CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & EIGHTY ONE
Talia’s POV
Nolan was still asleep when I woke. We had spent hours making love until we fell asleep from exhaustion. Even so, I did not sleep soundly. My thoughts kept returning to what if scenarios causing me to wake up early.
I took Solon’s dagger from the table and hid it in my left pant leg. I kissed Nolan on the forehead before leaving, making sure not to wake him.
When I arrived in Fangvale, shops were just beginning to open. On a normal occasion, I would have gone to my favorite coffee shop and got a latte, but all I think about was meeting with Jason and how the last time I was here he tried to force me back as his mate.
‘We won’t let him do that again. We will drink and eat nothing,’ my wolf said and I agreed. I decided to go to the park in the middle of Fangvale and wait. I sat on a bench and people watched. That was where Jason found me.
He stepped out from where he had been waiting with his hands in his pockets. He was dressed in a green T-shirt and grey sweatpants and tennis shoes. It was unlike anything he had worn before. Jason always cared about his appearance, but it seemed that no longer mattered now that he was a rogue.
‘Look at his neck. He wears the mark of the Rogue King,’ my wolf growled and there it was: confirmation that Jason had gone to the darkside. The red pendant around his neck looked like an ugly version of the Lonefur ember. Where the ember brought healing, the Rogue King brought death at the hands of hundreds of rogues.
“You came alone,” Jason said. “I am almost impressed by that.”
“You said to come alone,” I replied flatly.
“Good that you’re taking this seriously. Your father does not have long I guess,” he said casually as if he was discussing the weather. “A week? Less? Even the Frostmoon potion may not save him at this stage.”
“Did you really come here to taunt me?” I asked.
“If so, what are you going to do about it?” Jason replied smugly.
“I never thought I would have seen you like this. You were so proud to be a warrior for my father. And now look at you, you’re an errand boy for the Rogue King. You traded one abuser for another,” I shot back and Jason frowned.
“Don’t talk about my father. That is one thing I will not allow,” Jason warned through gritted teeth.
“What do you want for the potion?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Jason answered.
“Stop playing games. What do you want?” I demanded.
Jason smirked and he spread his hands in an open gesture. “I have no conditions. I only want to ease the tension between us. We have history, Talia. It does not have to end in all this. We were something once’
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“Correct. We were something once,” I agreed. “And then I found out what you actually were anything Jason always wanted something and it norinally was for me to be his Lunta again,
I did not bebeve he didn’t want
“I can give you territory,” I negotiated. “I can give you border access that connects Bloodmoon and Siberiang Thane rade agreements with three packs that Bloodmoon controls directly
**
“Talia, I can access that anytime now. That means nothing to me,” Lasonët suklid
“Natue what you want in exchange for the potion, and I will tell you what is possible and what is just
“It is a shame that I didn’t really know how well you negotiated. You worse the risk & been wai
+25 Bonus
“Enough of the compliments, Jason. What do you want from me or I’m leaving?” I pressed.
Jason pulled a small container out of the backpack he was carrying. He played around with it in his hand, steadily grinning at me. Jason looked completely unhinged as he faked like he was going to drop it to get a rise out of me.
‘He is stalling,’ my wolf growled. “There are rogues here. I can smell them. He is waiting for something before he strikes. We need to contact our mate!’
‘Not yet. I need to at least get the box from him first,’ I told her.
“Then, you need to make a move soon. I will not allow him to harm us again,’ my wolf responded.
Jason beckoned me forward with two fingers. “Come here, Talia. You’re too far away.”
‘Don’t,’ my wolf warned, but I ignored her. I stood and walked over to him. When I was close enough to see the detail carved into the red stone at his throat, Jason held out the sealed container. I could see the Lonefur seal on the wax. It was the right container. I reached for it, but he pulled it out of reach.
“Jason, what are you doing?”
“I need to know you truly came alone,” he pressed. “That you have no allies waiting nearby.”
“I already told you I came alone. I would not risk my father’s life by breaking that condition!”
“Then let us make a wager. If Nolan does not appear in the next few minutes, the potion is yours. No further conditions. You
take it and walk away.”
“What the hell is this, Jason? I already agreed to your terms and came here. Now, this?”
“I have no intention of harming you, Talia. I have never wanted that. I only want to know whether you kept your word.
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Then, Jason lifted his hand, and the rogues came out of the trees. They had ropes and they moved fast. I reached for Solon’s dagger and slashed a few of the rogues before I was overwhelmed.
“Get off me!” I snarled as a hand closed around my wrist. It was wrenched backwards and I dropped the dagger in pain. The ropes went around my wrists and were knotted tightly.
“You swore no harm,” I snapped through my teeth.
“And you weren’t,” Jason replied. He stood in front of me while his rogues retreated back up. “Perhaps your pride was wou but no physical harm has come to you.”
I glanced at the dagger lying on the ground where I had dropped it.
“Damn you,” I cursed.
Jason bent down, snatched the dagger, and pressed it to my neck. His whisper was icy, mocking “Now, be a good girl and stay still. I know they’re coming.”
D
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