Page 28 of Lycan and Lark
They had settled on a private meeting with Gideon. There was a summer fair in Mountain’s End the next day. Aria was going to ask to speak to Gideon later that night when the fair was over. She told Lark she would make it somewhere outside the complex, likely the green, so that Lark could attend too.
Aria had left first thing this morning and nervous energy had prickled through Lark’s skin ever since. He rolled an apple around in his fingers. He would go crazy if he sat here all day. It might be risky, but he made his choice. He would attend the fair, glamoured, and from a distance. That way he could keep an eye on Aria as well.
He took up a spot near the tree line across from the various food trucks. Knowing Aria’s love of food, he figured this was the best place to find her. The first half hour went by without excitement. He had been watching a lycan family throwing rings on glass bottles. Apparently if enough of the rings landed around the bottlenecks, you received a prize. The tiny lycan child stared up in awe at the oversized stuffed animals above him. His father tossed the rings, landing three in a row, and the child giggled and cheered. A massive purple octopus was carried down from the top of the tent and placed in the bouncing boy’s arms. The grin on his face melted something inside Lark. Would he and Aria ever be able to have something as normal as a family? The image his mind produced of Aria with a large pregnant belly sent a warm glow rushing through him.
“Oh balls yeah! This is what I’m talking about!” He was snapped from his daydream by the familiarity of Aria’s voice. His eyes tracked the sound and his mouth gaped as she approached. She was dressed in a pale pink sundress and matching pink wedges. Her hair was pulled up and the long dark curls hung down behind her as she walked. Each time he saw her he was reminded of how stunningly perfect she was. Light seemed to shine outward from where she stood. A low rumble came from within his chest as his wolf stirred beneath his skin. He thought he made out one distinguishable word amidst its grumbling.
Mine.
Aria raced toward a fried food booth, practically jumping in the window to order. She carried armfuls of food to the closest table and began tearing through the red and white containers. Lark smiled as he watched her devour the snacks. She looked happy and carefree at that moment. He wanted to bottle up that feeling and use it to block out all the shit from the past and every complication of the future.
She waved over a friend and Lark began to shrink farther into the shadows. It was Gideon. The Alpha’s presence could be felt even this far across the space. He was accompanied by a small dark-haired woman. She looked familiar, though Lark struggled to place her face. They conversed, laughing at something Lark couldn’t hear until Aria tossed her food aside and stomped away toward the bar. Lark teleported to a new spot along the edge of the fair, altering his vantage point to get a better look at Aria as she chatted in a circle of friends. He had noticed over the last few months that the ice Celestial and her mate had been absent from every outing and event. They were either held up in their apartment or they had left the country. Maybe that’s why Aria had seemed sad when he watched her alone. She and Nova were close. The circle of friends grew as Gideon joined them. The cowboy lycan was there as well and Lark couldn’t fully contain the growl that simmered within his lungs.
Dammit, that guy got under his skin. He seemed too friendly with Aria. Jealousy reared its ugly head as Lark watched. Was being a part of a pack an option for him? He tried to visualize himself in this scenario, eating, drinking, surrounded by family and friends. There was a part of him, albeit a teeny-tiny part, that thought this could be his future. His stomach twisted in knots as he thought about the meeting with the Alpha later that day. He prayed everything would go smoothly until then.
Lark’s skin tingled and shock ran through his body as he realized a pair of vibrant turquoise eyes had settled directly on his hiding spot. He shifted out of sight, reappearing much farther from the group, and with a better glamour. He overheard the redheaded witch say his name.
“Where?” Aria peered around excitedly and a smile tugged on his lips as he watched her. The joy he felt evaporated as his eyes tracked to Gideon. The Alpha was staring at Aria in a way that made Lark’s pulse quicken. Aria froze, guilt coloring her features, and turned slowly to face him. Lark’s vision of a perfect pack future began to slip through his fingers as Gideon’s gaze hardened.
A warning flared to life within his magic and he scanned the area. His nightmares came true as three Collectors appeared near the celebration. Another magical signal blossomed somewhere nearby, and several things happened all at once. Gideon’s dark-haired companion raced toward the intruders as massive waves of power radiated off of her. Gideon himself was snared in a tangle of thick, green vines. Nausea punched him in the gut as the small woman raised a massive wall of greenery, blocking everyone’s view of the intruders. He recognized her now. Her hair was different but her powers were unmistakable.Dahlia. She was a Celestial, and had been a captive of Creedin’s several years back. Things were starting to feel very complicated.
Lark’s eyes found Aria among the chaos. He moved with the speed of the wind, appearing by her side and snatching her to the opposite end of the fair in the blink of an eye.
“Lark?” Her sapphire eyes went wide. “What are you doing here?”
“I needed to make sure you were safe. Those are Creedin’s men, which means—”
“He’s still alive,” Aria finished in a shaky voice.
Lark’s skin felt clammy as decades of fear bubbled to the surface. Aria’s hands were quick and soft as she held his face. “I will not let him get to you. I promise. I’ll be fine, but right now you need to leave. It’s not safe for you here.”
Worry stained her gaze and his heart swelled. He pulled her into him, taking her lips with the conflicted intensity of a dying star. She melted into his hold, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her body into his. They kissed like it was the first time. Or maybe it felt like the last time. Something told Lark everything was about to be turned upside down around here. He didn’t know where that put him and Aria, but he wanted to soak up every second of this moment.
They separated as screams filled the forest. Collectors were being thrown high in the air, impaled on some sort of thick vines and then vanishing back behind the wall of ivy. Lark squeezed Aria tighter, but as the screams died down, and everything became quiet, he knew it was his time to flee. Aria stood on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “I love you.” He pulled back, searching her thoughts. They echoed the unexpected sentiment and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“I love you, Aria.” He planted a deep kiss on her parted lips, drinking in her moan as he claimed her mouth with his. People began moving hurriedly toward them.
“Go.” She stepped back out from the tree line. Her hair whipped around her face as she turned in his direction. “I'll find you tonight.” She beamed a smile at him, then darted toward her friends.
She loves me.He hadn’t been sure he was capable of love, or being loved for that matter. Her words replayed in his mind and as he disappeared from the grounds, he allowed himself a small, hopeful smile. Things were looking up in his life, for the first time ever. He had found his mate, and nothing on earth would keep them apart now.
* * *
The next hour was chaotic, to say the least. Blood and body parts had covered the forest floor by the time Dahlia was done dismembering the attackers. Gideon had promptly whisked her inside, leaving everyone standing around to wonder what the fuck just happened. Apparently Dahlia was a Celestial. Aria did her best to calm people down and clean up the carnage before heading in to check on Gideon. She found him stalking down one of the complex hallways in her direction. He looked tired, stressed, and defeated. Aria rushed toward him.
“Okay, that was intense. How is Dahlia?”
Gideon’s voice was tight when he spoke. “She’ll be all right.”
Aria let out an appreciative whistle. “Did you know she could do that?”
Gideon pulled Aria close for a hug. “Oh.” His unexpected display of affection caught her off guard. His woodsy scent washed over her, bringing with it the feelings of comfort and safety Gideon had always provided. She snuggled into his arms, breathing deeply. No matter what happened she could always turn to her big brother for help. It’s part of the reason she knew, just knew, she would be able to convince him to help Lark.
Gideon’s scent changed. The warm scent became tainted with fear and bitterness. She squeezed him tighter, assuming he was still working through the stresses from Dahlia and the Collectors that afternoon.
“You’re leaving.” Gideon’s voice was steady, but she felt his heart thump harder against her cheek. Pulling away from him, she met his eyes.
A confused laugh bubbled out of her. “What? I’m not leaving.”
