Page 203 of Crystal Luna

Velora found Axel in the smaller of the two bedrooms, unpacking his bag after informing her he’d dropped hers in the other bedroom.

“How about a little walk? I’m sure we’ll find Marvin in the gym,” she asked.

“Are we allowed?”

“What are they gonna do? Fight me?” She laughed and waved him to follow her. “They tried that when I was a pup and quickly learned their lesson.”

As predicted, they found Marvin at the gym with a group of warriors. They all swarmed Velora at once, nearly suffocating her with a dozen pairs of muscular arms surrounding her. Marvin and Axel got along right off the bat and Rayan took advantage of their conversation to pull her towards the warriors’ den.

“How are you?” he asked as they sat down on the couches.

“Good.”

“Really good or just pretend good?”

“Depends on the day but most of the time I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

“How do they treat you?”

“Like I’m the goddess herself.”

“They’d better.”

“How are you?”

He groaned and rolled his eyes. “Fucking bored out of my mind.”

“Oh come on, it can’t be that bad.”

“I mean nothing’s really changed, but nothing exciting has happened either.”

“You’ll regret wishing for it once it does.”

They lost themselves in conversation, hours passing before Velora realised it was time for dinner. She collected Axel and knocked on Heath’s front door. As if someone had been waiting behind it, it sprang open and Mia smiled at her. They fell into conversation over the meal, Axel having no problem getting along with everyone.

When it was time to clean up, Velora stepped up next to Heath. “Can we talk?”

“Of course.”

They both stepped out and she led him towards the woods, close but not so close that they’d accidentally touch.

“I’m sorry for how I left and for never calling.”

“There is no need for you to apologise.”

She sighed, letting her shoulders fall as she shoved her hands in her pockets. “I would do it all over again, you know? Even if I knew they would come for me, I would still come here and be with you.”

“And go with them too?”

“Yes I would. I’m falling for them more and more every day. The bond is getting stronger by the second. Maybe knowing would have made it easier, but I would go with them again. I did what you told me to: I kicked Asher’s ass while his warriors watched.” She grinned proudly, amused as she thought back to that day. “They didn’t know about my half shifts, so he was a little dumbfounded when I used him to shatter the gym’s mirror.”

“I would’ve paid to see that.”

They’d reached their favourite meeting spot: the clearing with the small well.

“I want to tell you something and it might upset you, but I want to talk about it to someone outside.”

“I’ll always listen.”