146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
Lucas watches me with concern and care, but all I can say is, “Oh.”
Some part of me had expected Mom to stay in aa forever. Or die.
I didn’t think about her much. Ignoring her existence is easier than dealing with–well, everything.
“I would have to return to ckwood in order to question her.” Every word is careful and measured, as though he’s not sure how I’m going to respond.
He doesn’t invite me to go. I’m not sure I want to. He probably realizes that.
Selene nces toward us, her ears flicking as she listens.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea. Your pack needs you here. They need to see their alpha.” I’m hesitant to speak up, but Selene’s watchful gaze gives me a little confidence. “Alpha yton is still there, isn’t he? I think he should lead the interrogation.”
It’s our first time saying his name between us <b>and </b>I
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
can feel Lucas‘ muscles tense.
Trying to give him a littlefort, I grab his hand, threading our fingers together. A silent message that I’m still here. That I’ve already made my choice.
My heart hurts when I realize how little I’ve really thought about the damage I’ve done to this man.
He rxes, drawing me closer, his thumb rubbing against the back of my hand. “You’re right. I’ll call him.”
It’s amazing how warm my heart feels, knowing that I’ve given Lucas a little peace of mind, with a hint of my heart.
I’ve wasted so much time worrying about his
intentions. Worrying about being trapped in a gilded
cage.
Being brave is easier than I thought it would be.
He brings our joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against them. “I have to meet with Ken and discuss everything, but I’ll keep you updated. I
promise.”
***
The front door closes with a soft click, and Lucas‘
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146 Ava: Without His Knowledge
warmth disappears with him.
I pace across the floor, my arms wrapped around my middle, hugging myself as if that’ll hold all the broken pieces inside of me together.
Mom’s awake.
Lisa’s gone.
Vampires attacked.
Sister Miriam’s trying to get in touch with me.
My father might be hiding in a city of vampires.
It’s a lot to think through. To process.
<i>You’re </i><i>going </i><i>to </i>wear a hole <i>through </i><i>the </i><i>floor</i>. She watches me pace, her attention distracted from her show. <i>Why </i>don’t you summon Sister Miriam and see <i>if </i><i>you </i>can <i>get </i><i>some </i>answers<i>? </i>That <i>might </i><i>help </i><i>you</i>.
I pause mid–step, thinking about Lucas. About the baby steps we managed today.
“I can’t.”
<i>Why </i><i>not</i><i>? </i>Isn’t that what <i>you </i>wanted to do?
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” I rake a hand through my hair,
frustration huhhling un inside mo
ingida ma “It’s not that
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146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
simple.”
<i>Because </i><i>of </i>Lucas<i>.</i>
It’s not a question. Selene’s too perceptive for that. She sees right through me.
I groan, sinking back onto the couch. “I don’t want to lose his trust by going behind his back. But I can’t risk Lisa’s life over him, either.”
<i>So</i><i>, </i>tell him everything<i>.</i>
My voice cracks. “What if he looks at me differently? What if he doesn’t want me anymore?”Property ? N?velDrama.Org.
Selene is quiet for a long moment. Then she nudges my leg with her nose, her fur soft against my skin. <i>He </i>could <i>have </i>given up <i>on </i><i>you </i>a long time <i>ago</i><i>.</i>
1
She sounds half–strangled to even admit it, and Iugh
a little. She’s not wrong.
He’s still here, despite everything. He’s nothing like my parents. My family.
Lucas makes <i>you </i>happy<i>. </i><i>I </i>want you <i>to </i><i>be </i><i>happy</i><i>. </i>Selene’s words are simple, but my heart fills.
“You always call him my ex–fated.”
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
<i>Is </i><i>your </i><i>mate </i><i>bond </i><i>based </i><i>on </i>fate <i>or </i><i>choice</i>?
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say fate, of course. But
then I think back.
Despite our bond insistently tugging us together, it
isn’t the reason I want to connect with him.
It’s just Lucas.
How he cares. How he came for me. How he’s been
there, no matter how much I run from his feelings.
“Choice,” I decide, feeling the truth deep in my heart. Our fated bond drives us together, but it’s not why I
want to be with him.
Then he <i>is </i><i>your </i>chosen mate<i>, </i>even <i>more </i>than he’s <i>your</i>
<i>fated </i><i>one</i>.
“But what if-”
<i>You </i>can’t build <i>a </i>rtionship on <i>secrets </i><i>and </i><i>lies</i>. But <i>it’s </i><i>your </i>choice<i>. </i><i>I </i>will <i>be </i>here<i>, </i>regardless<i>.</i>
Even so, it feels like a betrayal to put my bond with
Lucas over Lisa’s life.
Maybe it’s the wrong decision.
I’m actually half–convinced it <i>is </i>the wrong decision.
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge.
That I should have taken the opportunity while I was here to talk to him.
But I grab the candle. “I’ll exin it to him after I talk to her. I can’t wait around just because I’m worried about his reaction.”
Ignoring that little tug at my gut trying to me about future problems, I grab the candle and light it, sneezing at the smell of burning dust.
Selene sneezes beside me. <i>It’s </i>awful. <i>Like </i><i>burning </i>dust and <i>a </i>dead <i>fly</i>.
I ignore herint, too focused on the task at hand. Squeezing my eyes shut, I picture Sister Miriam in my mind–her dark hair, pale skin, and those
disconcerting red eyes that seem to see right through
<ol>
<li>me.</li>
</ol>
“Sister Miriam,” I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.
At first, nothing happens. The room remains silent save for the soft hum of the television in the background. But then, “omething shifts. The image of Sister Miriam in my mind grows clearer, more vivid. It’s as if she’s standing right in front of me, those
148 Ava: Without His Knowledge….
unsettling eyes boring into mine.
A shiver runs through me, and I feel a strange sensation wash over my body. It’s like I’m being pulled forward, tugged towards something I can’t quiteprehend. The room around me seems to fade away, reced by an endless expanse of red that matches the color of Sister Miriam’s eyes.
<i>Ava</i><i>? </i>Selene’s concerned voice sounds distant, muffled, as if she’s speaking to me from underwater. What’s happening<i>?</i>
I try to respond, to tell her I don’t know, but the words catch in my throat. The red engulfs mepletely now, surrounding me on all sides. It’s suffocating, overwhelming, and I feel rising panic in my chest.
Just as I’m about to sumb to the fear, the red dissipates.
The change is jarring<b>. </b>My eyes take several rounds of rapid blinks to adjust.
I’m no longer in my apartment.
Instead, I’m standing in the middle of a brightly lit
room. It’s a cozy little space, an eclectic mix of vintage and modern. It should look haphazard and nieced
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together, but it looks almost quaint. Cozy. Clean.
Soft, plush armchairs with sleek, minimalist end tables. Colorful throw pillows scattered across an elegant, if worn, leather couch. There are bookshelves
everywhere, each filled to the brim. Recognizable modern books mixed with ancient encyclopedias. Some spines show differentnguages. There are even fabric–covered books that have my fingers twitching with the need to run my finger down the length of
them.
A bibliophile’s dream.
Where the hell are we?
“Wee to my home, child.”
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