Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 309 Ava: Grimoire's Plans

Ignoring Sister Miriam's curious stare, I dart for the cupboard where Grimoire's resting.

I rush to the cupboard, my fingers tingling as they make contact with Grimoire's supple leather cover. The moment I touch him, his mental shouts pierce my mind like a blast of thunder.

"Grimoire, for the love of all that's holy, quiet down!" I wince, pressing my free hand to my temple. "Speak at a normal volume before you shatter my mental eardrums."

The roaring stops abruptly. Through our bond, I sense an almost sheepish energy emanating from the book. He clears his mental throat.

You've been wasting time theorizing when you could have just consulted with me, Grimoire says, sounding far too condescending for someone who was screaming at me to notice him.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Now you tell me."

"Ava?" Lucas's voice cuts through our conversation. I turn to find him frowning at me, confusion etched across his face. "What's going on?"

I take a deep breath, suddenly aware of how bizarre this must look to him and Sister Miriam. "I'd like you both to meet someone." I hold up the book. "This is Grimoire. He's... well, he's a sentient magic book. And apparently, he has some thoughts on our current situation."

Sister Miriam's eyes widen, a spark of fascination igniting in their depths. She steps forward, hand outstretched. "Fascinating. May I?"

Before I can warn her, her fingers brush the cover. A bright spark erupts between them, and she yanks her hand back with a hiss.

Tell the bloodsucker to keep her hands off me, Grimoire's voice echoes in my mind, indignant.

My lips twitch. "He doesn't want to be touched. He called you a bloodsucker. I don't think he's very friendly."

I'm very friendly, he snaps. When I want to be.

my surprise, Sister Miriam's lips curl into an amused smile. "Well, he's not wrong. Though I prefer the term 'vampire' these days. It has a bit more...

the book on the table, I keep my hand flat on the cover as I sit next to Lucas once again. "Okay, Grimoire. You've

it as a defense mechanism. The human mind couldn't process the raw, ancient power the wolf tapped into. So it builds a

we break

bomb,

I

"With a what?"

"What did he

words quickly before pressing my hand more firmly

simpleton, Grimoire's voice echoes in my mind, dripping with disdain. A magical

the Grimoire I first met is still a part of his personality. Not just a cuddlebug puppy of a bond, but

mean it like that. The way he backpedals would be amusing if I

watching their expressions shift from confusion to

dangerous," Lucas says, his voice

"It's not entirely without

the bloodsucker she's not entirely useless, Grimoire says, sounding pleased by the

bomb' do? And

It would be a concentrated burst of magical energy, focused on breaking down the

dreading the

could shatter more than just the barriers. It could fragment the mind entirely, leaving

plummets. I relay Grimoire's words, feeling my brief rising hope

get my memories back or become a vegetable? Those aren't great

is a gradual approach. Instead of a bomb, think of it as a slow erosion. We could use magic to slowly wear away at the barriers, allowing memories to trickle back

I say, hope rising in my chest.