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?"

me their name, but gave up Grimoire's without a second thought. The spirit somehow knew about Grimoire and my connection, and knows a lot about the book—and my

Could it be…?

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

just have to

"What is it?"

a hand, chewing furiously as I think. If the spirit is Grimoire,

are too many things I don't

Dead lands. They called it

Curious. Very curious.

think the spirit is the book. I just missed

* * *

trying again, despite the anticipation coursing through my veins. I'm sure she's right—it would

like I'm lagging behind as things inexorably

always a few

But first, Lucas.

he'll be happy to see me. Or

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

isn't here—he's already been sniffing around Lisa this morning before disappearing for whatever he has to do to keep the pack running—but Marcus is, and his presence behind me makes it a little easier to meet the disdain in the receptionist's eyes

"Oh. You again."

cheer into my voice. "Here to visit

words. I'm sure she's

if he wants

snap. Without turning, I raise my hand

do this for every

out so directly. I can almost see

says, her tone clipped. "We take patient privacy

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

Marcus standing behind me, then back to me. "All visitors," she

help but notice yesterday that several other visitors walked right in without being questioned. In fact, I don't recall seeing anyone make a single phone call to check if

mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I don't have to explain myself to you," she

don't," I agree, my voice low and steady. "But you do have to do your job fairly and without discrimination. Unless, of course, there's

behind me, 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. Tired of worrying about