?Chapter 469:


    Jason’s thoughts raced ahead of reason, tumbling one over the other in a rush that left no doubt—he had fallen fast and fallen hard.


    Soon, the wind eased, and the dust began to clear.


    Elliana leapt from the ne and came walking straight toward Jason.


    Jason could feel his pulse quicken, hammering harder with every inch Death Thorn closed between them. With his face flushed and ears burning, he found it harder to breathe each time she drew nearer. Elliana didn’t know—couldn’t possibly guess—that Jason would take her offhand words seriously. All that mattered to her right now was stabilizing Jason quickly so Cole could get the treatment he needed in Ublento.


    Once beside Jason, she wasted no time, examining him for anything serious. To the eye, he looked fine. But the damage inside—exacerbated by that recent strike—was what had drained him.


    From her pouch, she retrieved a small pill and ced it gently at his lips.


    Jason epted it without protest. The moment it dissolved, a cooling sensation spread down his throat, pooling in his core like warmth after a storm. His strength began to rally fast.


    “Thanks,” he whispered, his eyes lingering on hers.


    With a practiced motion, Elliana wiped her fingers clean and straightened. “Try to stand, Mr. Evans. See what your legs can handle.”


    Pushing himself upward, Jason braced for weakness—but to his surprise, his body responded. He was still unsteady, sure, but the pain had faded to a manageable throb. Whatever she gave him was nothing short of incredible. The moment took him back to thest time Elliana had treated him—her medicine had worked like a miracle then, too. A twist of self-reproach curled in his stomach. He wasn’t even sure Elliana had survived.


    Meanwhile, Elliana was already moving, wasting no time as she turned to tend to Myles, Aron, and Hugh, handing them each a pill in turn.


    Rooted to the spot, Jason didn’t speak. He simply watched her, a quiet warmth spreading through his chest, steady and undeniable. The woman who had once turned Delta upside down was going out of her way to protect him and his crew—all because of a supposed crush on him.


    Right then, the captain approached with a wide grin and a spring in his step. “Mr. Evans! Death Thorn patched up the ne. We’re good to fly back to Ublento!”


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    Gratitude swelled in Jason’s chest like a rising tide. He made his way toward Death Thorn, meeting her gaze with sincerity. “Listen, I’ve gotta get my cousin back for emergency care. But I’lle find youter to properly thank you for what you did.” A pause lingered before he added, almost shyly, “Would you mind giving me your number?”


    There wasn’t a chance in the world Elliana would hand over Death Thorn’s contact details to Jason. But she wasn’t about to contradict the bold request.


    The “confession” of feelings—obviously a lie—she’d made earlier in front of everyone lingered in the air. Instead of acknowledging it, she leaned in smoothly, letting the lie breathe a little more. “You don’t need my number. Just let it be known that you want to see me, and I’lle find you—no matter where you are.”


    Jason didn’t take it as a brush-off. In his mind, it made sense. Someone like her probably didn’t settle in one ce long enough to hand out a phone number. “Got it,” he replied, nodding with understanding.


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