Blood Moon by Ellen Keener Page A

you, Haemon wants something from me. I’m not exactly certain what, but it has something to do with my return from the dead.”
    “He’s always feared death. Or, at least, his lack of control over it.”
    She propped her chin in her hand. “Speaking of…you mentioned bringing something back. What did you mean?”
    He shifted his weight in the chair, a grimace passing over his features. His gaze moved over her head. “It’s complicated.”
    “I’ve got some time. I made this deal with a nutcase I know….”
    His hands closed over hers. “Aria—”
    “Don’t,” she whispered, pulling away. “I’m doing my best to bring up every emotion I can think of, to make myself push you away, but it isn’t working like I planned, Lukas. By now, you should have kicked me out and left me to my own devices.”
    “Not that long ago, I believed I had helped cause your death. It nearly drove me mad.” His voice developed an edge. “You want to leave, to keep me safe. What you can’t seem to get through that stubborn head of yours is that I’m not going anywhere without you.”
    “I meant what I said, Lukas. I’m not the same person anymore. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. You may not like who I’ve become.” Aria swallowed the knot in her throat, gauging his reaction. The naïve girl had died with Lukas. She’d done her share of killing, and been just as cruel as the Council. He might not want who she’d become.
    “‘Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.’”
    “Don’t quote me Hamlet at a time like this.”
    He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t fall in love with pieces of you, Aria. I fell in love with all of you, and whether you stay, or you leave tomorrow, I will still love you. You did what you had to in order to survive. I’ve done the same. Who am I to judge what you’ve done?”
    Tears overflowed, and she buried her face in her hands. Beneath the anger she tried to keep on the surface, was the love she had never shaken. Happiness, however long it lasted, stood right in front of her. Why shouldn’t she take it? Couldn’t she better protect Lukas if she stayed? Running had been her answer to everything. She had ran from her father, breaking out of the house as a kid, hiding when she was supposed to be in Council, refusing to be left alone with Haemon. Then she tried to take a stand for something—for Lukas. She took blame for his death. Now that it did not seem to be the case, could she really run and abandon him, again?
    “I don’t know how to have a real relationship, Lukas. My father had my mother and her real Mate killed when I was ten. I’ve hated him my entire life, and we won’t even discuss Haemon. I’m not sure I’m capable of being with anyone.”
    The gentle smile on his face brought more tears.
    “I will be happy to teach you. One of the gifts I have is the ability to see the true nature of things. Believe me, you cannot hide nearly as well behind your bluster as you thought. Not with me. You’re capable, and if you ever decide to put your whole heart into something, the results would be…”—he searched for a word—“incredible. I can only hope you choose to share that with me. But you should know, I’m not really asking for a few months. I want it all, Aria.”
    The practical voice in her head told her it would be harder to lose someone if she grew attached. For a brief moment, she thought of refusing, to keep herself separate.
    It was a very brief moment.
    Closing the door to the doubtful part of herself turned out to be easy. She’d had enough loneliness. She was tired of running and hiding. When Lukas died, all the color and hope had gone out of her world. Now that he was back, it was almost too much to process. With the harm Haemon and her father had done, maybe she’d be able to right some of the damage by giving herself up for Lukas’ Pack.
    “All right, Lukas. You win. But you remember what you said when I do something