Page 109 of Those That Are Lost

‘Hi.’I breathe in greeting. I feel his presence like he’s just stepped up behind me. Like he’s sweeping my hair off my shoulder to lay a kiss to the juncture of my neck. Another on that soft bit of skin behind my ear, it never fails to send skitters of electricity down my spine.

‘You’re alone?’he asks.

‘Yes.’

‘Where’s Antares?’

‘Around somewhere. I was looking for him when I found your old room.’

‘Has Mitch destroyed the place with his ever exploding wardrobe?’

I smile because it’s pretty close to the truth. I see Ty’s smile in my mind too, I can see him tidying this space, clearing up after his roommate. The image is so mundane but the longing to see it pulls at my chest. I need to see my mate in the flesh.

‘Soon, sweetheart. You’ll be back in my arms soon.’

‘Sooner than you might think,’I reply, thinking of Adicious’s new deadline.

‘What do you mean?’

I’m about to explain when a noise from outside the window catches my attention. The pane is cracked slightly, Mitch must’ve left it open a sliver.

Looking out, my blood drains. Shit.

‘I gotta go.’

‘Everything okay?’

‘Yep. Nothing I can’t handle. I’ve found Antares, he’s getting himself into trouble.’I throw the pillow down before flying out the room and down the stairs. Not wanting to alert Ty to the truth I say a quick goodbye and close our connection.

I curse my pack bonded as I run. From the window, I’d spotted Antares, Mitch, and Atlas. But they were with Ronan and his cronies, and it looked like they were about to start sparring.

CHAPTER 42

AURORA

“He’s more practised than he looks.” Antares dabs the cloth to his bleeding cheek. The story is that he was looking for Atlas when he ran into Ronan on the veranda. How that escalated into a fight. he won’t disclose fully. Or when Atlas and Mitch joined him.

I’m seething over the fact none of the males stopped it. Atlas tried to reason with me, claiming that it was set up to be a clean match. I’m sure he’s covering for Antares. No way would he agree to simply spar with Ronan, there had to be some antagonising comments thrown. And Atlas was the one to put an end to it, so I’m certain he wouldn’t have allowed it in the first place. But that’s the story they’re all sticking to.

“You’re lucky he didn’t knock you out,” I chastise him, as I gently clean the blood from the tear in his delicately pointed ear.

“Can’t believe the fucker tried to rip my top ring out.” Antares turns this way and that to check the jewellery as I try to stem the bleeding.

We’re back in my room, Atlas, Mitch, and Jackson are in here too. Mitch went off on Antares as soon as we shutourselves in here. Granted, his actions were pretty stupid but I think being handed his ass was enough punishment. Not that Antares sees that he lost.

“I don’t understand why you didn’t use your powers.” Atlas stands across the room, arms folded and tense.

“I sometimes like to even the playing field. It would get boring if I just stole everyone’s air all the time. It feels so good to lull them into a false sense of security. It’s beautiful to watch their faces when I turn the tables.”

“But you got injured.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” Atlas huffs.

Honestly, it's been like this since we got back here. Except for Jackson, who is quietly perched on the top corner of the bed.

“Enough.” I drop the bloodied cloth and stare down each of them. “It’s over now. Yes, it was stupid. You better not get into any more fights.” I point at Antares, giving him a direct order. “The rest of you need to stop squabbling.”