CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & FORTY SIX


    Talia’s POV


    Once thest of the visiting convoys had cleared Bloodmoon territory, Nn took Solon to see the tunnels. It made sense to do it then. Solon was one of the few people we trusted with that information and with the appearance of mad rogues again, it made sense to show him.


    De and I stayed behind and sat with Leslie in her room. She was still asleep even when Solon carried her back to their guest room. We kept our voices low and pulled two chairs close to the window, so we were not hovering directly over her while she


    rested.


    “He deserved it,” De said.


    “What?” I asked. “Who are you talking about?”


    “Landon, he deserved to be hurt by the mad bear,” De repeated.


    “De, you can’t be serious,” I said.


    “I am serious. The bear should have finished the job,” De said firmly. She folded her arms and looked out the window. “Do you know that the Lonefur pack has not grown in six years? Members have been quietly leaving for other packs for years. Landon has spent a lot of time and energy to cover it up, but Silverfang has epted so many of their own pack members for years.”


    “I did not know that,” I said.


    “Of course, you wouldn’t. It only became clear a few years after you left for Shadoww. He has coasted on his family name for as long as anyone can remember,” De exined. “And today he almost turned into a mad rogue because he could not bring himself to take three steps back when someone told him to.”


    “Normally, you wouldn’t be this worked up about it.” I mentioned.


    “He almost got people killed. Nn and Solon both had to intervene. What if they had gotten bit?” De said.


    I had not thought about that. I was confident in the fact that that would not happen.


    “Solon or Nn should take it over,” De continued.


    “It is not that simple,” I said. “That pack has belonged to Landon’s family for four generations. Stripping him of it over one incident would send the wrong message-every Alpha would start to wonder if they’re next, if we could take their pack at any moment. The only person who could do that would be my father, the Alpha King. Right now, I am the Luna of Bloodmoon, not the one who makes that call.”


    De’s eyes narrowed. She wanted to argue but with how red face was turning, I could tell she couldn’te up with a counter


    to my argument.


    “He showed real remorse today,” I continued. “More than I expected from him, if I ampletely honest. He is not beyond redemption. And he left Leslie an apology gift before he was discharged.”


    De’s frown vanished to a mischievous smirk. “What kind of gift?”


    “He didn’t say. It was delivered to the room while you were out getting tea. It is on the side table.”


    “What gift?” said a voice from the bed.


    We both turned. Leslie was awake, propped up on one elbow. She wasn’t yawning. Her eyes were wide and clear of a person who had been awake for a while.


    “You are supposed to be resting,” I said.


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    “I was resting,” she replied. “Until the two of you started talking.”


    “We were whispering,” De said.


    Leslie rolled her eyes and pushed herself upright against the pillows. “I have been awake for at least thest ten minutes. You are not as quiet as you think.” She straightened the nket across herp. “Where is Solon?”


    “He went with Nn to see something,” I said. “He will be back soon. How are you feeling?”


    “Better than I was,” Leslie responded. “Which is not saying much.” She looked at the side table. “What gift?”


    I picked up the small box from the side table and brought it to her. It was wrapped simply with a in ribbon, and there was a small card attached with Leslie’s name written on it. Leslie looked at the card for a moment withoutment and then set it aside and opened the box.


    De had moved her chair several inches closer without appearing to notice that she had done it.


    The door opened before Leslie could say anything. Nn stepped in first, with Solon close behind. Nn came straight to me, a warm smile on his face as he took my hand.


    Across the room, Solon caught sight of Leslie sitting up in bed. His pace quickened. He reached her in a few strides, sat on the edge of the bed, leaned in and kissed her.


    “Solon, you keep kissing her like that you’re going to make her faint again,” De teased when the kisssted longer than a few


    seconds.


    Solon pulled back and cupped Leslie’s face. “How do you feel?”


    “Better now,” Leslie said quietly with a blush. She held his gaze for a moment before looking back at the box in her hands.


    “So, are you going to open it?” De asked.


    “Open what?” Solon asked.


    “Landon sent her an apology gift,” De replied.


    “He should just give us the pack,” Solon sneered.


    “See! Solon is on my side!” De eximed.


    Leslieughed as she opened the box. She gasped and lifted out the ne inside. It was a deep red stone set in a in gold chain. The stone was a deep rich red that seemed to hold the light rather than simply reflect it. Leslie held it up and went very


    still.


    “It is the Lonefur Ember,” she said in excitement. “I did not think he would part with this. I did not think he was capable of it.”


    “What is the Lonefur Ember?” I asked.


    212


    IN


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