Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 299 Ava: Lucas is Alone

Lucas watches us both, calm despite only hearing one half of our conversation.

Grabbing his hand, I give a gentle squeeze to show I'm still paying attention to his presence.

"Do you know how?"

Selene's idea is a tall order. It isn't like amnesia has some sort of cure.

The dhampir has an idea. We can talk to her about it.

Wow. I'd forgotten about Sister Miriam entirely. Between Lucas and now Selene's return…

My thoughts are interrupted when Selene suddenly darts out of her comfortable position to shove her nose into my chest, sniffing intensely.

Showing mild irritation, Lucas grabs her by the scuff and yanks her away. To my surprise, Selene merely slinks low in submission as her ears tilt in my direction, blue eyes hard and suspicious. What's that scent?

Slapping my hand over the new mate mark, right next to my crescent scar, I ask defensively, "What scent?"

Lucas sniffs at me. "You smell fine to me."

There's something new, she insists, pawing at my leg. What is it? What did you get into?

"I didn't get into—"

The string near my magic tugs, and I pause. "Oh. Maybe it's that."

"What?" Lucas nuzzles into my neck, brushing his lips against the raw skin of my mate mark. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Selene can just sense something I almost forgot about." Sorry, Grimoire. "Actually, I—"

The string yanks again, almost painful in its insistence, and I pause. This isn't a safe place to mention him. "I'll tell you both later." Where it's safe, I add silently to Selene, wishing Lucas could hear me. Wait. Shouldn't he be able to…?

answering my question. I guess he can't hear me. I'll have to ask Vanessa. Is it because I

staying, I guess.

He shakes his head.

they discharge you and I bring

tell me now, Selene

me focus on

rubs her head

everything's fine. Aside from waiting on the results of a few of

the word home has my stomach flip-flopping. We've shared a sleeping space before, but

exactly the same. Especially with

sooner the better," I agree. "I don't like being apart." Most of our time as mates has been spent away from each other. It's high time that

magic seems stable-ish. We're all in hiding due to the new-found apocalypse. As dire and terrible as it is, maybe it'll finally afford

and storm

me, pulling me close as I melt into his embrace. The warmth of his body and the steady thrum of his heartbeat

the frenetic desire of my last heat, content to just nuzzle

The mark helps.

seems to have lost

low whine breaks the silence, followed by the insistent press of fur against my leg. I crack open an eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between us, her tail wagging with hopeful

I mutter, shifting to accommodate her bulk. "It's just

through our bond. I am

His hand reaches down to scratch behind Selene's ears, and her eyes close in bliss despite her attempts to maintain

too hard on her," Lucas murmurs, his voice soft and tinged with affection. "Selene's the

I feel Selene's joy and pride surge through our connection. Still, she maintains her air of nonchalance, as if Lucas's words mean nothing to her. But I know better. I can feel

through Selene's fur, marveling at the complexity of our situation. My wolf, my mate,

my head about

I bet.

you had each other," I say softly, meaning every word. The thought of Lucas alone in this sterile room, cut off from his memories and his pack, makes my heart ache. "Thank you for taking care

Someone had to look after him,