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?

Selene can just sense something I almost

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...?

home." I pause. "To the place I'm staying, I guess. Is there another place

He shakes his head.

you

me

Let me focus on Lucas

and rubs her head

to understand, because his hand squeezes mine and he changes the

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

like being apart. Most of our time as mates has

My 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 us both a little time to deepen

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

heat, content to just nuzzle into Lucas' arms like

The mark helps.

would make sense. Lucas' body seems to have lost its feverish temperature as

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 enthusiasm. "Really?" I mutter, shifting to accommodate her

of indignation through our bond. I am not

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

hard on her, Lucas murmurs, his voice soft and tinged with affection. "Selene's the only reason I've stayed sane in

rush of warmth through me, 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 nothing to her. But I know better. I can

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

howling in my head about

I bet.

you had each other, I say softly,

thir atsella

mamarlan and his mankı malina mui

Ava: Lucas

care of him,