Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 230 Ava: Change of Balance

"I'll get the Magister," Marcus offers. "You focus on the those other ones. Try not to flood the room or something."

"I can swim," Vanessa says. "I can probably keep her afloat until you get here."

Their faith in me is so touching. "I'm not going to flood the room, guys."

"Did you know you were going to set a paper on fire before you did it?" Marcus looks stern, but there's a slight twinkle in his eyes, and a little quirk to his smile, that tells me he's becoming more comfortable around me.

At least he's not trying to escape the general vicinity of magic, after being in the Fae Ward for a few days. He's getting used to its existence around him, though he admits that it feels itchy. Vanessa doesn't seem to have the same problem.

Selene, on the other hand…

I'm not sneezing, but all I can smell is refuse. She sounds sour in my head. There's an alley with garbage cans. I guess no one wants to ward their trash.

As Marcus leaves to fetch Magister Orion, my heart clenches in sympathy for my wolf. I wish there was a way to make you more comfortable.

It's fine, Selene replies, though her mental voice sounds strained. I'd rather be here than leave you alone.

Vanessa settles on the bed, her fingers tracing the edges of the rune papers scattered across the covers. She looks up at me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you holding up, Ava?"

Falling onto my back, I throw my arm over my eyes, blocking out the lights. Every one of my feelings presses down on me, shoving me deeper into the mattress. "Honestly? I feel like I'm missing something huge. Like there's this... I don't know, this looming disaster just waiting to happen, and I can't see it coming."

been relocated. That's good news, right? And Lucas is an experienced alpha. He's

against the sudden spring of tears in my eyes. "But I can't shake this feeling that I should be doing more. It feels

in the air, tickling my ear as I lower my arm to peer in her direction. "Maybe working on your powers is the best help you can be right now. Think about it—if you can master this, you'll be able to protect the pack in ways no one

leave me alone. Pulling out my phone, my fingers hover over Lucas's number. I've left him twelve messages since yesterday. "I should call him, just to check

rings, once, twice, three times. No answer. I try again, my heart rate

I can hear the slight

Kellan's number, hoping he'll at least be able to give me an update. But his phone goes straight

bed. I look at Vanessa, suddenly feeling very small

my hand. "It's hard," she admits. "There's no easy way to deal with

what did

be done. There's always a patient who needs something, or more wounded coming in. There are things that you need to do, and you do them. Worrying yourself into an anxiety spiral

For being with me. For sacrificing for me." If Lucas being unreachable is hard for me—newly mated and spending more time away from him than with him—I can only imagine how hard it is for a couple mated

it hurt, to be away from him? Here, in your chest?" I rub mine, where there's an ache I've become familiar with. It was there the moment

now, and driving me

quietly. "When he's not near, it's like... like I'm missing an arm or a leg. Missing a lung.

much you rely on

so many times I just got busy, too distracted thinking and doing to even remember to call Lucas. It seems stupid that I ever got that complacent before, when now my entire

I accepted him into my life, as my partner, and the responsibilities of the position it brings, I thought I was finally ready.

still was complacent, knowing he was there to hold us up. He's always been the glue of our relationship, and I've been

one to text me, to call me, with our distance, I realize how much I relied on him. On his presence to steady us, to keep our