CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TEN
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TEN
Talia’s POV
Werewolves rarely get drunk. Our bodies burn through alcohol so fast that most of us can drink all night and still barely feel anything. I used to be the same, but everything was different now.
Two sses of wine at dinner left me dizzy and my face hot. The room didn’t spin, but I could barely walk in a straight line. All my words came out slurred.
Solon noticed right away. “That’s it for you,” he said quietly, taking the ss from my hand before I could lift it again.
“I’m not a child,” I responded, reaching for the ss but he kept it out of reach.
“You’re done,” Solon stated and then gestured to the guards by the doorway. “See her to her room.”
“I don’t need babysitters. I can walk on my own,” I told him, though the words came out weakly.
“I know you don’t, but after what happened not too long ago,” he said. “I’d rather we be careful.”
“Good night then,” I pouted and left the dining hall with the guards. The guards followed just behind me, trying to give the feeling of walking alone.
When we crossed the courtyard, I saw Nn walking toward the garden path. He was by himself. I slowed. The guards shifted to guide me inside, but I shook my head.
“I want some air,” I said. “Return to your posts.”
“Prince Solon said…” one of them began.
“I said I’m fine,” I snapped. “Follow orders. Just tell Prince Solon you sent me to my room.”
They hesitated for only a moment, and then they stepped back. I crossed the courtyard and followed the same path Nn had
taken.
The garden behind the east wing was quiet, unlike my rose garden. It was edged with hedges and stone benches. Lanterns cast steady light along the path, and the pond at the center reflected it, still and dark.
Nn sat at one of the benches in front of the pond. He had one arm resting on his knee as he watched the water.
I stopped a few steps behind him. “Alpha Nn.”
He turned his head, saw me, and then looked back at the water. “You should be resting.”
“I will, but I came to ask you something,” I muttered.
“Speak then.”
“Why did you save me with your blood?” I asked.
“You didn’t expose me to your father when I broke into his private library,” Nn exined casually. “When I saw rogues, I tracked them. I had no idea they had taken you, I did what I would have done for anyone.”
“You expect me to believe that lie?” I scoffed.
“It is the truth.”
I stepped closer so he had to meet my eyes. “Just because I was unconscious doesn’t mean I don’t remember, and I didn’t hear things.” I expected to see some type of reaction from Nn, but his expression never changed.
“You carried me out of a dungeon. You stood by me in the hospital while others argued outside,” I continued. “You swallowed poison because Leslie said it had to be you. Do you honestly want me to ept that you would have done all of that for anyone?”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TEN
+25 Bonus
“Believe whatever helps you sleep. I don’t me you for your father’s choices, but don’t turn this into something it isn’t. I’m not interested in you,” Nn responded.
His response angered me. Why was he lying? I should have walked away, but the thought of letting it go felt impossible. “That’s your final answer?” I asked angrily.
“Yes.”
Lantern light flicked across the pendant at his throat. I went with my first instinct. My hand shot out, grabbed the chain, and yanked. The sp snapped. The pendant fell into my fist.
Nn stood at once and said, “Give it back.”
I quickly hurled the pendant into the pond. It fell in with a ssh and then sank to the bottom out of sight.
His scent hit me instantly. My body reacted before my thoughts caught up, the wine making it harder to ignore. I remembered his scent from the night in the library and how it made me feel.
“You shouldn’t have done that. You have no idea what you’ve done,” Nn growled.
“Then you shouldn’t have lied,” I said. “You keep pretending that I don’t matter. And you know that isn’t true. Why are you lying?”
“I don’t owe you the answer you want,” he said tly. “I did what was needed. That’s all.”
“You almost died,” I snapped. “You almost died, and I would have had to live with that. Do you think that would have been easy?”
“Go back to your room, Talia,” Nn growled, stepping closer to me.
“No,” I said.
I grabbed his cor and pulled him down to me. I kissed him hard. Nn remained still at first. For a second I thought he would push me away, but then his hand gripped the back of my neck and deepened the kiss. His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him. He kissed me as if he had been waiting for so long to do so.
The kiss triggered a memory of us in that library when my heat had consumed me. I remembered his mouth then. I remembered the word I had whispered that night.
Mate.
D
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