Page 46 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

Fallen leaves crunched underfoot as Asher and Lita wound through the woods, their clasped hands swinging between them in time with each determined step.

The air was alive with the crisp smell of dirt and pine, a breeze sending shivers through Lita’s bones and scattering her hair in wild, loose strands.

She tucked the wayward pieces behind her ears, focusing on Asher’s touch.

The heat of his skin against hers. His silver eyes that seemed to burn just for her.

And the way he looked at her, as if she were the most important person in the world …

she burned this memory in her heart. There was no going back.

She was completely in love and was embracing it.

Behind them, Caspian groaned as he picked a leaf from his hair. “If I don’t get a shower soon, I’m going to start sprouting roots.”

Lita grinned back at him. “Is that why you look so rough? I figured you’d have given up and gone home earlier.”

Asher chuckled, the sound deep and intimate. Lita reveled in it. A lifetime of never quite belonging left a shadow in her mind, but she trusted and believed in Asher.

Caspian pulled a face, flicking the leaf away. “Abandoning you would have saved me three days of camping. I never could have done that, though. Ever.”

“I had no idea what the trail was like or how far away it was.” Lita watched as Grayson snapped his head in her direction. “They drugged me and I was unconscious. Otherwise, they never would have taken me.”

Grayson’s low rumble reached them from where he walked, his footsteps heavier than the rest. “Those bastards. Damn nags! I should have laid into them more. I didn’t realize they had drugged you, too.

” Grayson growled through his teeth. The idea that someone had taken her was bad enough, but to drug her … he didn’t care what their reason was.

“I know what they did was wrong, but I hope we can maybe form an understanding or an alliance with them. There’s never been one between centaurs and werewolves. Maybe I can be the bond between them.”

“You’re very special, Lita. You can be the bridge for your pack and reach where no one else ever could. The Black Ice Pack is very fortunate to have you.” Grayson glanced back to Asher with a knowing look.

“Not just the pack. I’m lucky to have her.” Asher dropped Lita’s hand and swung his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her into him.

Lita glanced away, feeling the flush rise to her cheeks. Her wolf, Mira, danced in her mind, full of nervous energy. Her connection to Mira was flickering through, and it made her wonder why her wolf was anxious.

She was so focused on Mira that she wasn’t paying attention and tripped over a root. Asher’s steady hand kept her from falling.

“Careful,” he cooed to her, with a grin that reached her soul.

“It must be a moving tree. That root wasn’t there before.” She cleared her throat, trying to mask her embarrassment. “Gray, is that your truck?”

“One of them,” he said proudly.

“You picked that color on purpose?” She curled her nose up and looked at him.

“Hey! You want to walk back? Besides,” Grayson moved quickly to the driver’s side and swung the door open with a shrug. “I hear burnt orange is in fashion.”

Caspian rolled his eyes, tugging off his shirt and tossing it in the bed of the truck. “Anything’s better than the mess I’m wearing.”

“Stop complaining and get in,” Grayson said.

Asher and Lita exchanged an amused look as they climbed inside.

She settled next to him, allowing herself to be squeezed between his warmth and Grayson’s solid form.

A sudden wave of happiness caught her off guard.

She was content, as if between these two men was where she was meant to be.

There was an intimidating aura between the two of them.

It was like sitting between two alphas. What was Grayson exactly?

He only said he wasn’t a werewolf, but he didn’t elaborate.

It was just another thing she would have to ask him about later.

Maybe he was a powerful wizard that could conjure the elements or something cool like that.

It at least gave her something interesting to think about during the ride home.

The engine roared and rumbled like a living thing, matching the pulse of anxiety that beat in her chest.

“Will you be living with us forever?”

“With you, forever. Wherever you go, I will go.” Grayson listened as Asher snorted.

“The answer is yes, because you’re never leaving.” Asher glanced over at Grayson, who only shrugged with a small smirk, intentionally provoking Asher for fun.

Grayson laughed, a deep rumble that seemed to shake the truck. “Don’t worry. I promise to keep my bad temper under control.” He cast a sidelong glance at Asher. “Can’t say the same for him.”

Lita felt Asher’s fingers curl around her waist as he let out an airy snort.

“Are you two going to be able to get along?” Lita glanced between the two nervously.

The two men started laughing, followed by Caspian in the back. “Can’t you tell that we’re best friends?” Asher teased. “We have an understanding between us. You’re our first priority. I won’t promise that we won’t fight or disagree, but we’ll manage.”

“I think we’re going to end up being good friends.

I can feel how much you love me already,” Grayson teased again, and Asher scoffed at him.

They both had clashing personalities but were united under a common goal: to protect Lita and keep her safe.

Grayson often fought with Luke, but the two had formed a strong friendship.

He was certain that, in time, he and Asher would also form a close bond, especially since he wasn’t going anywhere.

He would be there until his or Lita’s end.

“I bet you two had an interesting chat.” Lita scooted even more into Asher’s side. He wrapped his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“I was definitely not expecting it to be Grayson. I had a lot of questions about all of it.” Asher chuckled as he thought about his shock.

“An interrogation would be more accurate,” Caspian quipped with a small smile.

Knowing Asher, there was a lot of shouting going on.

Lita soaked in the warmth next to her. The gentle hum of the truck and the voices began to meld together.

Her head was hurting again. She held her hand open and stared at it.

It tingled with the sensation of being held, but it wasn’t.

She was staring down at her empty hand when the flashing images started.

They were blurry but vivid enough. Was it a memory?

The sound of children’s laughter echoed loudly in her ears as she saw two children running through a field, hand in hand.

The sun shone brightly on the tall grass that covered most of the children’s bodies as they ran through it.

It felt warm. She could feel the vision in her soul. It was a happy one.

The sun was swallowed by a blanket of menacing clouds as a deafening rumble shook the sky.

The air turned thick and oppressive, suffocating in its vice-like grip.

Another violent crack split through the darkness, accompanied by a deep roar that seemed to echo through her bones.

But amid the chaos, she heard something else—the heavy thud of footsteps drawing closer, causing her body to tremble with fear and her heart to pound in her chest.

Then there was nothing but the deafening sound of silence. Everything was black. A blanket of darkness had enveloped her.

I’ve found you, princessssss.

A deep, chilling voice rumbled in her head, the sound echoing in her mind.

She shook her head and blinked, trying to regain focus.

She could hear the humming of the vehicle as her clarity was restored.

What the hell was that? Was it a memory she had forgotten, or was it a voice that she heard just now?

She could feel the tugging in her head, creating a throbbing sensation.

Lita gasped, clutching her head as the pain crashed over her. She knew this presence, felt it watching her from far away. It was fierce, determined, and Mira was pacing in frantic circles in her mind.

The truck seemed to shrink around her. She gripped the seat, trying to fight the heaviness settling in her chest, trying to push back against whatever it was that sought her out.

Caspian leaned forward through the back window. “Lita, give me your hand.”

His touch was like liquid fire that pulsated up her arm and through her veins. Burning ribbons were stinging her body, devouring her skin like an intense inferno. The heat was oppressive, binding her down, enveloping her in a prison, threatening to cook her.

“Don’t fight me,” he said, his forehead pressed against hers. His voice was raw and strained, like the pain was searing through him, too. “Hold on, Lita. Just hold on.”

The words barely made it through the tumult, but something in Caspian’s voice reached her.

The sensation shifted, dizzying and overwhelming, and Lita felt herself spiraling through images and sound.

It was everywhere—darkness, thunder, a frantic search.

And behind it, a threatening presence that had its sights set on her.

Her body screamed against the pressure, against the burning pain that grew more unbearable with each moment.

Lita tried to pull away, but Caspian’s grip was relentless.

It rooted her to the spot, anchoring her even as her senses fragmented into chaos.

She heard herself whimper, a small, broken sound that barely cut through the suffocating blackness.

A warmth spread over her, and she felt Grayson’s hand settled on her knee. “Deep breaths.” His voice seemed to ground her.

The pain no longer bothered her. It was the menacing darkness she could feel in the distance, which seemed to be frantically searching. It had lost what it was looking for and was terrorizing the area with its presence.

As they continued to drive away, the presence grew even more faint. The moment they were back in her pack’s territory, she could no longer feel it. Her body felt like it was ablaze, though. Hot knives lashed at her skin, and she had to bite her bottom lip as she bore it.

What was actually mere moments felt like an eternity before Caspian finally released his grip on her. She greedily gulped for air she had not been able to consume. She didn’t say a word, only closed her eyes and tried to gather her senses.

“Lita, are you okay?” Asher asked as she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings.

She licked her lips and nodded her head.

She looked over at Grayson, who was focused on driving through the woods like a maniac.

Next, she checked on Caspian, sweat beading on his forehead, looking like he’d just been through an intense battle.

“Caspian, are you okay?” Lita watched as he peeked at her through one eye. His lips curled up into a crooked smile.

“What are you doing worrying about me? Are you okay?” Caspian knew that she had to have been in immense pain. They both were. Her body’s magic had fought him off. He held on as long as he could, but he wouldn’t be able to continue doing that forever.

She let out a breath through her nose. “I thought I was going to burn to death. It was like a fire was burning inside me and holding me down at the same time. What were you doing?”

Grayson’s deep, calm voice filled the cab of the truck. “Caspian was suppressing your presence. Someone’s searching for you, Lita. Hard.”

“I could feel it. The presence. The darkness.”

Grayson’s brow furrowed, surprise flickering across his face. “You could sense it?”

“Vaguely,” she admitted. “It was—terrifying.”

Asher pulled her to him, the warmth of his arms banishing the last traces of fear. “You’re safe,” he promised, the conviction in his voice settling deep into her bones. “I’ll never lose you again.”

Grayson’s brows furrowed and he glanced up at the rearview mirror at Caspian. Things were going to be coming to a head soon, and they needed to be ready.

Asher pulled her into his side so he could inspect her body, tenderly rubbing her arm and smoothing her hair.

He wanted to pull her away from Caspian when he saw her in pain, but he knew he was protecting her.

Caspian had explained several things to Asher about himself and abilities.

It had helped him understand what Caspian was doing just a moment ago.

“I feel really tired.” Lita’s eyelids drooped heavily. Whatever happened a moment ago took a lot out of her.

The truck rumbled to a stop outside the pack house, and Asher swept her up as if she weighed nothing at all. She barely had the strength to protest as he carried her inside, pushing past an excited Kristen and Caden.

“Thank goodness you’re back!” Kristen’s voice was bright and eager. “And all in one piece, too.”

Caden’s grin was quick and teasing. “Look who finally decided to show up. It’s about time.”

Lita managed a weary smile, resting her head against Asher’s shoulder. He carried her up the stairs and into his room, laying her down with the gentleness of someone handling a fragile treasure.

“I’m right here,” he murmured, settling beside her and pulling her close. His arms were like steel around her, the fierce embrace of someone who couldn’t bear to let go.

Lita pressed against him, the steady beat of his heart a lullaby that coaxed her into sleep. The presence, the pain, the terrible threat—it all seemed distant now. All that remained was Asher’s warmth and the quiet promise that he wouldn’t leave her side.

This was the first time she had been back in their bed since he marked her.

The memory of that night stirred Asher’s desire for her.

He wanted nothing more than to be able to taste her here at home.

He had time, though. She was back, and he made a promise to himself that he would never lose her again.

He leaned his head on hers and listened to the sound of her rhythmic breathing.

She had fallen asleep so quickly as Asher laid there holding her.

The past several days were a nightmare for him that he never wished to experience again.

She was so precious to him. She was home and safe, for now, but it wasn’t over.

There was still a threat out there, after his angel.

They wouldn’t be totally at peace until the threat was eliminated, something that would not be an easy feat.

That was a problem for another day, though.

Lita was home, and they had worked out their relationship problems. He was going to enjoy this time and enjoy her.

His body relaxed as he melded into her side, slowly drifting off to sleep with her.