Page 74 of Creatures of Chaos

“What kind of favor?” Becks asks, his mood darkening even more.

“A big one,” I answer vaguely, crossing my arms over my chest. The last thing Becks needs to know now is that Talon thinks my life is in danger. “And I don’t need your permission to cash it in.”

At a standstill, Becks and I glare at each other. I won’t let any sort of petty jealousy or possessive instincts get in the way. This is the breakthrough we’ve been hoping for, he’s just too stubborn to see it. I want Becks on my side right now, but I’ll move forward without him. It’s for his own good.

“Becks.” Ensley grabs her brother’s arm and shakes it. “This is huge. We haven’t gotten anywhere with Operation Bring Down the Council.”

Glancing at her, he arches an eyebrow. “Operation Bring Down the Council?”

“It has a nice ring to it,” she says with a shrug. “But never mind that. This is worth a try. You know it is.”

Becks’ nostrils flare. “I don’t trust him. He’s hiding something.”

Part of me agrees with Becks, but at the end of the day, who cares? “He might be hiding something, but what does it matter if he can help us?”

Becks’ green gaze swivels to me. “If he’s hiding something, how can we trust him?”

It’s another solid point, but in this case I’m willing to risk it.

“Talon could go to his uncle and tell him what we are doing rather than help us,” Becks goes on. “If that happens, then this whole plan goes up in smoke.”

“That won’t happen,” I assure him. “He’s going to want to help us.”

Becks looks skeptical, and for good reason. He doesn’t know everything.

“You have to trust me,” I add.

I swallow as Becks steps closer and looks down at me with burning green eyes. “You’re really willing to trust Talon with my future. Withourfuture?”

My stomach drops. I hear what Becks is saying, and it’s not necessarily that I trust Talon, but I trust in how badly he wants me out of his way so that he can win Chaos. I saw the desperation in his eyes earlier today when he practically begged me to fail out of the game. So yes, if there’s anything I trust in, it’s that.

I nod.

Becks huffs. “I don’t want to be indebted to someone like him.”

“Locklyn already said you wouldn’t, but so what if you are? Being indebted to Talon has to be the better alternative to being life-mated to a stranger. Surely you can swallow your pride in exchange for your freedom?” Ensley says, putting everything into perspective.

I watch Becks’ face as he struggles through accepting the inevitable. A bevy of emotions flick over his features: denial, anger, frustration, until finally resignation sets in. He swipes his hand down his face. “Okay, fine. When should we talk to him?”

Oh no. That won’t do. “I’ve got it. I can talk to Talon myself.”

Becks frowns, and I know where this conversation is headed. “I don’t know if that’s?—”

“If she says she’s got it, she’s got it. Let our girl handle it,” Ensley says before Becks can get too huffy.

“You need to trust me. I’vegotthis,” I say.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trusthim,” Becks replies.

“Well, then you need to trust that I can handle Talon.”

Becks presses his lips into a hard line, and I hold my breath, hoping he lets this go. Finally, he nods. “Okay. As long as you promise not to offer him anything in return.”

I lift my eyebrows at that, wondering what type of deal Becks thinks I’m going to be striking with Talon.

“Like I said, he owes me a favor, that’s all.”

“It must be a pretty big favor,” Becks grumbles.

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