Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 217 Ava: Embracing Change (I)

"Those attuned to you could feel it immediately." Sister Miriam looks me over with some curiosity. "Though I feel you won't explain how this change happened to be, it is both blessing and a curse to you, as you are right now."

There are so many questions rushing through my head, but I know she isn't going to answer them. She's too cryptic to explain how she knows what's going on with me, or what she wants from me. So I switch tactics.

"Someone's calling me. Texting me. Telling me to come to the city."

"Yes. He is reckless and wild in his old age, but it is a teacher. He's been waiting for quite some time, and is eager to meet a new student. They are quite rare these days." Her eyes flicker toward everyone else in the room. "Though he does hate your people."

That isn't the answer I expect, and it throws me off. "Are you sure? He did want me to come to the city, but he also sounded very…" my voice trails off, unsure of how to explain how menacing his words sound, without ever having threatened me to my face.

"Strange? Blunt? Sadistic?" Sister Miriam tosses words at me, seeming to be genuine in her desire to help.

"Doomsday, maybe? At first I thought he was one of the people who took Lisa."

"He, work with the likes of the Mad Prince?" Her lips curve in something like derision. "You should have no fear of that, little witch. You will be safe in his care. Access to your phone. Free reign of the city, with guards. You can even leave and see your alpha lover, if you so wish.

We are not monsters there."

Her last words are shot toward Kellan and Jericho.

old man looks thoughtful, but Kellan continues to

out of all of us. Even so, I can feel the wariness and caution emanating from her

I wave a hand at them. "It w0uld go

surrounding me. "It's too dangerous for pack wolves to enter

tightens. "We're supposed to trust your protection alone? Why

pleasure. Inherently selfish creatures." Kellan's eyes narrow at

heavy moment. "I remember your

stiffens, his face

nothing wrong," Sister Miriam says, her voice almost gentle. "Some vampires, when they're too young, they can't control themselves. They make for great friends, being so close to humanity still. But that lack of

more about what transpired between them. But Jericho's shock at Sister Miriam's knowledge keeps me

brow furrows with concern, but

advantage of the awkward silence. "What

more must be done? I have done all this without any payment from the girl. And no gratitude." Sister Miriam arches a brow. "You should know that vampires value their time. A contract is required for every transaction, and yet Ava has been forced into nothing. I've been quite generous, only to be treated like some

with suspicion,

has yet to do anything to harm me, even as I harbor more and more suspicion against her. Even now, when I call her here, everything

a

watches me with a measuring gaze. "Truly. I do appreciate everything you've done for me. More than I can

Kellan. "But Ava must learn to wield her magic. The longer it remains untamed, the more dangerous it becomes. For her and everyone

ask, feeling the depths of responsibility stir within my gut. I had already resolved to stop being