The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

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Chapter 22

“Please escort Sophia back to her house,” he said calmly.

Sophia’s mouth dropped open. “But-”

“Go,” Alexander cut her off.

Of course he would only send her home, I though bitterly; her father spoiled her. This wasn’t a real punishment. But I kept that to myself.

As the guard escorted a whining Sophia away, Lian took a step closer. His eyes flashed, his face still dark with anger. I’d never seen a look like that on him before. Never.

“If you want the Board’s approval, I’d recommend you start trusting your Luna more,” he growled before brushing past Alexander and returning to the picnic.

Alexander stared after him, jaw ticking. It was then that I noticed his leg-he had a large gash across his thigh, his leathers torn straight through around that area. It wasn’t too deep, but it was enough to make me wince just looking at it.

“You’re wounded,” I said, taking Alexander’s arm. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Alexander huffed but didn’t argue as I led him back to the house. In the barracks, he sat down on a chair by the fireplace while I gathered some warm water, antiseptic, and bandages. I perched on a footstool in front of him and carefully dabbed at his wound with the water, cleaning away some of the dried blood.

“You’re dragging the cloth through the wound,” Alexander grunted.

“You’ll live,” I said coolly. Once I was finished, I poured some of the alcohol on a gauze pad and began to dab gently at the gash. Thankfully, it didn’t seem deep enough to need stitches, and Alexander’s Alpha healing had already begun to mend the damaged flesh around the edges.

“You should stay off of this leg for the rest of the day,” I chided gently as I worked. “Give it time to-”

“I know how to handle my own wounds.”

Alexander’s jab made my teeth clench, but I continued working. I couldn’t tell if he was jealous or bitter or just being surly for the sake of it, but I refused to indulge him.

“Being passive aggressive will get you nowhere,” I said without looking at him. “Whatever you have to say, just say it directly.”

“Fine. Your affair with Liam is too obvious. It’s going to negatively affect my reputation and the election.”

My hands stilled as I wrapped Alexander’s leg. His reputation? That was all he cared about,

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Chapter 22

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wasn’t it? Not the fact that his precious childhood friend had likely pushed me out of a hayloft.

“Nothing has happened between me and Liam,” I said, tying off the bandage with a jerking motion. “Ever since he got here, I have been respectful and nothing more than friends.” I stood so I was now towering over Alexander. “It’s you who has had another woman in the picture since the beginning of our marriage.”

Alexander blinked up at me. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb. Sophia,” I said, tossing the leftover bandages into the first aid kit. “You take her to the Spring Market every year. You’ve never invited me. Not even once. Not even in front of the Board you care about so much. Not until Liam, out of pity, offered to take me instead.”

I shook my head and forcefully grabbed the bowl of bloody water, causing some to slosh out onto the stone floor. “For years, you have always chosen her over me. You allow her to walk all over me, to boss me around for banquets, to treat me like a servant in the home that I should be in charge of. I am your Luna, Alexander. But not to her. To her, and maybe even to you, I’m just the placeholder.”

By the time I finished my speech, I was breathless. Alexander stared at me, and for a long moment, he didn’t move or speak.

Then, slowly, he pushed himself to his feet and walked over to me. His scent wrapped around me-bourbon and woodfire smoke. Sweat, earth, and blood.

I gritted my teeth as I looked up at him, preparing myself for another insult. Perhaps he would tell me I was being foolish. Perhaps he would even tell me that I was right-that Sophia was the real Luna in his eyes.

But I was surprised to see that his face had softened somewhat, and those green eyes flicked down to my cheeks.

And it was then that I realized my face was wet from tears.