*Lucas*
I opened my eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Instinctively, I reached to the other side of the bed. My hand fell on cool, untouched sheets.
Sighing, I looked over at the empty space and the pillow where Sasha’s head used to lay. I still couldn’t get used to not waking up next to her. She was out there, sowhere. I had to believe she was. It didn’t matter how many tis the alternate Sasha told she couldn’t connect with her, I hadn’t lost hope.
Yawning, I stretched and got dressed. In the kitchen, alternate Sasha was sipping so herbal tea and reading the morning paper.
“Good morning.” She bead a bright smile at .
I grunted and headed to the coffee pot. Soone had put coffee on that morning, probably Brady or Phoebe.
“You look like you didn’t get much sleep.” Sasha set the paper down.
I knew she was just trying to be nice, but I couldn’t help feeling like there was smugness in her voice.
“I didn’t. I’m still not used to sleeping alone.” I sighed and leaned against the counter.
Sasha frowned. She gave a sympathetic look. “I know it can’t be easy. I can try again to make a connection with your Sasha. I just... don’t know what good it will do at this point.”
“If you could try again, I’d appreciate it.” I nodded.
“I’ll try later. I have final exams today.”
I choked on my coffee. Coughing, I thrust my first into my chest, coffee shooting out of my mouth and splattering all over the kitchen floor. I grabbed a paper towel and swiftly wiped it up.
“Final exams, already?”
“Yeah. I know. Ti really does fly. It was strange at first, taking soone else’s classes. But it’s all similar to my own field of study in my reality, so I picked it up quickly.”
“You’re feeling prepared, confident that you’ll pass?”
Sasha gave a self-assured smile. “Yes. That’s so kind of you to be concerned.” She wrapped her arms around her swollen stomach and smiled shyly, her cheeks reddening.
I pursed my lips. I had asked to protect my own Sasha from getting bad grades, failing, and losing future job prospects. She could take it how she wanted.
I nodded and threw out my paper towel, topping off my coffee cup. “Good luck, then. You might not need it, but I want you to do well on these exams.”
“I won’t let you down. Oh, and I’m eting with so recruiters after exams today. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a job by the end of the day.”
I cleared my throat. “For my Sasha when she cos ho, you an.”
She gave another sheepish smile. “Yeah, that’s what I an.”
I helped her with her bag. She was pregnant enough now that I worried about her carrying a heavy book bag with her school supplies. I wanted to make sure she was safe, so Ian drove her around everywhere, too.
Sotis, I thought she read too much into it. She was carrying my child, though, and I wasn’t taking chances.
“Let know how you do.” I walked her out to the car Ian had idling in the driveway.
“I will.”
I helped her into the car and she waved as Ian pulled away. It was a little disturbing how smoothly she slipped into my Sasha’s life. She picked up her coursework and her work-study project, and she was even securing a job. It was all the events I wanted to share with my real mate.
I was grateful the alternate Sasha was going to such lengths to ensure my Sasha’s future, but I got the sense that she was getting a little too comfortable. At first, I helped her a lot. Now, she was going to classes and eting with job recruiters without talking to first. She even hung out with so of Sasha’s friends.
Whether or not she told them who she really was, I didn’t know. She was going out more and more on her own, setting down roots, and making a life for herself.
It was unsettling.
My heart ached as I headed back inside. No matter how well the alternate Sasha fit into this world and life, she wasn’t my Sasha.
“Oh, hey, you’re up.” Brady poked his head out of the kitchen. He frowned imdiately. “Man, you look like shit.”
“I didn’t sleep well,” I grumbled.
“Right. I guess it is stupid to ask why.”
I shrugged and sat down at the kitchen table. My coffee was still there, cold and unappetizing.
Brady sat down across from and positioned himself directly in my line of sight.
“It’s been too long. Sasha should have contacted by now or found her way back.”
“You’re not about to give up, are you, Lucas?”
My head snapped up and I stared at Brady. My heart jumped into my throat.
“I’m not sure what to do. The alternate Sasha is about to graduate and get a job. When my Sasha cos back, how is she going to pick up the pieces, especially with a new baby?”
“You’ll make it work. Don’t underestimate your Sasha. She’s capable of pretty much anything.”
I sighed and nodded. Brady had a point, but it was hard to remain hopeful after so much ti had gone by. It didn’t even seem like Sasha was stuck in another reality. She would have found her way back already if that was the case.
“Lucas, don’t give up. You have to have faith that she’ll find her way back. You’re here. Her child is here. She’ll co back.”
“You’re right,” I nodded. I didn’t entirely believe it, but I wanted to. “I’ve got to get to work.”
“Okay, Phoebe and I will be out really late tonight.”
I grabbed my things and tossed Brady a quick wave as I left.
Work was slow and monotonous. I lost all passion and ambition for reaching my goal to be the head Royal Engineer. Sure, I wanted to build a better life for my child, but I couldn’t see that life without Sasha in it.
I typed away at my computer and sifted through blueprints on my desk. It had been a while since I had an on-site project to handle, but I had plenty of work in the office to keep busy.
I took a few calls about upcoming projects but none of them excited , so I referred them to other engineers.
Finally, when the sun set, I headed ho. That was how I lived every day. I woke up feeling lost, skirted my way through work without any passion, and then went ho and slept just to start it all over again.
As soon as I opened the mansion door, I knew sothing was different. The mouthwatering, alluring scent of a roast chicken struck my nose.
Who was cooking? Brady told he and Phoebe would be out late.
I found Sasha in the kitchen, pulling things out of the oven. The kitchen table was set for two.
“Oh, you’re ho.” She smiled and motioned to the roast chicken. “Can you help carve this?”
“What are you doing?” I crossed my arms.
“I thought I could make you dinner. We could spend a little ti together.” She nodded to the table and gave a sweet, hopeful look.
It was far too intimate and romantic of a setting to be appropriate.
“What is this about?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Well, I wanted to reconnect. I know I’m not your Sasha, but I’m here, and she and I have a lot of similarities. If nothing else, it would be good for us to spend ti together. I am carrying your child, and we might end up raising him together until your Sasha can get back here.”
Inwardly, I cringed at the thought. I didn’t want to think of my child being raised by soone that wasn’t his mother.
“I appreciate it, but I’m not hungry.” I nodded curtly and headed to my room.
As soon as I shut the door, my stomach growled uncontrollably. I was hungry, and the al she cooked slled delicious. I couldn’t entertain her, though. She obviously wanted more out of this arrangent and I couldn’t give her that.
***
There was no coffee in the coffee pot the next morning. I was still awake when Phoebe and Brady got ho. Knowing Pheobe’s schedule, she had already left for the morning.
If she wasn’t the one putting on the coffee, who was?
My heart sank. It was probably alternate Sasha. She might think I was mad at her for making dinner or sothing.
I didn’t want her to think I was mad at her, because I wasn’t. I just missed my mate. I headed back upstairs to the guest room. The door was open halfway, and I saw Sasha folding her clothes into a suitcase.
“Are you going sowhere?” I pushed the door the rest of the way open.
She looked up, wide-eyed, and nodded. “Yeah. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
My heart hamred in my chest, and I frowned. What was she thinking? She couldn’t leave. She didn’t belong in this world. She was pregnant with my son; I couldn’t let her leave.
“Where are you going?” I kept my voice steady. I didn’t want to scare her and chase her away faster.
“I contacted Sasha’s mom. I think it would be best if I went and stayed with her.”
“That’s all the way in the Light Realm. You plan to travel there by yourself?”
“I do.” She nodded and went back to folding clothes.
“Sasha....”
“Look, I can tell you’re uncomfortable around . Maybe so distance is better.”
I gritted my teeth. Yes, there was a part of that wanted her gone because I wanted my own Sasha back, but I wasn’t about to let her leave with my child. I didn’t trust her to run away with my baby. Honestly, I knew I wouldn’t trust anyone with the baby except my own mate.
Suddenly, the seriousness of the situation dawned on . I’d been treating her like she was temporarily in my life because that’s what I wanted. The truth was that she might be there longer than I expected and because she was in Sasha’s body, she could take my child anywhere–before he was born and after.
I had to be nice to keep her from doing anything extre. I had to treat her like I wanted her around.
“Hey....” I walked around her bed and placed my hand on hers.
She gasped and froze in place. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been treating you better. Really, I don’t want you to leave. This has been a big adjustnt for and I guess... I never thought I might lose you, until now.”
“Lucas.” Her voice ca out as a soft whisper.
“Please stay? We can talk about everything over a dinner for two.”
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