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

both later." Where it's safe, I add silently to Selene, wishing Lucas could hear me. Wait. Shouldn't he be

I'm staying,

He shakes his head.

Then when they discharge you

can tell me

me focus

and rubs her

understand, because his hand squeezes mine

should be home soon."

space before, but we haven't necessarily

"I don't like being apart. Most of our time as mates has been

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 with each other. Silver linings and

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

of the frenetic desire of my last heat, content to just nuzzle into Lucas' arms like

The mark helps.

seems to have lost its feverish

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,

our bond.

the sound rumbling through his chest, vibrating against my head. His hand. reaches down to scratch

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

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

situation. My

howling in my

I bet.

softly, meaning every word. The thought

thir atsella

his mankı malina

Ava: Lucas is

care of him,