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?

can just sense something I almost forgot about. Sorry, Grimoire. "Actually,

yanks again, almost 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

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

He shakes his head.

they discharge you and I bring you

me now, Selene

focus on Lucas

rubs her head against

hand squeezes mine and

should be home soon."

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

like being apart. Most of our time as mates

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

warmth of his body and the steady thrum of his heartbeat bring me that clusive peace,

I feel none of the frenetic desire of my last heat, content to just

The mark helps.

would make sense. Lucas' body seems to

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 bulk. "It's just like having a

flatten against her head, and I feel a wave of indignation through our bond. I am not some common

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

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

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

marveling at the complexity of our situation. My wolf, my mate, and me-all tangled together.

my head

I bet.

I say softly, meaning

thir atsella

his mankı malina

Ava: Lucas

care of him,