"Ava?"
My eyes snap open, heart racing as I jolt upright in the armchair. Kellan's face swims into focus, his brows pulled together with concern. For a mont, I'm disoriented, the remnants of a dream clinging to the edges of my consciousness.
"I... what happened?" I mumble, rubbing my eyes. The cottage cos into focus around , and I rember where I am.
Fell asleep on the armchair while ditating. Oops.
Kellan crouches beside , his voice low. "You fell asleep here. Are you okay?"
My neck is stiff from the awkward position. Rolling my shoulders, I try to work out the kink. "How long was I out?"
"If you went to bed as soon as I left, it's been about four hours."
I guess that's fine. Daylight is streaming through the windows, so I hop out of the chair with excitent. "Can we see Lucas?"
Kellan holds up a hand. "Whoa, slow down. Visiting hours don't start for a couple more hours. I brought you so clothes and breakfast." He jerks a finger behind him at the table. "Figured you'd want a shower and to get…" He waves his hands vaguely over his body. "Presentable."
Oh.
That's a good idea, too.
"Thanks."
"I'll get you when it's ti." Giving my shoulder an awkward pat, he adds, "Don't forget to eat. I have a few things to do, but I'll be here on ti, okay?"
"Got it."
* * *
The shower is amazing.
Hot water. Soap. Shampoo and conditioner that sll like peaches.
Clean clothes. They're kind of large and hang off my fra like I'm a hobo, but hey. I'm a dirt-free hobo.
The tangles in my hair were horrific, but a lot of yanking and a sore scalp later, my blonde tresses hang free and wild with a bit of natural curl and a lot of frizz. Unfortunately, my hair products are in the Fae Ward with my suitcase.
Oh, well.
The aroma of coffee and bacon fills my nostrils, but my appetite is nowhere to be found. Sitting at the small table by the window, I wrap my hands around the warm mug, accepting its heat in lieu of its caffeine. A bacon-and-egg sandwich sits untouched.
My stomach is fluttering, making it hard to even think about eating.
Beyond the cabins of the compound, rolling hills stretch as far as the eye can see. In the light of dawn, it's beautiful and golden.
Peaceful.
Serene.
Nothing like the chaos inside .
Lucas.
The thought of him lying in a hospital bed, injured and without his mories, sends a sharp pain through my chest. I take a sip of coffee, hoping the bitter liquid will ground , but it does little to ease the worry gnawing at my insides.
What if he doesn't rember at all? What if the bond we share ans nothing to him now? If the wolves can't seem to connect with him as alpha, does that an our bond as mates is also null to him right now?
The questions swirl in my mind, each one more terrifying than the last.
I force myself to take a bite of the sandwich, knowing I'll need my strength for whatever cos next. The flavors barely register as I chew chanically, my thoughts a million miles away.
The compound seems eerily quiet from where I sit. No pack mbers running about, no sounds of training or daily life. It's as if the entire world is holding its breath, waiting for sothing to happen. Or maybe that's just , projecting my own anxiety onto my surroundings.
Then again, we're in the middle of the apocalypse, so there's that…
My fingers trace the condensation on the window, forming abstract patterns that remind of the runes I've been studying. Magic. Another complication in an already complex situation. I close my eyes, trying to sense that elusive string of power within , but it remains frustratingly out of reach.
I really want that book.
Shoving my coffee and plate away, I focus inward, drawing on the well of power I've beco intimately familiar with since my stay in the Fae Ward.
A small fla flickers to life above my palm, warmth tickling my skin. It cos easily now, a testant to the endless hours of practice with Magister Orion. There's no fight or struggle to pull the magic into circulation within my body. It's almost as easy as breathing to summon it.
I summon a second fla. Then a third. They hover above my hand, each no larger than a candle's flicker. Keeping them uniform in size takes more concentration than I'd like to admit.
Setting them into a small circular revolution, I focus on maintaining their shape and trajectory. Sweat beads on my forehead, a physical manifestation of the ntal effort required. It's like juggling, but with fire and willpower instead of balls.
One full revolution. The flas dance in perfect harmony, mirroring each other's movents. A small victory, but one that fills with a sense of accomplishnt.
But this isn't the ti or place for magical experints. With a thought, I extinguish each fla in quick succession. They wink out of existence, leaving behind only the faintest wisp of smoke and the lingering scent of sulfur.
The last thing I need is to draw attention to my abilities here.
A knock at the door startles from my thoughts. Kellan's head pokes through the opening.
"You ready to go?"
"Ready!"
Hopping out of the chair, I rush to the door with a smile, trying to hide the anxiety fluttering in my belly. "Let's go."
Hopefully the sa receptionist isn't working. Whatever she's heard, it's enough to bias her against .
Two guards—unfamiliar and different from the night before—fall into step behind us without a word. I really need to do a full et and greet of all my bodyguards so I can recognize their faces and put nas to them.
"Stay positive," Kellan says, despite the worry creasing his brows.
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