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.

Magister Orion a few questions if he was here, but he's not, so I shelve them for now. It's a strange thing, but not nearly as

the room. Selene, who's been rolling around on the floor, suddenly sits up straight, her posture prim and proper. I can't

taken aback by her appearance. Gone are the vintage dresses I've grown accustomed to seeing her in. Instead, she's wearing a loose shirt and jeans. It's so...

for a moment, I wonder if this is some sort

she greets us, her tone cool and polite. Her red eyes lock onto mine. "Is

I reveal? I'm not sure. Glancing at Vanessa and Marcus, whose

Miriam, is the city at

reaction is immediate. Her eyes widen, and she takes an involuntary step forward, so intense that it steals my breath away for a moment as her eyes darken and her usual composure cracks, showing her fury. But there's surprise,

with intensity. Then, as if catching herself, she quickly adds, "I've heard nothing about any war, but that doesn't

fingers twitch, and her eyes dart around the

never seen her

She knows something.

tumbling out in a rush. "And I can't

our exchange instead of working on her papers. "What's

small form quivering. "I don't know of anything,

Miriam's eyes 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

Miriam's fingers, Layla vanishes into

Miriam turns back to me, tension radiating from her every movement. She's almost shaking

danger. Why is she

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

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

most open display of emotion I've ever seen from her. For a long moment, she just glares at Selene, who stares

it isn't at us. She has murderous intent toward someone,

long sigh. "Fine," she says, the word sounding as if it's been dragged out of her. "I'm willing to travel with the... wolf. It shouldn't take long

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

only cement the foreboding in my

she looks at Selene. The

her voice measured, "operates independently of wolves