Mated to the Beast of the Wasteland novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42 One Billion

Chapter 42 One Billion

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The grip-buggy was tearing along like it was chasing a starship, and the motion left Gillian fighting nausea.

When the buggy finally pulled up, Gillian realized they’d stopped just short of the base housing complex without going inside.

Just as she’d suspected. The real meeting was waiting for her right here.

Lucian punched the park button and folded the passenger seat down into the floor, opening up the cabin.

He reached in and dragged a metal case out of the front compartment.

A bundle of fluffy fur filled the small case, and those signature pink ears made it impossible to mistake the occupant for anyone but Tristan.

Gillian’s eyebrow lifted. “You hit him with regression serum?”

“You’re sharp, ma’am. I’m begging you, please save Tristan’s life.”

Lucian held the small case in his hands and looked over at Gillian, something close to pleading flickering across his face.

Only now did Gillian get a clear look at him, and he bore no resemblance to Tristan at all.

His features were sharp and striking, his build tall and powerful.

If he hadn’t shifted in front of you, you’d never guess he belonged to the Foxkin.

He was nothing like Tristan, that scrawny troublemaker who’d snap at anyone within reach.

“Now you’re the smart one. This trick really does slow the taint down. Keeps the little guy hanging on.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am. I’m just asking you to take pity. Spare Tris.”

Hearing Lucian call her ma’am felt strange to Gillian’s ear, though she didn’t dwell on it. Merrick was a colonel, after all, so calling his wife ma’am made plenty of sense. “And if I don’t want to? You do know he was planning to rip my throat out today.”

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11:35 Mon, Jun 1 M

Chapter 42 One Billion

Lucian had braced himself for a flat refusal.

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If their positions were reversed, an enemy wouldn’t have walked out of the Medical Hall alive on his watch.

“Tris lost his mother young, and I wasn’t there to raise him. That’s how he ended up so spoiled.

“His mistakes are partly mine to answer for. I’ve spent six years in the legion taking every hit thrown at me. All I’m asking, ma’am, is that you take pity and leave the Lawson line at least one heir.”

Gillian glanced at the pink-and-white fox whose breathing had nearly stopped.

A 20-year-old Gillian might have caved on the

spot.

The 28-year-old version of her had no mercy left for someone who’d come for her life.

“And what if I decide not to save him?”

Her soft, sweet voice filled the cabin, and both men kept silent.

Gillian shifted her eyes to her side. Would Merrick really side with Lucian and pressure her?

Lucian seemed unsurprised that she’d hold her ground, and a sigh slipped out of him.

“Then I’ll take him straight to Firefox City. Whether he lives is up to fate.”

Lucian sounded so calm he might as well have been discussing a stranger, and there was no hint of a threat in his voice.

“Gillian, what are you thinking? Whatever’s between you and Tristan, it hasn’t gone past the point of fixing. If both sides give a little, everyone walks away happy. In Wasteland City, no one’s an enemy forever.”

Merrick wasn’t pulling the kind of guilt-trip Gillian had braced for, hammering her about how these were his men, his friends, so she had no choice but to step in.

Approached like this, she was willing to hear them out. Enemies didn’t always have to stay enemies.

“Merrick, fine. Spell out what ‘give a little’ actually looks like on your end.”

Lucian saw her face soften and laid the offer out first.

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11:35 Mon, Jun 1 M.

Chapter 42 One Billion

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“If you’ll treat Tristan, the Lawson family will pay one billion coins as both apology and thanks.”

“Generous, aren’t you.”

“If that doesn’t settle the score, the serum lasts three months. If Tris pulls through, he’ll spend, those three months in fox form at your side, guarding you.”

This guy had to be saying the opposite of what he meant.

“So Tristan, the moment he wakes up, will happily let me order him around?”

That was practically asking her to dig her own grave.

“As a servant. That, I could work with.”

A small laugh escaped Gillian as she pushed the demand further, wanting to see exactly how far Lucian would bend.

“Ma’am, if that’s what gets you to step in, we can make it work,”

Lucian’s voice gave nothing away, but Gillian could see the veins standing up across the back of his hand. He was holding the anger back.

Clever girl.

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