Page 61 of Hunted By Fear

“He was there. I-in my dream.” She squeezes her eyes closed, her lip quivering, and it breaks my heart, but there’s nothing I can do.

I can’t stop Rome. I’m not strong enough, and even if I were, the contract still stands.

“He said he loves me.” Her voice is so quiet I almost miss it, even with how close I am and my heightened hearing.

“Rome wouldn’t know what love was if I shoved it down his throat and choked him with it.”

“That’s what you do with a cock, not love, Luce,” Talian says, earning a glare from Lucifer, but even Talian’s joke sounds flat.

“He couldn’t touch me though, he-he got so mad, and then he was sad.” I hear the confusion in her voice, and it makes sense. What does Rome have to be sad about?

“The mate bond…” Bast’s eyes flick to meet Lucifer’s, but he looks just as lost as I feel.

“What’s going on? Wh-where am I? Who are you?” Aeri pushes away from Bast, scrambling away up the bed, her eyes wide with panic as her breathing once again becomes labored.

“Fuck.” Lucifer’s mumbled curse is so full of emotions it’s almost startling.

The devil is supposed to be cold and uncaring, cruel and deranged.

So why does it feel like Rome has that down better than he ever could?

“Aeri, hey, everything's okay.” Bast moves slowly, holding his hands up in a show that he won’t harm her.

“Remember earlier, I told you what I thought when I first saw you. How I wasn’t good around women. I was a stepping stone, a way for them to gain something, and they had no problem taking advantage of who I was. But you’re different, Aeri. Everything about you is different in the best possible way, and I’d love to spend the rest of my impossibly long life with you if you’ll let me.”

Aeri sits impossibly still as she looks at Bast as if seeing him for the first time, but instead of being afraid as she was before, she seems curious.

‘Luce, come here, I want to try something,’Bast says in our minds. I get the feeling he told us so we know what’s happening, but didn’t say it aloud to keep Aeri from knowing.

Luce hesitates a moment before he walks toward the bed. Aeri’s eyes jump to him, but she remains where she is, watching, waiting.

“I’m going to help you remember, okay? Can I see your hand?” Bast puts his own hand out, palm up, waiting for her, allowing her to be in control of the situation.

It takes her a minute, and I get that. I can’t imagine what it must be like for her, a room full of people and not knowing a single one.

“Where is Rome?” I cringe at her question. Not two minutes ago, she woke screaming because of him, terrified of the control he has over her.

“He’s on a business trip, remember?” Lucifer’s voice is gentler than I’ve ever heard it before, and it doesn’t take a genius to see he cares for her.

His mate…

Eventually, Aeri nods before hesitantly placing her hand in Bast’s. Bast reaches out and grabs Lucifer’s hand, pulling him down so that his hand rests on top of Aeri’s.

Her heart gallops in her chest, but to her credit, she remains still, though I’m unsure if that’s a choice or in fear.

She blinks hard, once, twice, three times, and before our eyes, I see the change. It’s as if a fog lifts, and I know the second she’s herself again.

“Bast?” Her voice is hoarse, no doubt from her earlier screaming, but it’s her, and I let out a breath of relief.

How have they been able to deal with this? It’s breaking my heart to see her like this, at his mercy.

Seeing his effect on her is all Lucifer needs. Without fear of making her freak out, he scoops her up into his arms, holding her close. I watch as he breathes her in, sagging in relief, and I swallow down my jealousy.

Aeri is my charge, not my mate; she doesn’t belong to me…even if I wish she did.

Ifelt the commotion; the fear that leaks off of her is the first sign something is wrong, but that’s not new. No, what makes me go is the anger; I can feel their control slip, hear their shouts of annoyance, and hear the rapid beat of their hearts.

That’s enough to entice me to have a look at what’s happening despite knowing I need to keep my distance from her.