Chapter 307 Ava: His Memories
"Ava."
Someone's gently prodding at my shoulder, and I groan, my entire body battered. Oh, right. Lucas… was an animal last night.
"Ava."
"What?" Now that I'm marginally awake, his voice registers in my brain. I turn my head to squint through a tangled mass of hair. I need a shower. And a brush. And, like, five cups of coffee.
"Sister Miriam's here."
Sister Miri—oh.
Sitting up abruptly, I must startle Lucas. He jumps up from the edge of the bed, hands in the air as he watches me cautiously, like I'm about to bite.
"Sorry. I'm up."
"I see that." Lowering his hands, he adds, "You didn't warn me you're such a bear when you're asleep."
A bear? Me?
You bit him when he tried to wake you up earlier, and you kicked him when he tried to cover you in a blanket. Selene's helpful, overly chipper words have my head pounding.
The still-new string of connection to Grimoire pulses urgently, tugging and yanking every which way.
Damn. Wake up and everyone needs you, all at once.
"Selene said I bit you. And kicked you."
He shrugs, politely ignoring the heat reddening my cheeks. "Take your time. Do you want to shower first?"
"No, I'm okay—"
such a meaningful way that I pause. Damn. Do
It's everywhere. You should
"I'll shower."
* * *
Miriam is sitting at the table, nursing a cup of coffee that lost its steam a
me. It's as black as Sister Miriam's hair. Silently, I grab some creamer
drink it with a little sugar, but he seems to enjoy torturing himself with its bitter flavor. Not me. I love myself, so I doctor mine up with as much cream and sugar as I can manage while still maintaining a decent
a luxury we don't have in this place. Commune? Camp? Hideaway?
wolves seem to be in good spirits. You've given them their first
a little butterfly flutter through me, leaving me more pleased than I'd like to admit. "Thank you." Her report is a bit of
It is the ultimate law of the land, Selene says, and
"Where are you?"
looks at me with concern, and I grimace. "Sorry.
it's normal when you've grown up your entire life doing it, but it's
sounding far too amused for my liking. As for your question, I'm
"Whose business?"
The gnomes.
to speak, so let's get started. It
back in his chair in silence; it looks as
sleep right through that. This place isn't
bed is just outside the range of the
That makes
as ever. "Your mate has lost his connection with his
this?" While I suspect Kellan realizes, it isn't a subject I've
I ask, leaning forward slightly, trying not to let hope rise too high
drapes casually over the back of my chair, a gesture that feels both protective and possessive. The tension between them thickens, and I resist the urge to squirm in my
he has no intention of contributing to this conversation. He seems to hold respect for Sister Miriam, but there is also a cold
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