The Rejected Rogue Was Their Lost Princess

He brought a box of my favorite pastries.

And a jar of healing salve.

He came in and sat down in front of me, taking my hand in his.

Gently, he applied the salve.

So he knew—about the frostbite covering my hands.

As he worked, he sighed softly.

“Jessie, what you did was wrong.”

“Asking you to change your name might have upset you, but that didn’t give you the right to touch Briella’s necklace.”

“That necklace was a keepsake from the late Lycan Queen. How could you have touched it?”

I stared at him.

And laughed silently.

Talon kept his eyes down, not noticing.

“Thankfully, Briella is reasonable and won’t hold it against you.”

“She’s only having you confined for a few days.”

He massaged the back of my hand, his touch tender.

“The mark ceremony won’t happen tomorrow.”

“I’ve already spoken to Briella. You’ll apologize to her in front of all the guests, with a proper acknowledgment.”

“And then we’ll consider this matter settled.”

I laughed again.

This time, Talon noticed.

He frowned. “Jessie, Briella is a Lycan Princess. This is already a great concession on her part.”

“Oh.”

He sighed again.

“As for officially marking you as my mate, give me some more time.”

“I’ll make sure it’s done before the next full moon.”

“Oh.”

“Jessie.” His tone sharpened, displeased.

I picked up a pastry and took a bite.

“Jessie.” He grabbed my arm.

“When you apologize tomorrow, be sincere. You know how to show proper respect, don’t you?”

“Talon.” I chewed the pastry slowly. “I’m going home.”

We won’t have a tomorrow.

“Jessie Carroll!”

I looked up.

Talon’s brows were furrowed tightly, as if I’d just spoken some unforgivable lie.

“Tonight, go back to your room.”

“Tomorrow, no matter what, you will acknowledge Briella and apologize properly!”

I blinked. “Oh.”

Talon gritted his teeth, stood abruptly, and stormed out, his coat flaring sharply behind him.