Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 76

Talia’s POV

When I finally awoke, I felt as though I had been struck by a truck. My body ached as if I had spent all night sparring. I blinked several times, waiting for my vision to adjust to the light.

“You’re awake!” Solon said. He sat in the chair at my bedside and immediately grabbed my hand. “How do you feel?”

“Like I have been run over,” I admitted with a faint groan. I looked around and noticed I wasn’t in my lovely room. “Where am I? Am I in the infirmary?”

Della was sitting by the window, balancing a tray across her lap. The moment she heard my voice, she jumped to her feet, nearly dropping the tray to the floor.

“Thank the Goddess you’re awake. You frightened us half to death!” she said. “You have been unconscious for two days, Talia.”

My eyes widened. “Two days?” I balked.

“Yes,” Solon said grimly. “When they brought you in, I thought…”

I squeezed his hand and smiled weakly. “I am alright, Solon. Do not dwell on it.”

Della hurried forward. She sat the tray on my lap before pouring me a glass of water. “Drink and eat first. Then, we can talk.” She removed the lid from the tray, revealing chicken noodle soup, crackers, and a cup filled with cut fruit.

The scent of warm broth made my stomach growl. I gulped down the water. I could feel the water rush down into me, activating my hunger even more. Once I began the soup, I could not stop myself. I finished it quickly before moving on to the fruit.

“You worried us so much,” Della stated after a while. “We weren’t sure you would wake up.”

I gave her a faint smile, though the weight of Solon’s gaze drew my attention again.

“What happened that night?” Solon asked suddenly. His voice carried both protectiveness and suspicion. “Nolan carried you in, and you were wearing only his shirt.”

The spoon in my hand froze halfway to my mouth. I remembered Nolan’s intoxicating scent surrounding me, and the intensity of his eyes when I begged him to mark me. I couldn’t help blushing at the memory.

No… it had to be a dream. There was no way I’d have done that. And calling Nolan my mate? Absolutely impossible.

“I’m not sure. Everything is fragmented,” I responded. “I just remember we got trapped in the library.”

“Did Nolan harm you?” Solon asked.

Della threw her hands up in exasperation. “What kind of question is that, Solon?”

“I have to ask,” Solon argued. “I need to know she’s okay.”

Della frowned and said, “I know you refuse to believe it but Nolan nor the doctor lied to you. The doctor said she was untouched.”

“The doctor’s right. Nolan did not harm me,” I confirmed.

Solon’s eyes narrowed. “Did Nolan force you into the library?”

I shook my head. “No. He only wanted to look for records about rogues. I let him in.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I did give him permission to review the records.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” I nodded. “Someone wanted us trapped together. But who and why?”

No one said anything for a moment as I finished off the rest of the food on the tray. Then Della suddenly gasped, seizing my wrist. “What happened? Why isn’t this healed?”

I looked down at my wrist. There was an ugly bruise from where I assumed Nolan tied my wrist. It should have healed a long time ago. Two days had passed, and yet it was still there and tender to the touch.

“That is not normal,” Solon muttered. “Your wolf should have healed that within hours.”

I closed my eyes and reached inward, searching for the presence that had always been there.

‘Where are you?’ I asked internally, but there was nothing.

‘Please, answer me,’ I tried again, calling louder. I received no response which caused panic to set in.

‘Are you angry with me? Please, say something,’ I called out again. But, again, there was still no response.

My eyes flew open in shock. “She is not there.

Solon looked at me in concern. “What did you say?”

Della gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

“My wolf… has disappeared,” I choked out, the words breaking as panic seized me.