“Love you,” she mumbled before falling asleep again.
“I love you,” I whispered, even though she was out. It didn’t take long before that calming warmth that was her whisked me into a deep sleep.
It was a testament to how tired I was that I didn’t hear the scratching on Emily’s apartment door. Or the loud opening of said door moments later.
“Morning, sleepy.” Emily snuggled close, and I slowly came to the next morning.
“Morning.” My gruff voice earned me a kiss on the nose. This was the life I wanted but never let myself have. Waking up next to someone who cared.
“I’m gonna make us coffee.” She pressed another kiss to my face, and I decided I’d join her in a few to make breakfast. Her pattering of feet could be heard as she walked down the hall until her scream stopped her. I jumped out of bed and raced to her.
“Holy hell,” I cursed. Emily stood in her living room, wide eyes focused on the massive body of a lion lying on her couch. The lion’s eyes opened slowly, as did his mouth in a great big yawn.
“You see it too? Right? I’m not crazy?” she whispered, and the lion jumped off the couch and stretched its long body.
“Unless we’re both crazy, I see it too.” Taking cautious steps, I made it to Emily’s side. The lion’s golden eyes appeared to narrow as I grasped her hand.
“I don’t think he wants you touching me,” Emily commented, and I didn’t give a fuck what the lion wanted. He was fast, but my power was faster.
“Wait.” The love of my life stopped me from calling my power forward.
“Yes. I understand,” she said, nodding, then took a step forward, pulling me along.
“I would appreciate that very much.” She continued talking, and she wasn’t talking to me.
“E. Can you hear him?” Just as I asked, the lion’s head moved up and down before lowering to another deep stretch. Guess couch sleeping wasn’t good for a lion’s body either.
“It’s weird, but yes. He’s the same lion who saved me at the zoo. He said he felt the connection to my powers. Long ago, his ancestors aided Rhea. They were her companions. That’s why we see so much art and statues of Rhea with lions and lionesses.”
The lion grunted before strolling to Emily, who lifted her hand.
“He wishes to honor Rhea, for she was kind. He says he sees her in me and will be my companion.” The lion brushed his head against her hand, and not once did she tremble. In the middle of her living room, Emily and the lion bonded.
Not sure how we’d explain that to her landlord.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Emily
“I’m not going back. I belong where you go.” Amari the Lion, as he told me was his name, didn’t see the issue with a lion living in the apartment.
“You can’t stay here. My sister will freak when she sees you, plus I have nothing to feed you or clean up after you with. If you pee here, you’ll ruin my furniture.” I paced back and forth in front of my new companion. Vincent made us some breakfast. Amari ate all the bacon, which I didn’t think was the best meat for him.
“How did he get out anyways?” Vincent asked from the kitchen table, having calmed from the initial shock of a lion in my home.
“I don’t like his tone. Does he doubt my ability to protect you?” Amari grunted at Vincent.
“No, he doesn’t doubt you. We’re just curious about the amazing ways you came to be here with us.” I stroked the lion’s ego a bit, and he relaxed.
“I am an excellent hunter and actor. I played sick, and the doctors were foolish enough to believe me. Before they could inject me with sleeping liquid, I jumped up and ran. I could feel you and followed the feeling to this tiny enclosure. We will need more land, you and I.” Amari walked into the kitchen, then back in under a minute. Apartment life was not great for a lion.
“What did he say?” Vincent asked while setting his coffee on the table.
“He played sick and left. He said he could feel me and followed that feeling to here. He also doesn’t care for the apartment.” I sighed, then walked to my person, who waited with open arms.
“I’ll take him to Phillip. He’ll likely have a place set up for him, or a solution. You get ready for work, and I’ll meet you for lunch.”
“Amari, go with Vincent. He’s going to use his power to take you somewhere safe without the whole city noticing you.”
