A shimmer in the air draws my attention back to Aurum. His massive form begins to shrink and change, fur giving way to skin, until Lucas stands before me in his human form.
I don't remember deciding to move, but suddenly I'm running towards him. We collide in a tangle of limbs, holding each other so tightly it's hard to breathe. But I don't care. He's here, he's back, and nothing else matters.
"You're back," I whisper into his chest, my voice thick with emotion. "God, Lucas, you're really back."
His arms tighten around me, and I feel his lips press against the top of my head. "Thanks to you," he murmurs. "You took care of everyone. Thank you, Ava."
I pull back slightly, looking up into his face. His eyes are the same, filled with warmth and love, but there's something else there now—a depth, a wildness that wasn't there before. It's breathtaking and a little terrifying.
