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. Sorry, Grimoire. "Actually,

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...? "When?" he

you're discharged home." I pause. "To the place I'm staying, I guess. Is there

He shakes his head.

they discharge you and I bring you

tell me now, Selene points

me focus on

whines and rubs her head against his

because his hand squeezes

should be home soon."

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

Most of our time as mates has been

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 us both a little time to deepen our bond

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

my last heat, content to

The mark helps.

make sense. Lucas' body seems to have

of fur against my leg. I crack open. an eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between us, her tail wagging with hopeful enthusiasm. "Really?" I mutter,

indignation through our bond. I am not some common canine, she huffs, her mental

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

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

and I feel Selene's joy and pride surge through our connection. Still, she maintains her air of nonchalance, as if Lucas's words mean

Selene's fur, marveling at the complexity of our situation. My wolf, my mate, and me-all tangled together. Only his wolf is

my head about

I bet.

you had each other, I say softly, meaning every word. The thought

thir atsella

from kia mamarlan and his mankı malina mui

Lucas is

of him,