Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 165 Ava: Margot's Secrets

A soft knock on the door pulls me out of my hazy morning thoughts as I finish packing my small suitcase. Vanessa must be early to escort me back to the airport.

That's not Vanessa. Selene's hackles rise, a low growl rumbling in her throat. Something's wrong.

I freeze, my hand hovering over the zipper. "What is it?"

Not sure. Her nose twitches. But it doesn't smell right.

Uneasy, I debate ignoring the knock, pretending I'm not here. It's a stupid thought. Any wolf can scent me in here.

I crack open the door, surprised to find Margot Mitchell standing there, her face pinched and pale.

"Ava, thank the Moon." She pushes into the room without invitation, her eyes darting around as if searching for hidden threats. "We need to talk."

"Margot, what—" My words come out in a shout over the audacity of her intrusion.

"The vampire. He's here." She grips my shoulders, her fingers digging in. "You have to keep him safe. You have to be loyal. You can't break the code."

"What secret? What vampire? What are you talking about?" Yanking out of her grip, I take a few steps back. "Why are you here?"

"You have to keep the secret," she hisses, as loud footsteps come thudding, like people are running. "Don't sell your loyalty, defect. Only Renard's promise keeps us safe. Without it, we're all doomed."

"What promi—"

"If you tell them, we all die, Ava. You don't want our lives on your hands, do you?"

My bodyguards burst into the room, their faces hard and unreadable. In a dizzying burst of movement and noise, they seize Margot by the arms, yanking her away from me. She yelps, thrashing against their iron grip as they drag her out.

I gape after them, my mind reeling. What the hell just happened?

"Ava, I'm so sorry about that." Kellan's voice snaps me back to the present. He stands in the doorway, his brow furrowed with concern. "Margot is one of the housekeepers for the lodge. She was here for maid duties. We didn't expect her to rush up to your room like this. If you hadn't shouted…" He pauses.

"Well. She must have fallen through the cracks during the transition. We'll take care of it."

my own ears. Margot's frantic warnings echo in my head, refusing to be dismissed. You can't spill

how to process any of this. Kellan watches me, clearly expecting more

here?" The question slips

widen, his mouth falling open slightly. "A vampire? How

obviously remembering that it just happened a

glance at Selene, who meets my gaze with

over-reliance on their senses. The

Kellan feels that

voice a soft whisper in my mind. Something's

Kellan, I've changed my mind. I won't be

brows shoot up, surprise coloring his features. "Are you sure? I thought you were eager to get back to Lucas and the

think I should stay a bit longer. See if I can find out anything else that might help

like he wants to argue, his mouth opening and closing a few times. But then he simply nods, accepting my decision with

not pushing the issue. "And thanks for

say more, then shakes his head. "I'll be downstairs

with Selene and my racing thoughts.

going to like this, Selene

can already picture his reaction—the furrowed brow, the clenched jaw, the barely restrained frustration. "But something's going on here, Selene. We can't just leave. Margot was talking about vampires and Renard. There's definitely a link." As if Sister Miriam wasn't proof enough of his working with vampires—but

into my side, offering her

mind still spinning with questions. What secret was Margot talking

between

a little

be more to

questions I have. Whatever the secret is, am I supposed to hide it from Lucas and the others? Or am I supposed to hide vampiric secrets from even

she said was clear

being handed a key, but being informed only

I supposed to do

through me as I recall the terror in her eyes, the desperate edge to her voice. Whatever

a sigh, I pull out my phone and send Lucas a quick text,

do you

up. I can't explain over