Chapter 39 : Maturity

*Sasha*

I sat alone in the dark for what felt like hours, though it was probably less than fifteen minutes. Then the light came on in the bedroom and Phoebe popped her head in, wearing lingerie probably meant for Brady's eyes only.

But then I was sitting under the covers completely naked, so I wasn't one to say anything. “Is everything okay?" I asked softly.

Phoebe shook her head and motioned for me to follow her.

My blood ran cold. Had something happened to Lucas? I rolled out of bed and pulled on Lucas's shirt, then quickly followed Phoebe.

We tiptoed down the stairs, where Lucas, in wolf form, was pacing and growling on the front landing.

Brady had a splash of blood on his chin, his fangs still elongated. He was sporting a pair of boxers, thankfully.

“They got away," Brady said as Phoebe went to stand next to him.

“But they're gone?" Phoebe asked in a small voice.

“Yes." Brady put an arm around her and kissed her temple. “They're gone."

“Who? Who's gone?" I asked. “Did they take the orb?"

“They didn't get that far," Brady said. “By the look of things, they didn't even know exactly what they were looking for."

There were popping sounds, and then Lucas was standing there, naked, once more. He grabbed an overturned throw pillow for modesty, holding it in front of him.

“It couldn't have been the priestess if they didn't know what they were looking for," I mused. “And she already told me she was quite happy with what I was doing, so there would have been no reason–"

“f**k that orb. I swear to the Goddess...." Lucas snarled. “What is this, a youth hostel? We've got people coming and going at all hours."

“We're heading to the docks in a couple of hours," Brady reminded him. “We're leaving Egoren. When we get to New Dianny, we'll be a lot safer."

Phoebe looked at the door, then looked again. “What is this…?"

A scrap of paper was caught in the hinge of the door.

Lucas walked over and snatched it. “Fuck."

I went over to him, touching his arm. “Lucas?"

With an angry huff, he showed us the paper.

'Tell the dream dancer she has something that doesn't belong to her, and we are going to get it back.'

***

*Lucas*

The wind whipped through Brady's hair, blowing the longish locks into his face and mouth. He grimaced, pulling hair out of his mouth for the hundredth time since we'd boarded the ship.

to my own hair, cut short at the sides and longer on

but he smiled slightly when he said her

man was completely lost… or found, depending on how you looked at

have you locked out of the state room?" Brady asked as we leaned

toss the orb in

threats, emotional confusion, and the fact you're treating her like a two-year-old with a dangerous toy… I think I'd

treating her like a two-year-old," I

know you're treating her like a two-year-old. That's why you're standing here with me and not banging down the stateroom door to have

groaned. “I just want her to be safe. That

her choice whether she wants to work with it or

know that. I don't think

you have to stop acting like her father and forbidding her to

frowned at the sea. “I

Probably. But I also don't want to have to sleep with one eye open, and I don't want her tossing me

toss you

Sasha hasn't tossed you,"

back of

anything about me saying you love her, so I'm assuming you've stopped fighting that, too,"

fight? She's either my mate or she's

“And?" Brady prodded.

“And what?" I asked.

so glum about it? She's your mate for sure," Brady said. “A blind man could see

splinter on the ship's railing. “I don't know that she loves me back. She

hard in the arm I

I asked peevishly, rubbing my arm. “She hasn't said

always crawling down her throat with some new command or forbidding her to do stuff," Brady said. “You interrupt her all the time. Yes, I've noticed. Okay, Phoebe noticed, but then I noticed, too. She just wants to tell you what she thinks, but you

Phoebe. I'm about five seconds away from tearing up your man card,"

likes you, no matter how much she loves you, she's not going to accept you as her mate. Sasha Wentley is too independent to put up

the idea made me sick. And panicky.

You've been doing a

I gave Brady a powerful punch in the arm

for?!" Brady complained, rubbing

a punching war. Fun as that would have been,

going to have to sleep on the galley floor as

I tried the knob and was surprised how easily the lock broke in my hand. I was going to have to talk

the windows covered with curtains and the room lit

the bed… with the

anger. How had she even

Obviously not well enough.

was

simply sat beside her, looking at the glowing, pulsing, now-pink pain

I said, pretty sure Sasha couldn't hear me. “I'm sorry for treating you like a child, and for being an overbearing asshole. But you're scaring me to death. I love you, Sasha. I love you and I don't want you to get hurt.

answer, and I

would be blessed and honored if you are my mate. I feel a pull to you I've never felt before, and I'm almost certain you must be my mate. But even if you're not, I will

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