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.

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

sit next to Lucas once again. "Okay, Grimoire. You've

as a defense mechanism. The human mind couldn't

do we

a bomb, he says

I

"With a what?"

leans forward. "What did he

pressing my hand

simpleton, Grimoire's voice echoes in my mind, dripping with disdain. A magical one. A surge of power so intense it shatters the mental

his personality. Not just a cuddlebug puppy

way he backpedals would be amusing if I wasn't more focused on the information

their expressions shift from

Lucas says, his voice tight

interest. "It's not entirely without precedent. Brute

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

what exactly would this 'magical bomb'

Grimoire considering his words. It would be a concentrated burst of magical energy, focused on breaking down the mental barriers. The risks... well, they're not insignificant. Best case scenario, it works perfectly, and all memories

hard, already dreading the answer. "Worst

the barriers. It could fragment the

heart plummets. I relay Grimoire's words, feeling my

break the silence. "So, it's either get my

gradual approach. Instead of a bomb, think of it as a slow erosion. We could

sounds better," I say, hope rising