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.

lips curl into an amused smile. "Well, he's not wrong. Though I prefer the

cover as I sit next to Lucas once again. "Okay, Grimoire. You've been listening. What do you think about this

it as a defense mechanism. The human mind couldn't process the raw, ancient power

how do we break down the

bomb,

way I heard

"With a what?"

leans forward. "What

relay Grimoire's words quickly before pressing my hand more firmly against

in my mind, dripping with disdain. A magical

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

it like that. The way he backpedals would be amusing if I wasn't more focused on

again, watching their expressions shift

dangerous," Lucas says, his

not entirely without precedent. Brute force

useless, Grimoire says, sounding pleased by

this 'magical bomb'

on breaking down the mental barriers. The risks... well, they're not insignificant. Best

swallow hard, already dreading the

barriers. It could fragment the mind entirely, leaving nothing

Grimoire's words, feeling

the first to break the silence. "So, it's either get my memories back

We could use magic to slowly wear away at the barriers, allowing memories to

hope rising