Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 286 Ava: Not Yet Ready

"Sealed? By the water, you mean?"

"Of course not." They look irritated now, likely by how slow my brain is catching up to their thought process. "The seals, girl."

"So, a lockbox?"

"Lockb—you humans have such odd innovations." The way they're peering into my face, it feels like they're tearing apart my memories to educate themselves.

"In a sense, I suppose. It isn't that easy." They sit.

In the air.

Floating.

Just—there. As if one would lower themself into a chair, only there's nothing there.

"Why so surprised?" they ask, tilting their head as they blink owlishly in my direction.

Gesturing toward them, I just say, "You're floating. In mid-air."

They roll their eyes again, a surprisingly human gesture for such an otherworldly being. "And you're standing on the ground. How extraordinary."

Their sarcasm catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like this before."

dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are you here, girl? This isn't a

off-balance mentally and physically, it takes a while to gather the words. "I was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on

their ethereal features. "You

my mind. "What do you

long-suffering sigh, like I'm an obtuse child they're obligated to handle. "Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant

through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean my magic book? How

settled in perpetual annoyance. "I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here

I'm just trying to connect with my book. With, uh, Grimoire?" It makes sense

kind of on

someone like you manage a contract with Grimoire?" They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their

been since you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing

shrug. "Time

a feeling further questioning will only lead me nowhere. They don't seem interested in a two-way conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. "How can I reach

our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a vast

else

little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys his peace and

the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you

counter. "You seem to know him

groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them

the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set the

runs down my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have