What if he doesn’t want to see me? I acted like a brat, and his concerns were justified. This mate thing is fucking hard.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you going to come out?” Valen calls and I stiffen at being caught. “Please come out, Ava,” he pleads, softer this time.
I open the door and peek around to see Valen’s tall frame bent up uncomfortably on the couch. Pillows and blankets are tossed around the living room haphazardly and his hair sticks up in all directions. It seems like neither of us could sleep very well. Pom Pom, on the other hand, dozes in the corner, and his little legs flail like he’s having a doggy dream.
“Come here.” He holds out his arms, and I shuffle over before joining him. He cradles me against his hard body, and I sigh at the contact, already feeling loads better.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, needing to apologize. “It was totally foolish to attempt a spell way above my skill level. I was focused on nothing but helping you, and in the process, I hurt those I love. Tomorrow I’ll apologize to Zav, Celine, and Luna for pulling them into such a dumb plan.” I run a hand through the rat’s nest on my head and cringe at the knots I’ll be ripping out tomorrow. “I love you so much, Valen, and I need you to know that I only want what’s best for you and your well-being.”
Soft strokes against my side are his only answer at first. He nuzzles his face into my neck and places a kiss along my throat. A flick of his tongue has me shivering and backing farther into his body.
“I love you too. You are my heart and soul given form outside of my body.” His words make my heart squeeze. “I know your heart, Starlight, and it’s full of nothing but pure,unadulterated love. It’s touching that you care so deeply for me that you’d resort to something as extreme as this. If we swapped places, I suppose I would’ve come to a similar conclusion as you. While I’m still very displeased, I took the hours we were apart to reflect on your side of things. Apologizing to the others would be beneficial, I agree, and I appreciate your apology to me. I must also apologize for shouting at you, but you have to understand where I’m coming from,” Valen explains, but I cut him off with a hand over his lush lips.
“I do,” I concur. “Let’s both say we’re sorry and agree to move forward with a plan where everyone is on the same page.”
“Agreed,” Valen whispers and tucks me in with him for a peaceful rest of the night.
CHAPTER 45
AVA
I wake up again,my body entirely on top of Valen’s where we lie on the couch with his arms wrapped around me. At some point, Pom Pom jumped up with us and lies by our feet. Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I yawn and look around. Light is barely peeking in through the windows.
“Good morning,” Valen says, his voice hoarse and deep from sleep. I love when I get to see him like this, unguarded and adorable.
“Morning.” I give him a small smile. I’m still a little sad that we fought, but I understand his frustration.
My stomach rumbles and Valen grins. “Should I make my mate breakfast?”
“Please, no.” I gag, thinking of the rubbery scrambled eggs he made me the other morning. Very thoughtful, but my stomach didn’t agree. He’s gotten a lot of recipes down, but those give him trouble for some reason. “I’ve got it covered, big guy.” I pat his chest and roll off.
After a quick breakfast—cereal for me and a tumbler of blood for him—I shower and get ready for work. When there’s a knock on the door, I expect to find Celine or Zavier, but instead it’s an irate Luna with a smug Levi.
“We have to figure out how to get himoffme,” she shrieks, storming inside the apartment. Levi strolls behind her, though he has to pick up his pace, so she must be getting far away enough that she’s tugging on the bond. It’s odd how sometimes you can see it and sometimes you can’t.
“I really don’t get the rush,” Levi says lazily. “I’m quite a joy to be around.”
“Ugh!” Luna turns on the demon. “You’re insufferable!” To me, she says, “I can’t go any farther than what? Six feet from this man? I made him sit his ass outside the bathroom to shower, and what did he do? Waltzed right in to pee. Did you know demons pee? Because they do!” She holds a finger up in annoyance. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, he shakes off his dick and turns around to grin at me in the shower and says, ‘Nice tits.’”
I swear the tips of his hair flash a brilliant shade of blue for a moment before settling back into blond. “I don’t know why you’re so offended,” he drawls. “It was a compliment.”
“I like my privacy,” she snipes.
“You saw my dick. It’s only fair I saw your tits.”
She gapes at him. “I didn’t ask for you to whip out your dick while I was showering. I asked you to sit outside the bathroom like a good little demon.”
He adjusts his black button-up shirt where it opens at his chest. “First off, good and demon aren’t usually associated together. Second, there’s nothinglittleabout it, and you know that.” He smirks, sliding muscled arms across his torso.
Valen snarls in the corner and I frown. I know how he feelsabout demons, so there’s no way he’s happy about Levi being back here.
“The only thing I can do is take you guys to see Jade. I can’t promise she can help if Cyfrin couldn’t do anything.”
“Anything is better than nothing,” Luna sighs. “Let’s go, dog.”
Levi cocks his head at my puzzled expression. “She’s taken to calling me that since I’m leashed to her. It’s kind of kinky, if you ask me,” he explains.
“Oh, shut up,” she gripes.
