Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 240 Ava: Sister Miriam is Angry

Two hours later, we're back in Sister Miriam's strange mansion, just outside of the Fae Ward.

We all try calling people again, but nothing but voicemails answer us.

Selene rolls against the cool floor, groaning in relief. So much easier to breathe here. Pity. I do like it there.

"Sorry." Watching her writhe around to soothe her itchy skin gives me something to do while we wait for Sister Miriam's arrival.

Layla is back, hunched over a pile of papers she dragged with her, marking through various papers with terrifying efficiency. I'm not even sure if she's reading what's on the pages. Just flip, sign, flip, flip, sign.

Every so often she sets one to the side after writing REJECTED in large letters at the top of the page.

"Their language is fascinating," Vanessa murmurs, also watching the gnome work.

"Language?" Startled, I glance at the healer. "She hasn't said a word."

Our whispers echo through the room. It's impossible for Layla not to hear everything we're saying, yet we continue to whisper.

"Her writing," she corrects me. "Those letters—you called them runes?—are so interesting. She writes them so quickly, but they're so intricate and detailed."

Glancing at the papers again, I squint my eyes.

It takes a while for me to realize that Layla is, in fact, writing in the strange language of theirs, and not in English.

That can't be possible. I'm reading everything she's writing with such ease, as though it were already in English. How?

Affinity, Selene explains with a yawn. You've accessed your magic. You've gained an understanding of the language it encompasses.

How is that possible? Unlock magic and an entire language just appears in your head?

Precisely.

but he's not, so I shelve them for

the floor announces Sister Miriam's arrival before she even enters the room. Selene, who's been rolling around on the floor, suddenly sits up straight, her posture prim and proper. I can't help but smile

her appearance. Gone are the vintage dresses I've grown accustomed to seeing her in. Instead, she's wearing a

I wonder if

and polite. Her red eyes lock onto mine. "Is there a

should I reveal? I'm not sure. Glancing at Vanessa and Marcus, whose faces are blank, I launch into

is the city at

it steals my breath away

intensity. Then, as if catching herself, she quickly adds, "I've heard nothing about any

fingers twitch, and her eyes dart around the room as if searching for

never seen

She knows something.

have been strange rogue attacks on my pack," I explain, the words tumbling out in

to Layla, who's been watching our exchange instead of working on her papers.

feet, her small form quivering.

narrow as she studies the gnome. After a few seconds, she must decide that she believes her, because she barks out orders. "Find out what's happening and see if Alpha Renard and his brood are still in the city.

a snap of Sister Miriam's fingers, Layla vanishes into thin

back to me, tension radiating from her every movement. She's almost shaking with anger, but

in danger.

me?" she asks, her voice tight. "I'm

I can respond, Marcus steps forward. "Selene wants to run recon, try to establish a connection with our pack," he explains, gesturing to my husky. "But she'd need a way

by the blatant dislike that twists her features. It's the most open display of emotion I've ever seen

that isn't obvious. But it isn't at us. She has

she says, the word sounding as if it's been dragged out of her. "I'm willing to

her eyes snap back to me. "Tell me everything you know," she demands. "Every detail, no matter how small. For attacks to occur without my knowledge means that someone is tampering in my

words only cement the foreboding

gaze softening slightly as she looks at Selene. The

her voice measured, "operates independently of wolves or the city. These