So much. It was like wrapping myself in a warm blanket.

It was love.

Oh my God. He wasn’t just saying that. He really loved me.

“You thought I didn’t? That I’d want to mate with the first witch I came across?”

It seemed ridiculous when he put it that way. “No. I just… I don’t know what I thought.”

“I waited a long time for you. Many, many decades. Longer than that.”

I laughed. “How old are you?” I stuck my fork in a hunk of melon.

“I’ll wait until you’re not so young before I tell you. I don’t want you to get spooked.”

“Are you as old as Donovan?” I asked as I waved the fruit in the air, and then took a bite.

He settled back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Older.”

That didn’t make sense. “But you look younger?”

He laughed. “I can’t wait to tell him you said so.”

I paused. “But then why aren’t you one of the Seven?”

Lucas gave me the most wicked look. “I don’t like to play by the rules.”

Holy moly. How did I not know he was a bad boy at heart?

No. I must’ve misunderstood.

Lucas motioned to the food. “Eat. And then you can take a nap before the flight. I didn’t realize how exhausted you were. You didn’t move the entire time you slept.”

I rubbed my eyes. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to actually sleep without the fear of Luciana draining me. I did okay in Peru—I was far enough away—but I was—”

“Restless. I thought it was because I was with you.”

I shook my head. “Not at all. I was just afraid to close my eyes.”

“Ah. I see.” Lucas stood up, and walked to my chair, reaching a hand for me. It seemed natural to reach back to him.

He pulled me down on the bed and tucked me against him so I could rest my head on his chest. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

I got comfortable, resting half on him, my arm across his stomach. He ran his fingers up and down my arm. For the first time in longer than I could remember, I felt safe. Comfortable. Not panicked.

Complete.

***

We met in the lobby a few hours later. Adrian was already there, chatting with Shane and Beth. We were just waiting on Raphael and the wolf I still hadn’t met yet.