Page 94 of Hunted By Fear

“If we’ve been able to do this all along, why haven’t we?”I try not to pout but give up after a moment. I’m the only one awake, so what does it matter?

He’s quiet for a minute, and at first I worry I upset him and he’s left, but I can still feel him.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm or frighten you, but sometimes when feeling strong emotions, we can pull our mates into our minds. I like to think of it as the universe ensuring we aren’t alone, but I wasn’t sure what you would be okay with after...”He doesn’t finish, but he doesn’t need to. Even in my mind, I can hear his hesitation.

Rome.

That’s what he means, because Rome’s been in my mind, and he wasn’t sure how I would react to having him in my mind as well.

It’s thoughtful, in a way that warms my heart but also makes me sad. He shouldn’t have to tiptoe around because I’m broken.

Somehow, I don’t think he will appreciate me saying that, so instead I change the subject.

“Bast and Ruin didn’t mention anything about this when I asked them about mates and what it means to be mated to someone,”I grumble because I literally just asked them.

“Well, what did they say?”

I tell him about the conversation we had and feel his presence as if he’s really here in the room with me.

I wish he were.

“Yes, well, it’s more than that,”he says after.

“More how?”

I hear his chuckle again, and I decide I like the sound of it. I wish he was around so I could try and make him laugh like that for real, not just in our minds.

“Mates are different for everyone, but for me, my mate is my everything. I spent my whole existence pushing against what I believed to be wrong, learned to stand on my own, and lost everything. I was told I would never have a mate because of that, so to have you… You're more than I deserve, more than I ever dared dream of, and I will protect and treasure you always.”

Damn.

That was much deeper than I expected.

“I have a visitor. Happy nightmares, Moonlight.”

I don’t know how I know it, but he’s gone before I can respond.

I wonder who his visitor is.

I cuddle back into Talian’s side, a warm, fuzzy feeling spreading through me like a fire in my belly when he reaches for me even in his sleep.

I’m still not sure I’m worthy of Lucifer, but I want to be.

I want to be worthy of all of them.

Leaving Aeri is harder than it should be, and as I walk the halls of the castle, I have to fight the urge to turn around and go right back to her.

How the fuck Lucifer is able to be away from her boggles my mind; I’m not even mated to her, and already I feel like this.

But Talian has plans, and they don’t include me. He wants to make up for his bullshit, and Aeri deserves the effort, even if she decides she doesn’t want anything more with him. Not that I can see that happening; I’ve seen the way she looks at him when he’s not paying attention.

The way she looks at all of them.

Fuck.

I adjust myself and will my cock to calm down. I’m looking for Lucifer, and the last thing I need is to have a boner when I find him.

It’s hard, though, literally, when it comes to Aeri. She’s everything I ever wanted and so much more. I just need to find a way to make our bond snap into place. I know it’s just a matter of time, but I’m tired of waiting.