Page 110 of Crystal Luna
“Mia and Curtis used to draw with me. They would ask me to sketch something up so they could colour it.”
“Is it something you’d like to do again?”
She shrugged, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I don’t know… maybe.”
He’d already thought about buying supplies but wasn’t sure where to start. Maybe it would make the transition into her new life easier if she had an outlet for her emotions.
Vel surprised him by asking a question. “Is Ely your beta?”
“He is.” She stiffened in her seat, but Isaiah couldn’t decipher why. “Axel is our lead warrior. He joined after you left.”
“Why someone new?”
“He had great experience and we thought mixing it up would help.”
“So no one would think you choose your friends over more qualified people.”
“Yes.”
Ash was suspiciously quiet in the back seat.
“Does Ely have a mate?”
“No.”
“Who's been doing all the luna tasks?”
“It depends. Larissa does a lot of the organising while Carrie—Luka’s mate—does the more domestic stuff. She likes to host a book club and has baking classes for the children.”
“He’s a warrior now?”
“During the winter, yes. He spends a lot of time in Lenkesther. Carrie’s family is still there so she likes to go with him.”
Vel seemed surprised by that.
“We don’t mind it as long as they don’t reveal themselves,” Isaiah explained.
Under their father’s leadership, the women were only supposed to bear children and care for the house. He made it known that he didn’t approve of their new system of letting women provide for the pack as well.
“What a disappointment you turned out to be,” she teased, though it wasn’t as light as before. Her mind was still clouded, preventing her from being too friendly.
“I have to say, I’m getting used to it.”
“What will he say if you bring me home?”
“If he says anything, I’ll make sure they’re the last words he ever speaks,” Ash growled from the back.
“Though I’m sure Vel would appreciate that, I have a feeling she could handle herself.”
Her lips twitched, giving them the hint of a smile before she turned back to the window. “Maybe.”
Neither of them pushed her further, happy with the tiny glimpse she’d given them. A little later than they’d anticipated, Isaiah pulled into the parking lot of their hotel.
It was Ash who jumped out to hold her door open this time. “Do you want the other bag too?”
She shook her head and took in her surroundings. They’d spent the last hour following the curving, winding highway through the mountains.
Vel took the opportunity to stretch her legs while Ash checked the three of them in. Though Isaiah had warned him against it, he hadn’t booked a second room. When he returned and guided them to their room, she let out an exasperated sigh.