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 about.

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

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

He shakes his head.

Then when they discharge you and

can tell me now,

focus

and rubs her head

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

should be home soon."

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

time as mates has

the form of Grimoire. 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

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

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

The mark helps.

seems to have lost its feverish temperature

press of fur against my leg. I crack open. an eye to see Selene trying to wedge herself between us, her tail wagging with

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

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

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

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.

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

howling in my head

I bet.

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

thir atsella

his mankı

Lucas

care of