Page 113 of Anomalies

All the lanterns burst, glass shattering at the same time she does, and amber lights dart across the room.

I curse, swallowing the sound of her cries, with a brutal kiss that leaves us both breathless. I coax her through each pulse around my fingers, pulling away when she squirms against me.

“Open them,” I growl when her eyes flutter shut. “I need your eyes, Lucina.”

She does as I say, the beautiful flush on her cheeks deepening when I lick my fingers clean. Gods, she tastes like heaven.

“You’re insane,” Lucina hisses, her voice raw. Raw from screaming my name.

There’s another knock on the door followed by Pax’s frustrated sigh, but I pay it no mind.

“You’re mine now,” I tell her, gently brushing loose curls out of her face.

Her eyes roll but doesn’t deny it, the tip of her tongue darting out across her swollen bottom lip. “I know,” she whispers, running her fingers across the silver chain that swings above her chest.

She allows me only a second to stare back at her, but when Pax bangs on the door again she pushes me off, sliding out from underneath me. Good thing too, because my hands are itching to rip that dress⁠—

“Callan,” Pax says again, and my forehead falls to the mattress.

Lucina snatches her underwear off the ground and straightens herself, then she strides across the room and throws the door open with a huff.

Pax takes one look at the flush to her cheeks, the shattered glass behind her, and the death-glare I’m pelting him with, and the bastard grins.

“Wipe that smirk off your face Pax, I can practically see the shape of your ear imprinted in the door,” Lucina fires off before I can tell him to go fuck himself.

I can’t help but laugh when his face falls. I readjust myself as I cross the room, sliding a hand through Lucina’s hair then pressing a kiss onto the top of her head. “Have Hunter walk you and Gemma to the Banyan.” Her wide hazel eyes flick up to me. Perfect. So, perfect. “I’ll meet you there.”

Her gaze dips to my smirk, then she tosses Pax a childish side eye and steps past him. Her boots click against the hardwood, and I crane my neck to watch her leave. Chiaros, where the fuck did she get that dress?

“I’d hurry if I were you,” Pax interrupts my silent gawking, and then I’m transported straight back to reality. And reality is, I’m about to tell Delia that getting our people back just got ten times—no, a hundred times harder.

I’m not ready for reality, I just got to heaven.

Our meeting was quick. I decided ripping off the band-aid was the best course of action, but it didn’t soften the look of ‘I told you so’ on Delia’s proud face. Then she unhelpfully reminded me that I have two months left until she closes the Banyan. Three months to figure out a way past the wards and save our people, and then she plans to just let them suffer.

It thoroughly ruined the high I’ve been riding since I left my cabin.

I go back to take a quick shower and clean up the broken glass, then I change into a black T-shirt and jeans, clipping my vest across my chest.

There are ways past wards, there has to be. But I can’t think about it tonight; it will drive me insane.

Everyone has already taken their seats when I make it to the Banyan, moonshine jars clutched tightly in every palm. Amber lights dance in the trees, strewn around the massive fire pit, and there is that exhilarating buzz in the air, anticipation of what’s to come. I used to love Selumira as a boy, but it’s been a lot harder to celebrate these days. Even harder tonight, considering what will be on my plate tomorrow.

Pa is just about to start one of his intricate stories when I arrive, but every face turns to me. At this point, I’m sure the word has spread that we’re back, and that all of us are alive and well, but it’s one thing to hear that the Captain has returned, and another thing entirely to see me in the flesh. They all thought I was dead.

I keep my pace, striding through the crowd, and a ripple of bowed heads follow as I pass. I take a seat amongst the rest of my coven, pushing away the jar of moonshine Pax slides over to me, then I look out over the hundreds that have gathered.

I find her instantly, smushed between Gemma and Kimber, watching me watch her. Lucina raises the glass to her lips, briefly covering the remnants of the flush still clinging to her cheeks, and I’m sure the moonshine she’s been drinking isn’t helping. I bet her skin is warm. I bet she smells like me.

I’m grinning as I lean back against the table, content to just hold her eye contact all night.

“You tell Delia why you were late?” Pax snickers.

“Shut the fuck up.”

No one has ever had this effect on me, and I swear nothing is the same now that she’s here. Honestly, I feel like Pirn needed Lucina more than she needed us. She’s got me wrapped around her finger, and the three friends beside her…. I grew up with them. They’ve never looked happier.

Lucina is just what we needed—a beautiful storm.