Page 58 of Shattered Illusion

"But, Lu, someone already told me I was their mate. Did they...lie?"

He grunts, gritting his teeth. "No. And fuck, it pains me to admit that when I wish I could tell you yes. But for curiomancers," he lowers his voice, almost whispering the word, which I appreciate, "the more powerful you are, the more mates you need to keep you centered—soul mate or chosen mate. We all," I grimace at the use of all, "help keep your magic stable. You're very powerful, goddess. You may not see it or, hell, feel it, but you are. I don't want to hurt you by saying this, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are more than just us."

But...

"Is Axel..." I trail off, Luka already seeming to know what I'm asking.

He gives me a sad smile and shakes his head. "No. But that's not really my story to tell you, goddess. I will say, though, don't count him out."

"But how can you be okay with that? With..." I gulp. "Sharing me." He tilts his head as he decides how to answer, but I lift my hand, stopping anything he might say. "Forget it. Don't answer that. I don't even know if I'm okay with that." But I'm also a big fat liar. Because I was already thinking about him and Axel running a train on me. Fuck. This is all so damn confusing.

"Let's put a pin in this conversation for later." His hands slide from my shoulders up to cup my face. "You can take time to think about it all and decide what you want to do. Just know that I'm here, goddess. And I'll wait forever if I have to. But you're mine, and I'm yours. And I'm not going anywhere." I sag in his hold, the weight of this whole life once again bearing down on my shoulders. It's all just so damn much. It's one thing right after another, and I never feel like I have enough time to just...be. "I know what we need." A mischievous smile lifts his lips. "Let's get out of here and explore the city."

My spine goes ramrod straight, a slight tremor working its way through my body. Out. He wants to leave. The library. The academy. The grounds. To go to the city, out in the open where there are others around. That little tremor turns into whole-body quakes, and I'm shaking my head, backing out of his hold. "I...I...I c-c-can't. I'm not...not ready." So much for being the strong woman he said I was. Now I'm just a scared little kitten, exactly like Jasper called me on my first day here.

“Bailey.” My eyes open, not having realized I closed them. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?” He holds out his hand, understanding simmering in his navy eyes.

Trust. It’s such a hard thing to come by nowadays. There’s no way to truly know if someone is going to fuck you over in the end. But Luka has never given me one reason not to trust him. He was there for me. Has been here for me, even when I didn’t know it. So yeah, I think I can.

I slip my small hand into his large one, looking up at him sincerely as I say, “I trust you.”

Let’s just hope it doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass.

Those words are probablythe sweetest that have ever passed her lips.

It’s a heady feeling to know she trusts me enough to let me take her out of the walls of the academy and back into the city. To the one place that scared her into seclusion. How she is now is a far cry from the little human I met the first time. And while she’s trying to stay strong, she can’t hide the quaking tremors wracking her body as I pull her into my arms to teleport out of here. She clutches to me for dear life, but she has nothing to worry about.

I won’t let anything happen to her. Not again.

Before she can blink, the library disappears, depositing us on downtown Main Street. Not much further away from the very mall where she was assaulted. My stomach clenches as a wave of nausea threatens to overwhelm me, but I close my eyes and breathe deeply until the feeling recedes after a few moments. Bailey stiffens in my arms, clinging to me like she’s afraid I’ll dump her here and run away.Not in this lifetime or the next,goddess.I don’t plan on ever leaving her again. I meant that when I told her just a few moments ago. Whether she wants me or not, I’ll never abandon her to this unsure life she lives now.

I want to be the one constant. The one she can always rely on.

Okay, fine. I can share that duty with Axel. But that’s as far as I draw the line. At least right now. There’s no doubt in my mind that she has more than just me and the douchebag professor. But she doesn’t need them. Not yet, anyway.

Growing up, my parents told me that mates come at the right time. When they’re needed the most. Which leads me to believe why I was the one there at her awakening. So it’s telling that more will most likely pop when they’re needed.

Not that I’m all too happy with it. Especially if she decides to give the asshole a chance. But he won’t get anywhere near her until all of her mates have decided that he’s worked hard enough to win back what he lost.

But I digress. This isn’t about her future mates or assholes in her life. This is about my goddess and helping her overcome what happened.

My hands make what I hope are soothing strokes up and down her back, trying to show her that I’m here. That she’s not alone.

The longer she clings to me, the more I start to think that I made a mistake. That I shouldn’t have brought her here. I could have taken her to my home—not my room at the academy—but I didn’t want her to think I expected something from her. Us taking that step will come in due time. She’ll have to accept me first, though. In no way will I push for what she’s not ready for.

All in due time, as my mom used to say.

"Luka," she grumbles, clutching to me tighter. "I don't know if I'm ready for this. Maybe we should head back. Please."

Fuck. It's the please at the end that really makes me want to take her back. But sheneedsthis. She can't live in fear for the rest of her life. Not everyone is like what she's experienced so far.

"I thought you said you trusted me." I know it's fucked up to lay it on her like that, but she hasn't even given it a chance. Hell, the only thing she's seen is my shirt.

"Fine," she says with a sigh, but yet, she doesn't budge.

It's looking more and more like I'll have to force her to put one foot in front of the other. I don't know any other way of doing this. It's not like a little sweet-talking will help.

Been there. Done that.

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