Several someones.
I reach up onto tiptoes and give Alexis a final kiss. “Thank you, my most noble of warriors. I promise we’ll continue this soon.” Having Alexis as the supervisor of this tower has been paying dividends for our sex life.
“I’ll keep you to that,” he murmurs, running a finger down my cheek then across my lips.
As we enter the basement, I send a message to Ludo and Max —We’re here—
—Keep clear, Nymph. We’re breaking through—
I stand in the far corner and watch fascinated as a wicked-looking claw appears through a crack near the floor. It drags all the way up the plaster wall, then curves around, tracing an arch.Clouds of brick dust fill the air. I pull my sweatshirt over my nose and mouth.
A sound of smashing and breaking comes from beyond the wall.
—Shield yourself, Nymph—
Another huge crash happens, then Ludo steps through the hole, gray with plasterdust.
His claws retract and shift back into human hands as I throw myself at him and he catches me by the waist.
“Oh, Lu.” I wrap my arms around his neck, as he grips me tightly.
Then his mouth is on mine. Our tongues tangle and dance. —I love you so much, Lu—
—You are my mate—
—Yes. Forever—
Behind us, I hear Alexis’s phone ping, and then he lets out a curse. “Helvetin, I have to go. The guards have caught some of the sophomores smoking weed.”
Max snorts. “A professor’s work is never done.”
Lex sighs. “Can you guys clear the debris and make the basement look normal again? I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“No problem, cuz, I’m on it.” Max gives a salute.
I turn my attention back to Ludo. “Eight days. I haven't seen you for eight whole days. That’s unacceptable.” Suddenly, my eyes fill with tears.
I can try and lightly dismiss his absence, but in truth, being without my janitor was agony. I grab him by his coverall lapels. “Don’t leave me again.”
—Never—
With that, Ludo lowers his face to mine, kissing me hungrily. Climbing him like a monkey, I knot my legs around his waist.
—Oh, my love…you being lost was a nightmare—I press my ear over his heart.
The pace of the beats increase.—I’ve been lost for a long time, Nymph. Longer than I knew—
“What do you mean?”
His hand comes up to tenderly stroke the back of my head.
—I regained some memories. They are not good, but I think…they will help us find other lost children—
I pull back just enough to look into his mismatched eyes, my fingers brushing dust from his cheekbone. "What memories, Lu? I don’t understand.”
—When I was young I was taken…to the place the little girl talked of….—
“The pink lakes?”
