Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 296

Talia’s POV

My father looked even worse than yesterday. The scent of death lingered in the room. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

IV tubes ran from my father’s arm and chest to the machines by his bed. The only sound was the slow, steady beep of the monitor, each tone making the silence feel heavier. His hat was gone, revealing his silver hair, damp and stuck to his forehead. His skin looked ghostly pale and almost waxy.

For once, my wolf had nothing comforting to say. She paced inside me, restless. Her silence only made my dread worse.

I stood in the doorway and could not make myself walk in.

“Leslie, what happened to him? He was fine this morning. He hosted the entire Harvest Gathering. Why did he decline so fast?” I questioned.

Leslie stood by the bed, holding a chart. She didn’t answer, just kept reading as her brow furrowed deeper.

“Leslie! Answer me!” I demanded.

Nolan came in behind me and put his arm around my shoulders, holding me against his side.

“Talia, Leslie is doing everything she can. You need to stay calm,” he said. I felt his Alpha aura trying to calm me. Usually, it would help, but I couldn’t relax this time.

Solon walked past us and entered the room. He stopped next to Leslie. “What did father ask you to do last night? How was he able to hide his illness?”

Leslie set the chart down. “You have to promise me that you will not go off the handle once I tell you.”

“Leslie…” Solon started.

“No, I need you two to promise,” Leslie said firmly.

“We promise,” Solon confirmed, and I nodded.

“He asked me for Rosea root,” Leslie finally admitted.

Solon cursed quietly and put his hand to his face. I felt Nolan’s unease through our mate bond. “What? What does it do?” I asked.

“It’s a forbidden herb. It is similar to the Redbone essence as it comes from the same flower,” Solon explained.

“What were you thinking, Leslie? Why would you give him that?” I questioned.

“I tried to talk him out of it. He wouldn’t listen. Then he used his Alpha command on me,” Leslie said.

“What exactly does it do?” I asked.

“It restores the body for a few hours. It would last long enough for him to stand through the Harvest Gathering,” Leslie explained.

“What were the side effects?” Solon’s voice was quiet.

“For a healthy person, it would cause organ damage,” Leslie answered. “With him already poisoned…He told me he had already taken the risks into account but he had to do it.”

A sharp ache twisted in my chest. My thoughts raced. I wanted to scream, to break something, to somehow undo what had happened. All I could do was stand there, helpless and heartsick, staring at Leslie as I tried to accept what she was telling me.

“How long does he have now?” I asked. My voice did not sound like mine.

“The potions made from Frostmoon Vine,” Jason responded before taking a sip of his wine.

“You think this is funny. You could never let go of an opportunity to take a jab,” Nolan growled.

“Do you think we’re fools? We know it was you who attacked Alpha Landon. We also know that you destroyed the second batch he was bringing to us,” Solon said. “So, stop the games. Tell us what you really have, or I will escort you to the dungeon where you belong.”

“No need to get testy. I sincerely have it,” Jason said.

“You destroyed it yourself, Jason. We knew it!”

Jason smiled at Solon as if he’d just been praised.

“Did I, though? How would you know? You were not there. The men who were there were getting the life beaten out of them. How would they know what I did or didn’t do?”

“Don’t play games with us, Jason,” Nolan warned. His Alpha aura flared, and so did Solon’s. If this kept up, Jason wouldn’t be leaving this room alive.

Jason looked at Nolan for a moment. Then he reached into his jacket and brought out a small glass vial. He set it on the table next to his plate, uncorked it, and poured a small measure onto the wood.

“Check it if you still don’t believe me,” Jason said as he put the vial back up.

Leslie walked over to the table, bent over the small pool on the wood, and breathed it in. She held it for a long moment. Then she straightened, and she looked at me.

“It’s real.”