The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne
Chapter 24

Twenty-Four: Killian

Killian's P.O.V.

Never in my life had I been terrified of a woman. I bowed to no one and demanded the respect Ihad earned.

But as my little sister's face turned red, and I watched as the vein in her neck started to hammeragainst her skin, I was positive that it was my last day on Earth She had always been a delicate-looking little princess until it was time for battle. Then the bloodshed seemed to fuel her soul, andshe thrived in any fight.

She may have been shorter than me, younger than me, and could not shift into the Lycan state, butby the Goddess, she was terrifying when she wanted to be.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Killian?!” She yelled as she placed both palms on the table andleaned toward me. I had yet to take my seat, and after noticing the steak knife touching her pinky, Ihad no desire to join her at the dinner table.

“Contain yourself, little sister,” I warned as I felt my eyes burn the familiar red of my Lycan inwarning of her disrespect.

"Oh, shove it, Killian. Don't you dare pull rank on me!” She shouted with a growl, and I tried not toflinch as she slammed her fist on the table. Oh, if Natalie or Joselin could see me now. They wouldbe having the time of their lives. “I expected more from you!”

“I know what happened between dad and mom hurt you. They damaged me too. But you are notdad, and Natalie is not mom. You need to let go of their past and start looking toward your future.”My hand tightened around my fist as the memories surfaced, and I swallowed my bite of foodharshly.

Their screaming would ruin every moment of family time we had. Meals were the worst because Icouldn't just get up and leave whenever I wanted to. I remembered how excited I was when mynanny would come to get me for my lessons or a nap. I hated being in the same room as myparents. They had no shame in airing out their dirty laundry in front of Charlie and me. But to therest of the kingdom, they were a united front, a force to be reckoned with.

My mother had been chosen as my father's mate. She had been the strongest of her pack and wasselected to produce my father's heirs. She was a breeder. I had never seen a woman resent a manmore in my life than my mother did my father. He gave her everything she could ever want and everask for, but it was never enough for her. She always wanted more, claiming to be a prisoner anddemanding her freedom.

He tried so hard to make her happy and loved her with everything he had, but it wasn't goodenough for her.

I had done as much as I could for Natalie. I filled her closet and dresser with the finest clothes andthe most luxurious jewelry. She had the freedom to roam the castle and our lands as long as shehad her guards with her if she left the walls. I had given her everything I could, but I would not makethe same mistake my father did by giving her my heart.

A small part of my beast got angry at my denial. I knew deep down that she had already stolen alittle. piece of me with the way she would look to me for approval when she did something shethought I would be proud of, how she fiddled with her fingers under the table while maintaining thecomposure and posture of a queen, the way she pulled my hand up and held it over her heart whileshe was sleeping in my arms...

The rest of my heart I had to protect with everything I had. Otherwise, what else would be left ofme?

“I will be nothing like our father. When the time is right, I will mark Natalie and she will be crownedthe queen. But I will not risk my people over a woman.” I watched as Charlie rolled her eyes.

"You're pushing away your soulmate because you're scared she will break your heart like mombroke dad's. I think you're forgetting that dad broke mom's heart too. They weren't supposed to betogether, and they both knew it. You and Natalie are. You are meant for each other, hand-chosen bythe Goddess to love and worship one another in this and every life before and after. You are the onehurting her.” Charlie

had a point, but it was hard to accept it when I had seen for myself the detrimental impact a womancould have on a man.

I cut another piece of my steak, staring intently at the meat as the metal sliced through it smoothly.Joselin had said roughly the same thing, but hearing it come from Charlie seemed to hit differently.She had been there with me through every low of my childhood. She had the same damage that Idid from our parent's failures.

I had the option to be better than my father, but that didn't make it any less terrifying to openmyself up to Natalie.

Perhaps I would test the waters first.