Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 164 Ava: Blood Contract?

"Come along, kitten. You and your friend, too. I'll give you the freedom he can't. I'll give you the knowledge she won't. Come, Ava Grey, Ward of the Witches. You seek a home, and I have one to give."

A scream rips from my throat as I thrash against the sheets, gasping for air. Fear is a heavy weight pressing down on my chest, crushing me, stealing my ability to breathe.

In the darkness behind my eyelids, crimson eyes bore into me, glowing with malice. Moonlight glints off razor-sharp fangs as a sinister voice whispers in my mind.

You'll be begging me to fulfill our contract. Don't worry, kitten. I'll come back for you.

I jolt upright, heart hammering against my ribs. Sweat plasters my hair to my forehead. The room slowly comes into focus—dark walls, the dresser on the other side of the room, Selene's furry form at the foot of the bed. Her head perks up, ice-blue eyes studying me with concern.

Ava? Are you alright? Her voice echoes in my mind, gentle and worried.

"I..." My voice comes out raspy and I swallow hard, trying to wet my parched throat. "I had a nightmare."

Selene cocks her head, fluffy ears twitching. About?

"It's hard to tell." Trying to grasp the wisps of memory that dance just out of reach is like grasping for smoke. "I feel like I'm forgetting something important. About what happened right before Lisa was taken."

Selene goes still, her ears flattening against her skull. When she speaks, her mental voice is hesitant, almost wary. What do you remember, Ava?

"The vampire. Fighting. Pain."

But why did I hurt, exactly? Why is this suddenly so fuzzy?

I frown, sorting through the hazy images in my mind.

The Mad Prince, Selene murmurs.

"Right." My head clears again. "He bit me. I remember that. It was weird, and…" I shake my head, frustrated. "There's something else. Something I'm not remembering."

A flash of Selene's voice screaming in my head returns, and I jerk toward her. "You were yelling at me."

Yes, she agrees cautiously. What else?

"He said—I would beg him to fulfill our contract soon."

Selene's quiet for a long moment. If it helps, I don't think you have a contract with him yet.

"What do you mean?"

a blood contract. You resisted. It resulted in a half-bond, but that seems to have

do you mean,

thralls from Sister Miriam's

Ah, them.

Ick.

definitely don't want to be

offer

blue eyes are distinctly contemptuous. Contracting

Oh.

"Then what is contracting?"

a type of soul bonding. For the first time, Selene sounds unsure. It has never succeeded between Lycans and vampires. The attempt has always

doesn't that

succeeded, she says, still sounding hesitant. But I

still hazy, but he

twitch. I

in my nightmare. "'He called me by name. Ava Grey… Ward of the Witches. He knew who I

her tail swishes in agitation. I don't know what that means, but I don't like

number. I

A number?

my eyes, I wave her off. "It isn't important. Is there anything else horribly life-altering that you'd like to tell me

can't think of anything at the moment. Though I have been

phone buzzes. Grabbing it, I check the time.

and five

just came in. I don't remember giving my number to any stores,

I click onto

exhausted after seeing Mom. Fell

If this relationship is going to work between us, I really need to put

always work

But I'd resolved

breath and shaking off the guilt, I glance at Selene. "Okay. My magic. You

person who might be able to help you,

My phone rings.

Lucas.

it to answer in a hurry. "What

about you. Worrying about

on the bed. If a dog could roll their eyes,