CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY TWO
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY TWO
Talia’s POV
The afternoon sun hung high when I reached the training grounds. At the far end, Solon stood alone. Sweat glistened on his skin as he drove his fists into a wooden target. The dull thud echoed through the field again and again. Each strike harder than the last.
As I approached, I could smell his blood on the wind. “Solon,” I called, but he did not stop.
Blood streaked from a split across his knuckles, and his chest rose and fell in short bursts. His arms were covered in bruises. I watched for a moment before I approached him.
“That is enough,” I said firmly.
He ignored me and threw another punch. The wood cracked.
“Solon.” I caught his wrist. “You will break your hand.”
He pulled away but did not strike again. Sweat slid down the side of his neck, and his breathing remained uneven. He didn’t meet my gaze as he slowly walked over to his bag to grab his water bottle.
“What do you want, Talia?” he asked flatly.
“I came to check on you,” I said.
“I don’t need you checking on me,” he replied. “I’m fine.”
“You have been out here for hours.”
“I needed a distraction.”
“Thinking about Leslie?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
I studied him quietly as he drank his water. When he finished, he dropped the bottle to the ground.
“Has she already left Silverfang?” Solon finally asked.
“No,” I said. “She is still in the hospital.”
He gave a short, bitter laugh. “That is a surprise.”
“I convinced her to stay,” I said. “She agreed to get to know you slowly.”
“You should not have interfered. She told me how she really felt,” Solon stated. “If you had not stopped us, the rejection would have been complete by now.”
“You don’t mean that.” I snapped.
“I do,” he said quietly. “You cannot force someone to love you,”
“I am not forcing anyone,” I said, “I am giving her time to think without pain clouding her judgment.”
Solon gave me a confused look. “She felt pain? How did I hurt her? She’s the one lashing out.”
“No, that’s not what I mean,” I said. “Her pain does not come from you. It comes from what happened before.”
“Before? Goddess, am I being punished for the decisions of an ex-lover?” Solon huffed.
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY TWO
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I shook my head. “Worse. Her father betrayed the mate bond with her mother. Her father even forced her mother to save his lover which ended up killing her mother.”
Solon’s eyes widened. “She told you that?”
“She did,” I said. “That is why she does not trust mate bonds. It is not you. It is what she saw growing up. She is afraid the bond will turn her into her mother, who was devoted to someone who might one day choose to betray her.”
Solon sank onto the bench beside me and rested his elbows on his knees. “Is her father still alive? I’d like to punch him in the throat.”
“That I do not know,” I laughed.
“No wonder she looked terrified when she realized I was her mate,” Solon sighed.
“She was trying to protect herself,” I said. “You should not take it personally.”
“That is easier said than done,” Solon stated. “Goddess, I feel like an asshole now.”
“Don’t. You didn’t know,” I said. “And for what it’s worth, she doesn’t think you’re an asshole. Leslie’s just scared to let anyone in.”
“I suppose I owe you for stopping me earlier,” Solon said.
“Yes, yes you do,” I responded with a laugh.
He nodded and stared at the training ring. “Do you think this will really work?”
“As long as you don’t rush this, it will. You have to be open and honest about everything even if you think it is insignificant,” I explained.
“I can do that.”
“I know you can.” I stood. “Now go see the healer.”
“They’ll heal on their own anyways,”
“Not if they get infected. Now, go.”
Solon groaned but stood anyway. “Yes, Princess.” He began walking away, then he stopped and turned around. “Thank you, Talia.”
I smiled and nodded. If I could ensure that Solon was happy and this worked out between him and Leslie, that would be enough for me.
When Solon finally left, I stayed a moment longer and let the breeze cool my skin. I should have dressed in my workout clothes. Sparring would really help with clearing my head. I turned toward the rose garden.
The scent of roses thickened the closer I came,
From a distance, I noticed movement near the gate. Two guards stood at the entrance. Their posture was stiff and alert. Nolan and Jason stood nearby. Their voices were raised, and they were clearly arguing.
Even from across the path, I could hear Jason’s tone sharpen, and Nolan’s reply matched it. The guards looked uneasy, caught between stepping in and pretending not to hear.
“You idiot, she already told you her decision,” I heard Nolan growl.
“What I talk about with the Princess is none of your damn business,” Jason barked back.
I rolled my eyes. What is going on now? Why couldn’t they just stay calm for one day?
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY TWO
I sighed and walked toward them. When I reached the gate, both of them turned.
“Shut up,” I said. My voice was calm but firm. “What do you two want from me?”
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