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?

sense something I

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

home." I pause. "To the place I'm staying, I guess. Is there another place you'd go? Do you

He shakes his head.

when they discharge you and

me now, Selene

me focus

rubs her

his hand squeezes

should be home soon."

word home has my stomach flip-flopping. We've shared a sleeping space before, but we haven't necessarily cohabitated. Though, there's Lisa-so I guess

better," I agree. "I don't like being apart. Most of our time as mates has been spent away from each other. It's high time that

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 our bond

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

of my last heat, content

The mark helps.

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

eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between us, her tail wagging with hopeful enthusiasm. "Really?" I mutter, shifting to accommodate her bulk. "It's just like having

her head, and I feel a wave of indignation through our bond. I am not some common canine, she huffs,

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

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

a 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 feel the depth of her emotions, the way his acknowledgment

Selene's fur, marveling at the complexity of our situation. My

in my head

I bet.

each other, I say softly,

thir atsella

from kia mamarlan and his mankı malina

Lucas is

of