyour plaything to warm your bed." The words tasted like acid, and I kept my gaze away from him asI rolled out of bed. My back popped as I stretched my arms above my head, trying to act like itdidn't bother me. But it did. It bothered me more than I would like to admit.

I was no angel either. I had been with Jake for years before he mated my sister. But Killian didn'thave to deal with Jake walking around our home. He didn't have to see the constant reminder of theperson who had been sleeping with his mate.

I didn't see her very often. This was only the second time we had crossed paths, but that was twotimes too many.

“Lindsey?" He hummed. I glanced in the mirror and smirked that he was very openly checking outmy ass as I walked toward the bathroom.

So, she has a name.

The bitter thought felt ridiculous. Even though I could see her in person, knowing her name andhearing it from his lips made her feel all the more real.

'I didn't realize she had been released yet. Her time in the dungeon was her only warning. If shedisrespects you again, I will kill her.” He didn't seem to be focused on what he was saying. Theoffhanded way he mumbled his response was as if he couldn't be bothered with the woman.

It made me feel good.

I turned to look at him as I reached the bathroom door, and he groaned with happiness as he staredhungrily at my naked body.

"You would kill her for me?" I asked as I leaned against the cold doorframe, crossing one arm overmy body to grab my other elbow. Killian growled lowly, sending a shot of warmth through mystomach to my core.

The dark look in his eyes made me lick my lips as he climbed out of bed and marched toward me."I would kill anyone for you."