Mated to the Beast of the Wasteland novel Chapter 204

Chapter 204 What’s the History Between You and Maddox?

Chapter 204 What’s the History Between You and Maddox?

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“This is what they mean by pregnancy brain.” Gillian groaned, her face full of regret. “How did I forget about that? Did you let Elowen go?”

“Yeah. I let her go.”

Merrick watched her and felt that familiar jealousy creeping back in.

Another one. Elowen now. Why does she have so many close girlfriends?

“But wait.” Gillian frowned. “What did Elowen have to do with any of this?”

“You saved her Blessed Wine. She showed me a photo of a guest she entertained last night. The warship he left on was parked close to Levi’s. The photo was blurry, but I still recognized him. He was one of Maddox’s shadow guards.”

Hearing that Elowen had been released and had even traded intel over the Blessed Wine, Gillian felt like fate was at work.

“Let me guess,” she said. “Maddox’s people tipped off Levi’s crew to swallow up Winterhush House. We just happened to walk in when Elara got hit with heat powder. Then she went back and tricked Maddox. Or maybe she used me, herself, and Grandma as bait and told Maddox ahead of time. His people nudged Levi’s men into taking Winterhush House, grabbing us along the way, and forcing your hand.”

Both possibilities showed just how unhinged Elara was.

Merrick paused, then went on, “Elara probably got wind of it early. That’s why she brought you and your grandma to Winterhush House. She’s a level 7 cleric, so she threw herself into the trap. She plays rough with everyone, including herself.”

Gillian took a long moment to process it. She didn’t blame Elara. She just hated that she wasn’t strong enough. If she were a level 7 cleric too, Elara wouldn’t have to carry all that weight alone.

“Merrick, what’s the history between you and Maddox? I don’t get your relationship. If he’s your enemy, why did he send Elara to protect you for seven years?”

“He sent her to protect me for seven years?” Merrick’s brow shot up. “That’s what Elara told you?”

“Yeah. Wasn’t that true?”

“She was sent to spy on me. I never moved against her because she was useful. She could treat my soldiers.”

When Gillian had asked about his grudge with Maddox, he had dodged it. Her stomach tightened. Whatever it was, it ran deep. So deep he couldn’t even tell her.

Merrick’s breath skimmed her belly as he kept talking, “Elara and I got in contact when she brought Maddox home. I told her to let you guys lower his guard while I quietly ate away at his forces. Then at the end of the dinner, I hit him with everything.”

He leaned in closer and closer. His warm breath tickled.

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11:34 Wed, Jun 30

Chapter 204 What’s the History Between You and Maddox?

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Gillian’s skin prickled. Was he seriously still glued to her stomach? Getting comfortable down there?

“Merrick, are you done looking? Did the babies answer you? Can you move your head now?”

Merrick pulled away, sulking, a little disappointed. He’d stayed pressed to her belly all that time and still hadn’t heard a peep from the cubs.

“So you hid it from us on purpose,” Gillian said. “You let us dangle in front of him like clowns.”

Merrick’s grin spread wide. “You all were completely genuine, though. Really treated Maddox like Elara’s future husband. He was on cloud nine.”

Oh god, stop talking.

Gillian’s toes were curling with secondhand embarrassment. She had thought he was family. Turned out he was the enemy.

“The only thing I didn’t count on was Freya,” Merrick said. “She came out of nowhere and scooped up the leftovers.”

They both found that a little funny. What a shitshow.

“Do you think Elara loved Maddox?” Gillian asked.

She honestly couldn’t tell anymore. The way they were with each other-if that was love, they used each other, went for each other’s throats, laid traps. If it wasn’t love, they had formed a core bond and gone home to meet the family.

“A guy like that-you mess around and that’s it. Love? It would only drag Elara straight to hell.”

Merrick’s voice shifted whenever Maddox came up.

Gillian grabbed both his arms and coaxed him gently, “Look at me. Tell me what’s between us and him. Because if I’m too nice to him next time, won’t that just rub it in your face?”

“Next time you see him, just call him a heartless bastard.”

Merrick said it, then went quiet. He knew he shouldn’t hide it from her. But this went way back. He hadn’t figured out how to tell her yet.

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