Chapter 108


    Mom and Luca exchange pleasantries while I work very hard to pull myself together, wondering how


    the hell I’m supposed to manage all of this chaos, when Jesse – of all wonderful peoplees to


    my rescue.


    He, too, skids through the door and is across the room in half a second, shoving Luca roughly aside


    and knocking him to the floor so he can wrap his arms around me, murmuring about how scared he


    was and how d he is that I’m okay.


    I hug my cousin back, assuring him that I’m all right, and it’s only when Jesse offers a hand and an


    apology to Luca that I’m able to look at my mom again. She quickly raises a questioning eyebrow at


    me, asking silently if everything is out in the open, and I hurriedly shake my head, begging her with


    my expression to please, please not say anything.


    Slowly, she nods, a smile still ying at her lips as she turns her attention back to the boys, who


    are now standing at my bedside.


    “As much as it is a pleasure to meet you, Luca,” she says, her voice official now, “and I do very


    much want to talk to you more – Ariel still isn’t well.”


    Luca’s face pales at the news and he anxiously looks between me and my mom.


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    “She’s fine,” Jesse exins, putting a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “Aunt E healed her up, Luc, don’t


    worry –


    “I healed her,” mom says, nodding to Jesse, “but she’s still exhausted and dehydrated. Jesse? Will


    you please go get your mom, and tell her to bring an IV? Ariel needs fluids.”


    Jesse nods and immediately moves to the door, but Luca hesitates, clearly wanting to stay. My


    mom simply quirks one queenly eyebrow at him, though clearly requesting time alone with her


    daughter – and I see Luca give in.


    “I’ll see you soon,” he says, kneeling down by the side of my bed and running a fond hand over my


    hair, my shoulder, and then down my arm. I can see him bodily fighting his instincts to stay by his


    mate’s side – but he also knows that I am clearly all right in my mother’s hands.


    “It will be okay, Luca,” I murmur, leaning impulsively forward. Luca puts a soft hand on my cheek


    and presses a brief, chaste kiss to my mouth – not really able to resist, but also not wanting to put


    on a disy in front of my mom.


    I grin at him as he stands with a sigh and heads for the door. I’m still grinning, watching his


    form, as my mom clears her throat.


    “Don’t say anything,” I whisper, reaching out a hand for hers and squeezing it before the door snicks


    shut behind Luca’s retreating form. Then, once we’re alone, I turn to her, grimacing a little.


    “Soooo, Ariellll,” she says, leaning forward and grinning at me, her voice light and gossipy. “Why do


    both of those boys think that they’re your mate!?”


    “Because,” I say, my voice and my facepletely serious. “They both are, mom.”


    Slowly the smile falls from her face. “Wait, what?”


    I nod slowly and then burst into an exnation – telling her about that first day, when both of their


    scents hit me, and then of figuring it all out as time passed. Mom’s eyes are wide and shocked by


    the time I’m halfway through the story and I can tell that she’s mesmerized and worried, all at once.


    I don’t our have time to get to the end


    –


    about how I just told Jacksonst night, during


    the Examination – when the door opens and Aunt Coraes in, wheeling an IV stand with


    her.


    I


    I give a little cry of joy when I see her – Cora, she’s my only aunt, but she’s my favorite anyway. She


    makes the same little noise as she ms the door shut and rushes to me, pushing the IV with her


    and abandoning it a bit when she sits on the bed next to me and wraps me up in a tight, tight hug.


    “You idiot,” she mutters into my hair, rocking me back and forth. “You followed your brother and your


    cousin, of all people!? To the Academy!?”


    “I like it there!” I protest,ughing a little and pushing her away a bit so that I can look into her face,


    smiling despite all the drama. “Besides,” I say, cocking my head to the side, “where did you guys


    think I was?”


    “In a convent,” Cora sighs, slumping back against the pillows with me and ncing at my mom. “At


    least, that’s what we hoped. Safe and sound, all walled up, practicing the art of making tapestries or


    something equally dull and harmless.”


    “Oh, well, it sounds like Ariel was doing the exact opposite, Cors,” my mom says, leaning forward


    with her chin on her palm and grinning at me. I scowl at her, thinking she’s enjoying this just a little


    too much. “Considering that she just told me that she met two mates at this little Academy.”