Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 154 Ava: Their Connection (I)

My face falls, but he reaches out, cupping my cheek with one warm hand. "I'm furious that you put yourself in danger. That's all."

Well, that's fair.

But I'd do it again. In a heartbeat. No matter what he thinks.

His eyes narrow. "You're thinking that you'd do it again, aren't you?" Suspicion laces his voice.

Maybe avoiding the question is better than answering it. "Where do we go from here?"

"With what?" His thumb rubs over my cheek, his golden eyes dark as he watches me.

"Everything. Lisa. The vampires. My powers."

He sighs. "I don't know. It's a lot to think about."

When his hand drops from my face, I'm disappointed by the absence of his warmth. Still, I try to focus on what's important. "Have you ever heard of the Mad Prince before?"

"No." Lucas frowns. "Unfortunately, we don't know a lot about vampires and the Unregistered cities. A few basic things, but we've become complacent in the overall peace of the world. I'm going to have to fix that mistake."

"How?"

His head shakes slightly, and his eyes look a little unfocused. He's probably talking to Kellan through the pack link again, so I wait patiently for him to finish.

"It's dangerous to send scouts to the Unregistered city," he murmurs. "Few make it back alive."

His words are a shock, and my hands grow cold. I understand that I'm a little sheltered, but I've watched enough human news to know a few things. I had no idea the relationship with vampires was that fraught. "That bad? Then how is Lisa going to survive there?"

"There are humans who live in the Unregistered cities. Plenty of people come and go through them—they are a modern city like any other. Internet, stores, cars. But they don't welcome most shifters."

I hesitate, thinking back on my conversation with Sister Miriam. "It sounds like they do some business with rogue wolves."

"Yes." He frowns. "That doesn't help us, though."

No, but if I work with Sister Miriam…

But by the look on Lucas' face, I don't think that's going to be an option in his mind.

Of course not.

Isn't Selene supposed to be watching TV?

can still hear you two,

need you to promise me that

"Lucas…"

in a few hours. It might not even be in a

of me already recognizes that, I can't reconcile the thought of Lisa

need to do this safely.

with it. Knowing that, I can't quite meet his

Lucas is getting in the way of saving

what the right answer is, but I

shutting you out. I'm not stopping you from saving her.

silent, his gaze

conversation ends quickly. "How quickly can you be packed?"

"Now."

minutes, he's

Mom.

forgotten about her, focused only on Sister

the option I'd choose at any other time, but not now. Not with Lisa's safety

up what she needs. We'll head to the airport in about an

I ask

recovering," Lucas points out. "I'm not risking your health

"That's fine. I

torn. "I should come with

You've suffered a tragedy, and they need their alpha." Reaching out,

Clayton." Lucas watches me with caution. "Clayton is a good

He's a good friend." The emphasis on the word doesn't go unnoticed, and I watch his shoulders relax slightly. "I need to talk to Clayton, too. About us. I haven't really done it, and he

hand to his lips, dropping a soft kiss against the back of it. "Come

if he's holding himself back from saying the words

the table between us, I reach out to touch his face, my fingers brushing against the harsh stubble on his cheek, tracing the

see the exhaustion,

here with me,

insanity of my

once berating me or making me feel

leans into my touch like a man starved of affection, his eyes drifting closed as he lets out a

brushing my lips against his in a gentle kiss. He shudders, his hand coming up to cup the back of my head

Tender. Sweet. Peaceful.

A moment for lovers.

But in doing so, I've hurt him too. Damaged the fragile roots of what we've