CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
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CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
Talia’s POV
When I finally awoke, I felt as though I had been struck by a truck. My body ached as if I had spent all night sparring. I blinked several times, waiting for my vision to adjust to the light.
“You’re awake!” Solon said. He sat in the chair at my bedside and immediately grabbed my hand. “How do you feel?”
“Like I have been run over,” I admitted with a faint groan. I looked around and noticed I wasn’t in my lovely room. “Where am I? Am I in the infirmary?”
De was sitting by the window, bncing a tray across herp. The moment she heard my voice, she jumped to her feet, nearly dropping the tray to the floor.
“Thank the Goddess you’re awake. You frightened us half to death!” she said. “You have been unconscious for two days, Talia.”
My eyes widened. “Two days?” I balked.
“Yes,” Solon said grimly. “When they brought you in, I thought…”
I squeezed his hand and smiled weakly. “I am alright, Solon. Do not dwell on it.”
De hurried forward. She sat the tray on myp before pouring me a ss of water. “Drink and eat first. Then, we can talk.” She removed the lid from the tray, revealing chicken noodle soup, crackers, and a cup filled with cut
fruit.
The scent of warm broth made my stomach growl. I gulped down the water. I could feel the water rush down into me, activating my hunger even more. Once I began the soup, I could not stop myself. I finished it quickly before moving on to the fruit.
“You worried us so much,” De stated after a while. “We weren’t sure you would wake up.”
I gave her a faint smile, though the weight of Solon’s gaze drew my attention again.
“What happened that night?” Solon asked suddenly. His voice carried both protectiveness and suspicion. “Nn carried you in, and you were wearing only his shirt.”
The spoon in my hand froze halfway to my mouth. I remembered Nn’s intoxicating scent surrounding me, and the intensity of his eyes when I begged him to mark me. I couldn’t help blushing at the memory.
No… it had to be a dream. There was no way I’d have done that. And calling Nn my mate? Absolutely impossible,
“I’m not sure. Everything is fragmented,” I responded, “I just remember we got trapped in the library,”
“Did Nn harm you?” Solon asked.
De threw her hands up in exasperation. “What kind of question is that, Solon?”
“I have to ask,” Solon argued. “I need to know she’s okay.”
De frowned and said, “I know you refuse to believe it but Nn nor the doctor lied to you. The doctor said she was untouched.”
“The doctor’s right. Nn did not harm me,” I confirmed.
CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
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Solon’s eyes narrowed. “Did Nn force you into the library?”
I shook my head. “No. He only wanted to look for records about rogues. I let him in.” It wasn’t aplete lie. I did give him permission to review the records.
“Reckless,” Solon snapped, his voice sharp. “Why would you allow that?”
I flinched at his tone but answered firmly. “Would you have preferred that he tore Father’s library apart instead?”
“Yes, I would,” Solon shot back. “Do you realize what could have happened? If he had marked you while you were in heat…” He broke off as he attempted to calm himself.
My eyes widened in surprise. “What…what do you mean?” I stammered.
“You put yourself in a dangerous position where Nn could have used you against us because of a mate bond,” Solon continued. “I am sure he knows how loyal you are to the mate bond.”
“I went into heat?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes,” Solon answered, his tone harsh. “Your wolf reacted to the full moon. You should have been more careful. You could’ve…”
De interrupted Solon, “Nn tied you to a chair so you would not harm yourself. He did not touch you, Talia. He stayed with you all night and kept you safe. If anything, he acted like a gentleman.”
Her words only worsened my shame. It meant that it had been real. I begged him. How was I supposed to look him in the eyes now?
Solon gave a bitter snort. “Do not make him sound noble, De. He held back only because he feared Father’s punishment, not because of any sense of honor. He probably nned all of this.”
I didn’t respond. I would have believed that Solon was correct except for two details. There was no way that Nn would have known I was going into heat, so he couldn’t have nned this ahead of time. Also, Nn’s expression when the library’s mechanism jammed had been genuine rage.
“Nn didn’t look guilty when he couldn’t get the door open,” I finally said. “He was very angry about it.”
“What are you saying? You think someone else must have tampered with it?” De asked.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” I nodded. “Someone wanted us trapped together. But who and why?”
No one said anything for a moment as I finished off the rest of the food on the tray. Then De suddenly gasped, seizing my wrist. “What happened? Why isn’t this healed?”
I looked down at my wrist. There was an ugly bruise from where I assumed Nn tied my wrist. It should have healed a long time ago. Two days had passed, and yet it was still there and tender to the touch.
“That is not normal,” Solon muttered. “Your wolf should have healed that within hours.”
I closed my eyes and reached inward, searching for the presence that had always been there,
‘Where are you?’ I asked internally, but there was nothing,
‘Please, answer me,’ I tried again, calling louder. I received no response which caused panic to set in.
‘Are you angry with me? Please, say something,’ I called out again. But, again, there was still no response.
My eyes flew open in shock. “She is not there.
CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX
Solon looked at me in concern. “What did you say?”
De gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.
“My wolf… has disappeared,” I choked out, the words breaking as panic seized me.
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