Chapter 53

Evelyn

The rogue camp was hazy and thick with a scent like blood and smoke. The smell was heavy, coating everything as I passed through. I nearly choked on it the deeper I got into the rogue encampment.

The scent of smoke was not the clean kind either. Instead, it was like burning wood in winter. There was a destructive nature to it. This was the kind of smoke that lingered in your clothes, the kind that told you something feral lived beneath the surface as it hazed up the surrounding forest, blurring my visibility. It smelled like it had destroyed something and reduced it proudly to cinders.

I kept my shoulders square as I rode in, posture straight, every sense on high alert, even though my heart had begun to race fiercely the deeper I traveled.

Eventually, tents appeared and began to dot the ground around the trees. They were small and constructed from old fabric and tarps. The tents were pitiful living quarters, made worse by the ever-present smoke that lingered above all.

Dozens of eyes followed me. Half were suspicious and half were curious, but none were welcoming. No one said a word. They didn’t need to. The message in their gazes was loud and clear: You don’t belong here.

I knew I had reached the center of camp when a large tent came into view. Its prominence was apparent as it dominated nearly three times the space as the other makeshift homes. I knew without asking that it was reserved for the rogue leader. For Jesse.

I dismounted without waiting for help. One of the rogues, a tall man with a scar cutting through one brow, stepped forward as I hobbled my horse.

“The healer girl, huh? We weren’t sure you had the balls to come. This way,” he said, jerking his head toward the tent that was far too large to miss.

Still, I took his offer of an escort. I followed, refusing to glance back at the other wary onlookers. Their judgment didn’t scare me, but it did set my nerves thrumming like a hummingbird’s wings.

We arrived at the large tent’s flap, and he turned to me. Behind him, the leader’s quarters loomed large, a patchwork monstrosity.

“He’s waiting for you,” he said. The rogue opened the tent flap and stood aside to let me step through first.

Jesse was indeed waiting.

He was lounging in a chair with his boots up on a battered table, smirking like he’d been expecting for some time. He appeared amused as he tilted his head back to better appraise me.

There were ghosts of Logan in his features. They were in his hair and his nose and the flecks of his eyes. It was so eerie to see the similarities that my instinct was to look away.

“Well, well,” he said. “Logan’s precious wife and the rising battlefield healer. You’re quite a long way from home, aren’t you?”

I didn't flinch even though the threat was clear.

I wasn’t sure what I expected. I had anticipated arrogance, certainly, but not this strange blend of theatrical menace and performative charm. Jesse was handsome like his half-brother, but in that dangerous way that made you instinctively guard your pulse. He had an edge that Logan lacked, making him seem more feral and less composed. His energy buzzed with chaos.

“I came to talk peace, as I said in my initial letter,” I said evenly, pulling the rolled treaty from my satchel. “I didn’t come here to flirt.”

He grinned, slow and lazy. “Flirting? Darling, I haven’t even gotten started yet. Don’t tempt me with a good time, or you’ll be blushing right out of that dress of yours. But I will admit, you’ve certainly piqued my interest.”

Again, I refused to rise to the bait or lean into the purr of his voice. I set the parchment down in front of him.

“This treaty outlines proposed boundaries, shared resources, and an end to the bloodshed,” I said. “If what you truly want is freedom, this is the first step. We are open to discussing and altering elements of this treaty; however, we believe we are only asking for the basics.”

He didn’t even glance at the document.

Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “That’s nice. Pretty words from pretty lips. But I can guarantee that you’re missing an element that I require to seal the deal.”

“As I said, we are open for discussion and slight alterations.”

He smirked, and something about the expression put me immediately on edge.

“I’ll tell you what I want,” he said.

I raised a brow. “I’m listening.”

“I want Logan to suffer. And I want to watch while he does.”

My stomach turned, but I didn’t look away. “So that’s what this is about. This meeting was never about diplomacy. It was about your years-long revenge scheme.”

He chuckled, low and sharp. “Oh, you’re not wrong. And I won’t say it’s been a waste. See, you have to look at it from my perspective. You just fell into my lap. He cares about you more than he should. It’s written all over his face. And now, you’re here. In my camp.”

I gritted my teeth, my nails digging into the edge of the table. “If you wanted to parade me around like a trophy, you’re going to be disappointed. I won’t bend to your will, and the others know where I am. If I don’t return home tonight, they will come for you and everyone in your camp.”

Jesse finally leaned back, eyes glinting. “Oh, I have no intentions of kidnapping you or making you a hostage tonight. But as the treaty stands, it doesn’t interest me.”

“You haven’t read it,” I pointed out.

Jesse ignored me. “No, but I know you overlooked what I really want. But there is a way this treaty might interest me.”

I didn’t respond. I waited, letting him unspool it for me.

He tapped a finger against his chin, pretending to be lost in thought. “Join us.”

My heart stopped. Surely I’d heard him wrong.“What?”

“You,” he said casually, “join my camp. As our healer. Permanently. We could use more pretty faces around here, too. It’s gotten quite dull, and I’m sure you could make things more… interesting. Then and only then will I consider signing your little document.”

I blinked. So I had heard him correctly the first time after all. “You’re not serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious. My people are dying. You want peace? Start with that. Show them your loyalty to this peace you speak of. Show me. Then we can talk.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

It was madness.

But… was it?

If I stayed, if I treated the wounded here, how many lives could I save? I still would be doing my part as a healer, even if it was for the other side. Could I put aside the undercurrent of flirtation from him and reach Jesse’s people in ways Logan’s army never would? Could I earn their trust long enough to stop this war from the inside?

Plus, if I sacrificed myself, Jesse would sign the treaty. Peace could be restored to the realm for the price of my freedom. That wasn’t too steep a price, right?

“I need time to consider that,” I said carefully. “The Alpha King will want to hear of it first. This isn’t a small request.”

Jesse’s smile stretched wide. “You have twenty-four hours. Then I want an answer.”

He stood and walked to the door, opening it with a dramatic sweep.

“Careful on your way out, Evelyn,” he added, voice darkening just slightly. “The forest is filled with unexpected people and places. Not everyone here will see you as a guest.”

I stepped outside, pulse pounding in my throat, the weight of his offer dragging behind me like a shadow.

Twenty-four hours.

And one impossible choice.