Chapter 498: Neoma
The twinned star glowed bright in Neoma’s chest as the joined voices around them rose in intensity calling her home—calling her back to the pack.
"Zoe," August gasped, feeling her arrive with them from somewhere else in the Veiled where her energy had been dispersed like golden dust into the universe. Now all of that dispersed energy coalesced into a beautiful winged creature that swooped down low, circling to evaluate the gathering of souls who had called her back home.
August saw her land on Lucas’ shoulder without his knowledge and remain perched there as if she was considering whether to do as they wished and come back to them. She was the most beautiful thing August had ever seen—nothing else compared to that golden soul shimmering brilliantly before her eyes in the form of this curious bird.
"Neoma," August whispered, hearing the girl’s new name in her mind as she gazed at her beautiful soul. And then she realized where she had heard the name before. Neoma was the one Graeme had mentioned before when he was in the hot spring with her. Zoe, now Neoma, had saved him from Cassian.
’It’s up to you,’ she said in the gentle, shared space of the Veiled where no one else could hear her but Neoma. ’You deserve to be at peace. But perhaps you can have a chance at the joy you were never allowed before. His soul seeks yours,’ she said, looking now at Lucas whose head was bent in concentration over the lifeless body in his arms.
Neoma’s golden soul fluttered its wings for a moment and then stilled, tilting her head to the side in silent question before looking back behind her as if she were waiting for someone else to arrive.
’Who?’ August asked, her eyebrows pinching together at the question she heard that had not been expressly spoken.
A second golden bird swooped low around them, soaring around the room before flying off again and disappearing into the distance. A brilliant smile bloomed on August’s face as she realized who that was, tears pricking her eyes. She had to hold back the sob that wanted to erupt from her chest, but a rush of tears began falling as she watched where that soul had disappeared.
’Yes, please,’ she chuckled through the tears that she couldn’t stop from falling. ’I would love that. We all would.’
Neoma’s soul fluttered its wings again before lifting from its perch on Lucas’ shoulder. August watched as it made a circle in the air around them and then dove straight into the chest of the girl in Lucas’ arms.
Neoma took a sharp breath of air into her lungs, her eyes going wide in surprise at being back in her corporeal form. Had that all truly just happened?
Her eyes refocused to take in the world around her, and she found herself staring up at Lucas who was cradling her against him. A rush of blood made its way up her neck and to her face, coloring her cheeks with a pink flush of embarrassment at feeling his warmth against her as if it were her own. He was crying, though.
"Lucas?" She said softly.
His eyes shot open hearing his name. "Neoma?" He choked out in a raspy voice, his brow feathering before the realization hit him that it was truly her who was alive and staring up at him with those clear brown eyes.
"Goddess, you’re alive," he chuckled, pulling her against his chest where he embraced her fiercely as sobs started erupting out of him. "How? How are you alive?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, not able to answer his question but holding him nonetheless. She truly didn’t know how it had happened, but it felt like she had been called home.
Lucas sank to the floor, finally allowing the weight of everything that had just happened to bring him to his knees. He had lost her. He had lost her and now she was back. Was it truly possible? Was he not just dreaming?
"Are you okay?" Neoma asked, pulling back from him so she could wipe his tears. It broke her heart seeing him like this. He was always so tough, and when he wasn’t tough he was joking around with her like a pup. But she never saw him torn apart like this.
Without answering her and without warning, he kissed her. Her eyes went wide in surprise feeling his lips suddenly on hers. She had never been kissed before, and this was Lucas! But then his hand was caressing her face, and he tilted his head, pulling back from the kiss only to deepen it, stirring something to life within her that she had only the smallest suspicion of that existed. And when she kissed him back, the movement and comfort and connection so natural that it felt like they had always done this, he whimpered against her.
He stopped, resting his forehead against hers with her face cupped in his hands. He was crying again, his eyes squeezed shut as the tears rolled down his face.
"Please don’t cry," she said softly, her own tears welling because his emotion felt like her own, and she couldn’t take him crying alone.
"I lost you," he choked out, pulling back so his blue eyes were apologizing to hers. "I didn’t protect you."
"Lucas, it’s me," she said, her heart plummeting for a moment when she imagined that he had mistaken her for someone else. Was he confused? She wasn’t the mate he had lost.
He saw her confidence falter, and he tilted her chin up. "Yes, it’s you. I hurt you, didn’t I? I didn’t tell you... I didn’t even allow myself to believe what I felt for you. I’m sorry, Neoma. I’m sorry. I failed to protect you. It should have been me jumping in front of August. You don’t need to sacrifice anything again. Not anymore. Please..."
Neoma’s bottom lip dropped hearing the rush of words that felt like a warmth fluttering against her skin and then sinking deep into her heart. "Lucas, what are you... what are you saying?"
"You feel it don’t you?" He asked, his eyes pleading with her. "You are my mate. Even if you weren’t, I still should have protected you. I still would have loved you, but..." his brows dipped, the loving gaze caressing her face, "but the Goddess has given you to me. And I promise to you, I will never overlook that again."
Neoma’s breath caught, her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked, trying to be sure she was understanding him correctly. Had he truly just said that she was his mate?
"I am alyko," she breathed, wading through the confusion of it.
"I don’t care," he chuckled. "The Goddess doesn’t care. You are mine. You are meant for me. I’m sorry... I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner," he whispered against her.
His head bowed over hers, and suddenly she became aware of every part of him. He was embracing her in his lap, and she felt the strong muscles of his thighs under her, his arms around her—the broad shoulders that were protecting her from the world outside of just the two of them. The warmth and strength and tenderness of his entire being was offering itself to her, and she finally became fully aware of it. With it too came the certainty of that feeling that had been edging its way into her heart and into her mind.
"Lucas," she gasped softly, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What is it?" His hands were on her waist and then her shoulders, caressing once again her face and then her hair, seeking any evidence of a problem that he could help fix.
"Are you sure?" Her voice trembled and then she opened her eyes, tears escaping with the fear she held that he was wrong—that he was just desperately seeking a replacement for the one who he had lost. That she couldn’t possibly deserve something like this, and eventually he would realize his mistake.
"I am sure," his thumb ran over the scar on her face, his eyes tender and reassuring. "I have never been more sure. I am yours if you will have me."
Rather than smiling, Neoma’s forehead cleaved and she dropped her eyes from his, allowing her unshed tears to escape. Even with the certainty she felt that his words were genuine and that her own feeling matched his, it was difficult to believe it. She wanted to believe... she wanted to, but...
"Can I show you?" He asked, drawing her eyes back up to his loving gaze.
"How?" She sniffled, wiping her tears away.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he brushed the hair back from her neck and ran his fingers over the delicate curve where her neck met her shoulder. She sucked in a breath, shivering violently when she felt his touch on that spot. It felt like a jolt of electricity ran through her all the way to her toes.
"See?" He smiled, satisfied by her reaction. "You are mine, Neoma. If you wish it."
