Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 317

Talia’s POV

I didn’t ask Annie about Clara or the other servants. I already had what I needed. The real Nolan and Solon were out there somewhere, searching for me, and the only reason they hadn’t found me yet was that I wasn’t anywhere they’d expect.

Jason was wearing Nolan’s face. It had to be a spell, since nothing else could have stopped the bond from reaching Nolan. The spell was rare and dangerous. It didn’t just cover someone’s features; it interfered with the mate bond itself, tricking it with layers of borrowed memory. It was almost certainly a witch's work. The thought made me furious.

‘We should’ve killed him when we had the chance,’ my wolf grumbled as she continued to reach out to Nolan, Solon, and even Della with no luck.

After what I did to him at the table, I doubted he’d come back tonight. The vomiting alone would keep him down for hours. I had a window of time, and I planned to use it.

I spent the afternoon with Annie.

"Come walk with me. I've been in the bedroom too long," I told her.

“Of course, Luna. Where would you like to start?”

“The lower garden. Then the library. Then the east wing.”

She took me down the corridor and out to the lower garden first. I made a small sound at each rose bush she stopped at, pretending to be charmed by the ones she said were new. While she pointed out the flowers, I counted the guards and noted where the trellises were positioned.

Next, we went into the library. I perused the shelves. Half the titles were books I’d never owned, but I made myself look pleased.

“And the east wing, Luna?”

"Yes, I want to be sure rooms are fresh for guests," I lied.

The east wing had a long hallway of bedrooms. It didn’t match the real Bloodmoon’s layout, but it was close enough that you didn’t know what to look for; you would have thought it was perfect.

By the time we finished the tour, the sun had begun to set. I had memorized the layout and guard positions. I noted the angle of the drop from my window to the kitchen garden below, the route from the kitchen garden to the outer wall, and the corner where the trellis would help me climb over.

I had a plan.

"Annie, I'm tired. I'm going to lie down before dinner," I said.

“I will sit with you, Luna.”

"No. I want the room to myself. Don't come back until I ring."

“Are you sure, Luna? The Alpha said I should stay with you.”

"I'm sure. I'll ring when I want you back. Take some time to relax. You worked through lunch."

She hesitated, thinking about whether to argue. I held her gaze until she decided to listen.

"It has been a long time since we have been alone here together. I have missed you. I have missed your body. I have been thinking about you all afternoon..."

Don’t gag. Don’t gag!

I kept telling myself as his hands on me made my skin crawl. For a split second, a memory of the real Nolan came to my mind. His laugh against my ear, the tender way his fingers would brush mine, never forcing, always waiting. Now the same hands, or the imitation of them, turned my body cold with dread. My mate bond flared up, recoiling, rejecting Jason’s advances in every way.

‘Get him off us before he realizes we are disgusted,’ my wolf warned.

"I am exhausted, Nolan. You’d think after being unconscious for so long, I’d be well rested. But the day has worn me out completely,” I offered him an apologetic smile and squeezed his hand. "Let me make it up to you tomorrow, okay? I'll be all yours for the entire night. Whatever you want. Does that sound fair?"

I lifted up on my toes and placed a kiss on his cheek, the way I would have kissed Nolan. The real Nolan would have been satisfied with that and cuddled with me.

But this imposter’s eyes hardened with desire. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. My heart drummed with panic.

Nolan bent and lifted me. "Wait. What are you doing?" I yelped.

He carried me to the bed, ignoring my struggles, before dropping me onto it. His weight crushed the air out of my lungs. His lips slammed onto my own before I could register what was happening. His fingers explored the side of my neck, tracing the mating mark Nolan had given me. My body tensed beneath him, all muscles locked in dread.

"This mark," he said. "It's faded. It needs renewing. It's been too long."