Miguel’s lips curved into a thin smile as he studied her.
“Well, Elliana, do you trust me now?”
Elliana’s expression revealed nothing.
“You weren’t lying about Quentin—he’s alive. But tell me, what guarantee do I have that you’ll actually let him go once you safely return to the base of the Evernight Alliance?”
Miguel’s reply was steady.
“I promise you, I’ll release him. Quentin never learned anything vital about the Evernight Alliance. I made sure he was blindfolded every time he came near my base. He has no idea where it is, so letting him walk free doesn’t threaten me. But I need your promise in return.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“A promise?”
A small nod followed.
“That’s right. I know you wouldn’t buy it if I said I’d give up my ambitions and leave you in peace. I won’t pretend. Sooner or later, I’ll come after you again. When that day comes, it’ll be you and me. No distractions. No outside help.”
A ghost of a smile crossed Elliana’s face.
“You’re quite honest.”
Miguel pulled himself off the ground, dabbing away the blood on his lip.
“When we meet again, I want your word that neither of us will hide behind others. If I win, you answer to me, no arguments. If you defeat me, I’ll submit and let you decide my fate. That’s the deal I’m offering. Do you agree?”
Cole couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Are you insane? You don’t get to make such a ridiculous demand! If you think you’re walking off this mountain, you’re dreaming! I’ll put you down right here and now!”
His anger flared as he charged forward, but Elliana held out a hand, stopping him with a firm grip.
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“Cole, stand down. This is my fight. I’ll deal with him myself.”
Turning to Miguel, her words were cold and certain.
“You have a deal.”
“Elliana!” Cole’s voice sliced through the tension, sharp with disapproval. He refused to grant Miguel—a lethal threat to Elliana’s safety—any opportunity for resurgence. The true extent of Miguel’s cruelty remained unmeasured. If he recovered his strength and returned, Elliana would confront dangers beyond imagination.
As Elliana’s man, Cole considered it his sacred duty to erase that threat, whatever the cost.
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.
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