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.

he's not, so I shelve them

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

steps into view. I blink, taken aback by her appearance. Gone are the vintage dresses I've grown accustomed to seeing

for a moment, I

she greets us, her tone cool and polite. Her

not sure. Glancing at Vanessa and Marcus, whose

city at

forward, so intense that it steals my breath away for a moment as her eyes darken and her

voice sharp with intensity. Then, as if catching herself, she quickly adds, "I've heard nothing about any war, but

twitch, and her eyes dart around the room as

seen her

She knows something.

pack," I explain, the words tumbling out in a rush. "And I can't get in touch with anyone.

snaps to Layla, who's been watching our exchange instead of working on her papers. "What's going on?" she demands, her

jumps to her feet, her small form quivering. "I don't

she believes her, because she barks out orders. "Find out what's happening and see if Alpha Renard and his brood

a snap of Sister Miriam's fingers, Layla vanishes into thin air. I blink,

tension radiating from her every movement. She's almost shaking with anger, but it makes no

danger. Why is she so

call for me?" she asks, her

run recon, try to establish a connection with our pack," he explains, gesturing to my husky. "But

most open display of emotion I've ever seen

it isn't at us. She has

Sister Miriam lets out a long sigh. "Fine," she says, the word sounding as if it's been dragged out of her. "I'm willing to travel

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 information network. This is not a good

words only cement the foreboding in

Miriam's sigh breaks the tense silence, her gaze softening slightly as she looks at Selene. The change in her demeanor

she begins, her voice measured, "operates independently of wolves or the city. These are individuals