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?"

Squinting, as if that somehow makes my memories clearer, I think back. The spirit never gave me their name, but gave up Grimoire's without a second thought. The spirit

Could it be…?

the sandwich in my hands. I want to go back to that place and demand answers, but my

have to

"What is it?"

hold up a hand, chewing furiously as I think. If the spirit is Grimoire, then that place is—what? I don't know. Either Grimoire's place in that magical realm, or maybe the bond

many things

They called it a

Curious. Very curious.

the spirit is the book. I just

* * *

sleep before trying again, despite the anticipation coursing through my veins. I'm sure she's right—it would be better to try after a good night of sleep and some renewed

the feeling of urgency, like I'm lagging

a

But first, Lucas.

tossing from side to side, wondering if he'll be happy

toast, and a quick shower later, I'm back at the hospital, meeting a familiar unfriendly face

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

"Oh. You again."

maximum cheer into my voice. "Here

goes remarkably impassive at my words. I'm

I see if he wants visitors?"

Without turning, I raise my hand slightly, a silent signal for him to stand down. This isn't

this for

so directly. I can almost see the gears turning in her head as she tries

Miss Grey," she says, her tone clipped. "We take patient privacy very seriously

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

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

on the counter. "Because I couldn't help but notice yesterday that several other visitors walked right in without being questioned. In fact, I

embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I

low and steady. "But you do have to do your job fairly and without discrimination. Unless,

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