Tangled

Unshift 299

Unshift 299

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?"

you!

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 cars 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?

I almost forgot about.

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

I'm staying, I guess. Is there another

He shakes his head.

when they discharge you

me now, Selene

me focus on Lucas

whines and rubs her

understand, because his hand squeezes

should be home soon."

he stresses the word home has my stomach flip-flopping. We've shared a sleeping space before, but we haven't

"I don't like being apart. Most of our time as mates has been spent away

dire and terrible as it is, maybe it'll finally afford us both a little time to deepen our bond with each other. Silver linings

embrace. The warmth of his body and the steady

my last heat, content to just

The mark helps.

body seems to

press of fur against my leg. I crack open. an eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between

a wave of indignation through our bond. I am not some common canine, she huffs, her mental voice dripping

scratch

soft and tinged with affection. "Selene's the only reason I've stayed

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 the depth of her emotions, the way his acknowledgment

marveling at the complexity of our situation. My wolf, my mate,

in my

I bet.

other, I say softly, meaning every word. The thought of Lucas

thir atsella

and his mankı malina mui haart saha

Lucas is

of him,