I woke up reaching for Aron—
Only to be yanked upright by Talon.
His grip was rough, his fingers digging into my arm as he hauled me to my feet and slammed me against the stone. His other hand seized my shoulders, holding me in place.
"Who the hell are you?!" he demanded, his voice sharp with fury. "Why are you being hunted?"
"I—I don't know what you're talking about," I said, heart racing. "Where's Aron? What happened to him?"
"Don't say his name," Talon snapped. "Don't say anyone's name in front of me." His eyes burned as he loomed closer. "What are you? What is your connection to the Sea King? How did you change Aron so quickly? Why do I feel like a fool when it comes to you?! I don't understand what you've done to me!"
The words came too fast—too many questions crashing over me at once. None of them made sense.
Then I noticed the blood.
The torn feathers. The shallow cuts along his arms and ribs.
Did he hurt Aron?
I shoved his hands away and staggered back. "Did you hurt him?" I asked, panic rising.
"Aron left," Talon said harshly. "Stop looking for him. Stop saying his name. He's not important." His voice cracked as he added, "You are. How could you betray me—after everything I did for you?"
Betray?
The word hit me like a slap.
"I never betrayed you," I said, stunned. "You barely spoke to me. You treated me like I was nothing. How could I betray something that was never there?"
But I couldn't ignore his injuries anymore.
"You're hurt," I said softly. "You're badly hurt. Please—let me help you."
I reached out.
He flinched away.
Only then did I notice the others.
Lyca and Lira were injured too—wings torn, movements sluggish. Lina was nowhere to be seen.
"Talon," I whispered. "What happened? Please, let me help."
"No!" he snarled.
"Why are you acting like this?" I demanded. "Like I hurt you worse than all these wounds. Did Aron do this? Who did this to you?"
"Aron has nothing to do with it," he said, turning away.
Then what did?
He faced me again, eyes blazing with something raw and exposed.
"Sienna… didn't you ever wonder why I brought you food every day? Why I made sure you were fed? Warm? Safe?"
I blinked. "You… brought me food."
"Did my way of courting you mean nothing?" he asked bitterly.
Courting?
My breath caught.
"Talon, we can talk about this later," I said quickly. "Right now, you're hurt. All of you are. What happened?"
"The bats," he said coldly. "They ambushed us. Trapped us. Attacked without warning." His gaze locked onto mine. "They're looking for you. Corrupted beasts. They want you."
Fear coiled tight in my chest.
Bats?
I'd never even seen one—and now they were capable of this kind of damage?
Everything was escalating too fast.
"We need to move," Talon said abruptly. He threw his head back and let out a piercing screech. Birds scattered in every direction.
"How about Aron?" I asked again. "Will he be safe?"
Talon's eyes snapped to me, blazing. He stepped so close I could feel his breath.
"Stop talking about Aron. He can take care of himself. You're with me right now. Can't you understand that?"
I shook my head. "Why do you even want me here? We clash constantly. You don't even like me."
"Just leave me," I said. "Save yourself and your flock. I don't matter."
He exhaled sharply, frustration pouring off him.
"Why won't you listen?" he said quietly. "I don't want to let you go. Everything I brought you—didn't that tell you how I feel?"
He looked away, cheeks flushed, pouting like a wounded child.
I stared.
So… he liked me.
The realization filled me with guilt.
"Talon," I said softly, forcing myself to be honest. "You should stop liking me. Find someone worthy of you. I can't lie to you."
My voice trembled as the truth spilled out.
"Rocco—the Sea King—I mated with him. Aron… I bonded with him. Gideon marked me as his mate. And I don't even know if he'll still want me once he knows everything."
The shame burned.
I never meant to play with anyone's feelings; I didn't want to lead these powerful men into a circle of heartbreak. Everything I felt—it was real. Every connection I made was genuine in the moment, fueled by a heart that seemed to have an infinite, terrifying capacity to love.
He stepped closer, took both my hands, and lifted my gaze to his.
"You don't get to decide who I want," he said gently but firmly. "Did you swear yourself to any of them?"
I shook my head.
"Then it doesn't matter," he said. "I want you."
He kissed my hands. His thumb brushed my shoulder—
And froze.
"No matter the cost," he declared.
I followed his touch.
There, glowing faintly, was a new mark.
A pair of horns.
Aron's bond.
I looked down at my wrist.
Another mark had appeared—etched deep into my skin like a promise.
Self-Worth.
Talon's head snapped up as the air shifted.
"We have to leave," he said urgently. "Now."
And this time, I knew—whatever was coming next, there would be no turning back.