Page 34 of Frost and Fate
“Oh my god! I knew it!” She rushed into the apartment and embraced Nova. “Did you guys experience the bond?” Nova grinned. “Ahhh!” Aria let out another scream and squeezed Nova tighter. Nova had to tap out as the overly enthusiastic lycan nearly crushed her in a fierce grip. “Oh, sorry!” Aria gave an apologetic smile as she released her friend. “I want to hear everything about the bond!”
A clearing of the throat from the open doorway drew both women’s attention. The fiercely beautiful Leah stood just outside the apartment. She was dressed in a sleek black suit and black pumps. She literally looked like some sort of exotic runway model. “Sorry to interrupt.” She looked back and forth between Nova and Aria. “Gideon has scheduled you for training today. It’s time to get back to work.”
Aria stared at Leah’s business attire. “You’re going to lead training in that outfit?”
Leah gave Aria a tight smile. “Lucas will be leading today’s session.”
Nova frowned, confused. “Why Lucas?” She liked the tall blond Aussie, but she wasn’t sure why Leah couldn’t just continue their training sessions.
“He’s a weapons expert. We will be trying something new today.”
“Oh, okay. Let me just get changed.” She turned back to Aria. “Looks like I gotta go.”
Aria was grinning. “Ha! You think I’m missing an opportunity to get hot and sweaty with that piece of thunder down under? Not a chance! I’ll head back to my apartment and meet up with y’all after I’m moreappropriatelydressed.”
Nova rolled her eyes. Aria had to be the most boy crazy person she had ever met. She supposed it wasn’t Aria’s fault. As the Alpha’s little sister she was off limits to pretty much everyone in the pack. That left room for a lot of pining and no release.
“Okay, I’ll see you there.” She hugged her spunky friend and headed to get ready for training. Leah waited patiently until Nova returned, and the two of them headed toward the elevators. Nova was surprised when it was Leah who started up a conversation.
“I don’t mean to pry.” The beautiful tan-skinned lycan seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “But I overheard you and Aria speaking when I first arrived.” She gave Nova a measured look. “Is it true? You and Darren are mates?”
Nova hadn’t had a chance to talk to Darren about how or when they would tell the others. “Yes, it is true. You and Aria are the only ones who know.”
Leah actually let out a laugh. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but if Aria knows, everyone knows.” Nova’s shoulders slumped. Leah was right, of course. Aria was a loyal friend but she wasn’t exactly known for her subtlety. Plus Nova hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her not to say anything. Leah seemed to be able to sense the inner turmoil Nova was experiencing. The fact that the elevator had dropped twenty degrees probably gave away her anxious state as well.
“It is nothing to be embarrassed about nor should you hide it.” She placed a warm hand on Nova’s shoulder. “Finding your mate should be celebrated. It is not very common for our kind. Most lycans search their whole lives for a mate and either end up settling for someone else, or live out their lives alone.”
Nova couldn’t help but hear the slight sorrow in Leah’s voice. She knew the lycan woman did not have a mate. She was such a mysterious person.
“Anyways, I will keep this to myself until you are ready to share. I am very happy for you, Nova, and for Darren too.” Leah’s tone was completely genuine. Thinking about her mate brought a smile to Nova’s face. She felt giddy inside each time Darren crossed her mind.
“Thanks, Leah.”
As they turned down the last hallway that led to the training rooms, Nova nearly ran straight into a figure rounding the corner. Panicking, she took a quick step backward and found herself tripping over her feet and in a collision course with the floor. Before she could hit the ground, a pair of tattooed hands caught her by the arms and hauled her to her feet.
Nova looked up in surprise. “Peyton!” she exclaimed. “Oh my gosh, how are you feeling?”
Peyton smiled, causing the multiple piercings on his lips to draw up. “I’m good as new, apparently thanks to you.”
Nova blushed and looked to the floor. “It was nothing.”
“Nothing? That’s not what I was told.” Peyton shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I know it was you who convinced Romani to come back for me. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have made it.” He let out a laugh. “Actually I nearly didn’t make it even after we got back. Your boyfriend wanted my head for putting you in danger. I told him it wasn’t my fault, as should have been evident by the gash across my ribs.” He shook his head. “Darren can be pretty stubborn though. I think once he knew you were safe and sound he finally cooled it.”
Leah chimed in, “Yeah, and I threatened to knock some sense into him if he didn’t stop acting like an idiot.”
Peyton leaned down to whisper to Nova, “You do not want to fuck with Leah. She fights dirty.”
“I heard that,” Leah said dryly. Peyton just grinned and winked at Leah.
“How’s Romani?” Nova asked. The Traveler had been injured during the rescue of Peyton.
“Dr. Sawyer says he’ll heal. He’s not a lycan though so I think it’s going to take a bit longer. Apparently some witches are helping take care of him.”
“Chosen,” Leah corrected.
“Yeah…some old lady and a smokin’-hot redhead.”Matlena and Brona.“I’m sure you could go visit him,” Peyton added.
Leah cleared her throat. “We’ve got to get to training.”
