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?

something I almost forgot

Where it's safe, I add silently to Selene, wishing Lucas could hear me. Wait. Shouldn't he be able to...? "When?" he asks, answering my question. I guess he can't hear me. I'll have to ask Vanessa. Is it because I haven't been brought into

place I'm staying, I guess. Is there another place you'd go?

He shakes his head.

when they discharge you and

tell me now,

me focus on Lucas

and rubs her head against

his hand squeezes mine and he

should be home soon."

my stomach flip-flopping. We've shared a sleeping space before, but we haven't necessarily cohabitated. Though, there's Lisa-so I guess it isn't exactly the same. Especially with one bedroom. But

agree. "I don't like being apart. Most of our time as

and terrible as it is, maybe it'll finally afford us both

me close as I melt into his embrace. The warmth of his

last heat, content to just nuzzle into Lucas' arms like this

The mark helps.

That would make sense. Lucas' body seems to have lost its

open. an eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between us, her tail wagging with hopeful

I feel a wave of indignation through our bond. I am not some common canine,

chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest, vibrating against my head. His hand. reaches down to scratch behind Selene's ears, and her eyes close in bliss despite her

voice soft and tinged with affection. "Selene's the only

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 soothes an old

the complexity of our situation. My

my

I bet.

other, I say softly, meaning every

thir atsella

his mankı malina mui haart saha Phande

Ava: Lucas is

care of him,