Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 281 Ava: Catching Up

"That sounds…" I grope for a word. "Unpleasant?"

"Very." She shudders and leans forward. "Anyway, Chloe and Mia brought the vampires to the last place, and we barely escaped. We've been flying under the radar since and finally got here."

Puzzling over that, I ask, "Are you sure it was them? You didn't hear what they were saying."

I hate both of them, so I'm not trying to defend them. I just don't want to tarnish any innocent names. Lord knows I have enough black marks against me in this pack.

Lisa looks at me soberly. "No. But the way they were acting… And the Grand Sage—ugh, sorry. Dr. Blackwell said he saw something on the phones."

I shudder. Even with as much hatred as I felt toward Blackwood, I never wanted them wiped from the map. Well, sometimes—but to call down an army upon the same people who watched me grow up, even if they turned a blind eye to my abuse, sours my stomach.

There are innocent people in any pack. They don't deserve to live through a nightmare like that.

"I'm glad you're okay." Reaching over the table, I squeeze her hands. "Really glad. It was hard. Sometimes, I had to stop thinking about you…" Shit. That sounds terrible.

Lisa shakes her head and grips my hand tightly. "Trust me, I had to do the same sometimes."

"Yeah, but you were the one in a jail cell. I was out here." My lips twist into a grimace. "I should have been able to do more."

"Shut up, Ava." With a gentle squeeze that belies the harshness of her words, Lisa continues, "We're both unequipped to deal with all these supernatural guys. No wonder Jericho pushed us so hard. And yet…"

And yet we were still so easily overpowered.

Hearing her unspoken words, my soul shrivels at the memory.

happened while

Ah.

face, her brows drawing together. "Ava?

nothing compared to what you went through." Rubbing at my forehead, I sigh. "He's lost his memories. He doesn't feel our bond. I don't

matters, too," she says immediately. "Tell me

run a hand over my face. "So many things have happened, I don't even know where to start. Everything's a blur anymore." A memory hits

forward, curiosity

Elkins? My

who

the Moon Goddess brought her

can intervene like that, why doesn't

a bit sheepish. "I have no idea. Honestly? I only half-believed in the Moon Goddess because of how I was raised. It all seemed like stories to keep us in line, you know? Especially because the humans never

all," Lisa admits. "I

it all. Here we are,

Instead I ended up in the city where you were held. Sister Miriam got me a teacher there, in the Fae Ward. That's why I was

widen. "Really? I'm glad she can be trusted

too many times for me to doubt her anymore. Even Selene is warming up to her. She's had it

Selene?" Lisa glances around, like she's just going to appear

breath, knowing I'm about to dive into a long

about my training at the Fae Ward, about the imposing yet oddly paternal Magister Orion, and how communication with the outside world suddenly ceased

her head in disbelief. "I can't even

together to gather intel," I say, still feeling a twinge of worry at their absence. "It was right before everything went silent. I

think they're

and I sigh. "It's a long story. I don't even know the details. I just know she

trying to get more information from somewhere, I think." My brain's been such mush, I can't