Page 109 of Legion
Looking away from where Konstantin stood near the door—his manner awkward as two moms flirted with him while their kids tried climbing out of their strollers—Naomi said, “I see now that I was ignoring that potential so I wouldn’t be disappointed if nothing came of it.”She paused, skipping a narrow aisle that was packed with people.“I hadn’t let myself really acknowledge how much I wanted more from him.”
“Well, now you have theultimatemore.”
She did indeed, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
As arranged, Naomi had met up with Ella and her sister at the pool hall last night.It was sweet how close the incantors were, being as much besties as they were siblings.But since Mia had needed to cancel her trip to the mall with Ella today, the girls had suggested that Naomi go in her place.
Ella’s lips hitched up.“It’s a big deal that he asked you to move in with him, you know.Luka’s not great at sharing his space, no matter how huge said space is.”
Naomi had spent the past several days transferring her possessions to his house little by little.There wasn’t much left to move at this point.“I sensed as much, so I worried he’d find it weird.That turned out to be a senseless worry.He seems rather self-satisfied about the whole thing.”
“Of course he is.Talking of self-satisfied ...It’s cute how smug he is that your entity branded him.I mean, he isn’t obvious about it—you have to know him well to detect just how much it affects him.”
Smug was a mild word for it, in truth.But her demon loved that sign that its mate was soallin; that its brand meant that much to him.
Word of Naomi and Luka’s mating had traveled fast.News always did in the world of demons.That the demonic population understood he was off limits ...well, Naomi could admit she liked it a whole lot.
“Don’t be surprised if he puts a black diamond on your finger sometime soon,” Ella threw out.
Naomi did a double-take.“Huh?”
“I know demons don’t give them to their mates unless they are super certain about them, but there’s zero chance that Luka doesn’t feel that way about you.He would never claim someone lightly.”
Very true.Naomi just hadn’t considered it before.
“Will you freak out if he produces a ring?”
Naomi inhaled deeply, searching within herself.“No.Because just as he wouldn’t claim a person lightly, neither would I.I’m super sure about him as well.”As was her demon.And since it liked shiny things, it would gladly wear his ring.
Ella nodded, satisfied.“Excellent.Because I’m pretty sure you’d find it literally impossible to ever leave him.He wouldn’t allow it.Not for anything,” she added, adjusting the position of the running pants she’d tossed over her shoulder.
A few T-shirts were draped over Naomi’s arm, her other arm supporting the weight of the plastic bags she held.They’d been at the mall a couple of hours now, so she was carrying several bags, though not as many as Ella—the redhead had splurged quite a bit when buying cute things for her daughter.
The mall here at the Underground was like most.The indoor building featured skylights, tiled flooring, lounge areas, retail stores, specialty kiosks, water fountains, coffee houses, smoothie bars, and a large food court.
You could buy practically anything—clothes, toys, electronics, houseware, skincare products, jewelry.You name it, some store within the mall sold it.
This particular store mostly sold casual wear and sporty gear, though there was a small racy lingerie section that seemed a little out of place.The inky scent of new clothing laced the air, along with those of perfumes and metal.
It was packed with lone shoppers, couples, clusters of giggling teen girls, and women pushing strollers.The echoes of voices, ringing of phones, whir of the air conditioning, and scraping of metal against metal mingled with the pop music playing over the store’s speakers.
The strong lighting and white walls were a contrast to the dark faux-wood flooring.Large posters of women in various clothing stood out against the bright paint.Tall mirrors were scattered around.RedSALEsigns hung on some racks.
“How did your anchor take the news about you and Luka?”asked Ella.
“He isn’t thrilled about it.”In a telepathic conversation days ago, during which it had become clear that Tobe felt slightly threatened by her having such a deep bond with another male, she’d said,We’ve been over this; no mate could take your place in my life, to which he had petulantly replied,I know, but I don’t have to like that Luka’s made his own place in it, and you can’t make me.But at the end of said conversation ...“He told me that he sort of gives his blessing, though.”
Amusement bled into the incantor’s eyes.“Sort of?”
Naomi shrugged.“Tobe’s a diva at times.”
“And his nose feels a little pushed out, I’m guessing.”
“A little.”
“That’s only to be expected, really.Demons often react that way to their anchors taking a mate.”Ella nabbed a tester perfume from a rack and sprayed the air.Inhaling through her nose, she hummed.“Nice.”She spritzed her neck and then grabbed an unopened bottle while returning the tester.“How has your family taken the news?”
“My mother’s pleased—she was rooting for us.My stepfather said he’s happy so long as I’m happy.”
