Page 153 of Beasts of Mine

“Very.” I answered Mara, unable to keep some of the satisfaction from my voice as I rested one hand on the camera bag and thought about the photographs waiting on the memory cards inside it.

“Useful waterfall?” Mara asked, glancing toward my equipment with more curiosity than teasing now.

“Extremely.” I assured Mara with a nod, already thinking about which photographs I wanted to see on a larger screen first.

“Anything unusual happen?” Mara asked as she capped her pen, suspicion returning to her face as though she had learned not to accept normal from me without further investigation.

“No more unusual than normal.” I told Mara as innocently as I could manage, keeping my face straight while several events from the afternoon immediately came to mind that definitely wouldn’t fit her definition of normal.

“Right. Back up your cards before dinner.” Mara gave me a skeptical look before closing the field log and sliding it toward the center of the table.

“Already planning on it.” I told Mara as I picked up the camera bag and headed inside, grateful when she let the subject drop instead of asking exactly what my definition of normal currently included.

I had just finished logging the first memory card when movement near the rear edge of the station caught my attention through the window. Luca stood beyond the last storage shed, half concealed by the deeper evening shadows between the trees where Mara wouldn’t see him from the main building. I found an excuse to step outside with my empty water bottle, and Luca came closer only after I moved away from the windows, his green-gold eyes traveling over me before his nostrils flared.

“What?” I asked Luca when he continued studying me, stopping several feet from him while I loosely held the empty bottle at my side.

“You smell like both of them now.” Luca replied as a warm smile appeared, sandalwood and fresh herbs joining the cedar, citrus, and spice already clinging to my skin and clothing.

“I am aware that none of you understand how unsettling it is when you announce what I smell like.” I told Luca as I glanced down at myself out of habit, despite knowing perfectly well there was nothing visible for me to inspect.

“Sorry.” Luca apologized, though the amusement in his face made the word impossible to believe.

“You don’t look sorry.” I pointed out to Luca, giving him a skeptical look as his attempt at innocence failed.

“I’m not.” Luca admitted, warmth settling around his green-gold eyes as he gave up pretending otherwise. I laughed, and Luca stopped just outside my space rather than assuming he could move closer.

“Can I?” Luca asked softly, tipping his head toward my hair while one hand remained relaxed at his side.

“Yeah.” I answered Luca with a small nod, shifting slightly toward him to make the invitation clear. He leaned near my hair and breathed in, his face coming close without touching. A soft purr started almost at once, considerably quieter than Tavian’s but familiar enough now that my shoulders relaxed at the sound.

“You’re pleased too?” I asked Luca as I watched his reaction, amusement slipping into my voice when his purr continued.

“Yes.” Luca answered with a quiet smile as his thumb brushed lightly over the scent-marked strap of my camera bag. “You smell more like the pack.”

“Tavian scent-marked part of my gear.” I told Luca as I glanced down at the strap, remembering exactly how pleased Tavian had been with himself when he did it.

“That sounds like Tavian.” Luca replied, his mouth twitching as his hand dropped away from the canvas.

“And me.” I added to Luca with a sigh, lifting the empty water bottle slightly when he looked at me.

“That also sounds like Tavian.” Luca answered, looking completely unsurprised while his softer purr continued beneath his chest.

“Do not encourage him.” I warned Luca as I pointed the empty water bottle toward him, already knowing from his face that the request was probably hopeless.

“I don’t think he needs my help.” Luca replied, his quiet amusement growing as he glanced toward the trees.

“Save tomorrow for me.” Luca said after a few seconds of silence, his gaze returning to mine as a small smile touched his mouth.

“Are you guys coordinating days alone with me?” I asked Luca, raising an eyebrow as I looked at him.

“Just a little bit. I’ll be by in the morning.” Luca admitted with a smirk, glancing toward the station once more before disappearing back into the trees without another word.

Before I went inside, I reached into my shirt pocket and found the smooth green seed Tavian had given me that morning. It was warm from spending the day against my body, and I rolled it once between my fingers before tucking it into the smaller protected pocket of my camera bag with the other things I didn’t want to lose.

Tomorrow would be another interesting day. I was curious about what Luca had planned for me, and I gave the trees one last glance before heading inside for the night.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE