Page 85 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

Leona’s head craned as she looked around until her eyes pinned to Talant. “I have a request.”

I blinked at Leona. With everything that had happened and the fact that she was freaking chained, all she cared about was speaking to Talant?

Talant walked over to her. “I’m not in the habit of granting requests from those who offer no compensation.”

Minerva’s head whipped around, and she glared at him, her eyes gleaming with blue fire.

“But on this occasion, I’ll consider it,” Talant said, crossing his arms over his bare chest.

Leona moved, shoving herself up until she was standing. She swayed on her feet and the shackles on her wrists jangled. Talant glanced down at them. The chain around her waist fell and the shackles followed immediately after.

“Ask your favor,” he said, studying her as though he knew he wouldn’t like what she wanted.

“As the god of blood, you can control blood bonds, yes?” Leona asked, lifting a hand, pressing it to the rock wall beside her to keep her body steady.

“I can,” Talant agreed.

“I want to remove my mate bond,” she stated, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. “My fated mate is weak and holds me back. I want it removed.”

Talant cocked his head, his gaze sharpening. “The bond of a fated mate is a blessing. One meant to bring shifters in balance. His strengths should complement yours. That was the intention of the bond. Are you sure you don’t wish to keep it?”

Leona shook her head. “I don’t want it. I want to be in charge of my own fate. My own mate.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to point out that she wouldn’t be able to have another male in her life because he would leave her for a fated mate or always mourn the loss of his mate if she was no longer of this earth.

Minerva seemed to sense my thoughts and shook her head.

It was difficult, but I remained silent.

“Very well. I will remove the bond, but it is not a favor for you,” Talant finally said, lowering his arms from where they were crossed over his chest. “I’m doing this for your mate. He deserves far more than you and I will ensure that he receives it.”

Leona sighed, an impatient sound, and nodded. “Fine.”

I understood then why Talant wasn’t telling her to fuck off, as I assumed he would. He felt sorry for her mate, not her.

He lifted his hands in front of him, gathering a ball of blood-red magic between his palms. There was no gold threaded within it. He murmured a few words beneath his breath in a language I didn’t understand and released the magic.

The ball split in two as it flew from his hands. One beelined straight for Leona and the other zipped through the cave and out the same opening that Dax had appeared through.

The red glow sank into Leona’s chest and dissipated beneath her skin.

“It’s done,” Talant said.

“My thanks.” With that reply, Leona strode toward the same exit the magic had taken and disappeared into the darkness. She didn’t look back.

I shook my head. I didn’t understand her at all. Was that all she had wanted? To have her mate bond broken? She’d kidnapped Sela and tried to use her to free the blood god for nothing more than her desire to get rid of her fated mate?

Talant turned toward me. “Well, that was interesting,” he said. “Is everyone in this town like her?”

Somehow, I found myself smiling, but I shook my head. “No. Most of us are friendlier and not as bitchy.”

His lips twitched into a brief smile as well. “Well, I look forward to you showing me around.”

Before I could answer, Dax’s arm went around my waist again, pulling me into him. I scowled down at it. But now wasn’t time to bring it up. Once this was over and I knew my aunt was going to be okay, he and I were going to have words. It wasn’t right for him to tell me one day that he didn’t want me and then the next to behave like a possessive Neanderthal.

My aunt saved the day because she jumped right in. “You will stay with us at my home,” she said.

I knew it was because she wanted to keep an eye on him and keep him from creating problems with his mere presence.

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