Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 287 Ava: Seeing Lucas Again

"Ava?"

Lisa shakes me awake, but it takes a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to reality.

"What is it?" My throat is croaky, and I clear it with a few dry coughs.

"Kellan brought dinner. You've been sitting like that for a few hours. I wasn't sure if I should bother you or not."

My muscles protest as I push myself to my feet, my entire body stiff after hours of stillness. Every joint in my body seems to creak and pop, like I'm twenty years older than I am. Or maybe it's just the weight of everything bearing down on me.

"Thanks," I mumble as Lisa hands me a plate with a simple turkey sandwich. The sight of food makes my stomach growl, and I realize I'm ravenous.

I take a bite, savoring the simple flavors. It's nothing fancy, but right now it tastes like the best thing I've ever eaten. Lisa watches me, concern etched on her face.

"Did you make any progress?" she asks hesitantly, after depositing the wardstone between us for security. It's only a ten-foot radius; better to keep it close.

I grimace, swallowing hard. "I'm not sure if what I did was considered progress."

Lisa's eyebrows furrow. "What do you mean?"

I take another bite, chewing slowly as I try to gather my thoughts. How do I even explain what happened? The eerie forest, the mysterious pond, the spirit... it all seems so surreal now that I'm back in the real world.

"There's a place I go sometimes. It's like some sort of magical realm, but it feels kind of like a dream. This time, there was a dead forest and a dark pond. And a spirit."

Lisa tilts her head. "A spirit? Like a ghost, or…?"

I shake my head. "No, not like that. More like... a guardian, I guess? Of the magic in that place. But I still don't know where that place was, or why I was there."

Resting her chin in her hand, she watches me eat. "Well, where were you trying to go?"

"To the book. Well, I wasn't trying to go anywhere, but I wanted to connect with the book."

"So doesn't it stand to reason that it has something to do with the book? That place, and the spirit?"

I think back. The spirit never gave me their name, but gave up Grimoire's without a second thought. The spirit somehow knew about Grimoire and my

Could it be…?

mutter, scowling at the sandwich in my hands. I want to go back to that

just have to eat

"What is it?"

of food, I hold up a hand, chewing furiously as I think. If the spirit is Grimoire,

many things I don't

magic. Dead lands. They called it

Curious. Very curious.

is the book. I just missed

* * *

before trying again, despite the anticipation coursing through my veins. I'm sure she's

of urgency, like I'm lagging

a

But first, Lucas.

wondering if he'll be happy to see me.

and a quick shower later, I'm back at the

to do to keep the pack running—but Marcus is, and his presence behind

"Oh. You again."

into my voice. "Here

face goes remarkably impassive at my words. I'm sure she's cursing my

I see if he wants visitors?" she

his energy coiling like a spring ready to snap. Without turning, I raise my hand slightly, a silent signal for him to stand

into my voice. "Do you do this for every patient under your care when a visitor

lips pressing into a thin line. She's clearly not used to being called out so directly. I can almost see the

she says, her tone clipped. "We take

I lean forward, placing my hands on the counter. "And does this protocol extend to all visitors,

back to me. "All visitors," she insists, but I can hear the lie in her

notice yesterday that several other visitors walked right in without being questioned. In fact, I don't recall seeing anyone

flushes, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I don't have to explain

steady. "But you do have to do your job fairly and

probably itching to step in. But I need to handle this on my own. I'm tired of this. Tired of feeling like everyone's looking at me sideways.