Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 314 Ava: Grimoire's Manipulation

Before my eyes, the book's form fades. In its place, Grimoire materializes, perched on the edge of the table. Flames lick at his skin, but do nothing to the wood of the table. His expression is distinctly sour as he glowers at Lucas.

"It isn't right to wedge yourself between my bond with Ava."

I feel Lucas tense behind me, his hand tightening around mine.

"I'm not wedging myself anywhere. She's my mate."

Grimoire's eyes narrow. "And I am her magical counterpart. Our bond is just as important. Perhaps even more so."

The way my mate tenses behind me has me scrambling to defuse the situation. "Enough, Grimoire."

Know your place, Selene adds, her mental growl making my eardrums vibrate.

Lucas's thumb traces circles on the back of my hand, and when I glance back, he looks… pleased.

His lips curl up, his face relaxed. In fact, I think I'd categorize him as distinctly smug.

Grimoire, on the other hand, has shrunk from the size of a man to the size of a child. He even looks younger, the planes of his face round and soft, and his voice a higher pitch than before. "He still has to respect our bond," Grimoire insists, crossing his arms in a sulky demeanor that makes him seem about five years old.

He's…

Adorable.

Even though I know he's thousands upon thousands of years old, my heart pitters and patters, squeezing out maternal affection at his appearance.

Really? Selene's exasperation snaps me out of it. He's a book, Ava. Not your kid.

Frowning at Grimoire, I focus on the bond between us. There's an odd sort of fuzziness there that brings up all those maternal feelings again when I touch it.

"Are you manipulating my emotions,

my heart trembles—until I slam closed the magical connection between us. The childish figure of Grimoire pops out of existence, leaving behind only

bond tugs

right. No manipulating me, Grimoire. I mean it." It doesn't feel good to know he was able to force emotions into

The yanking stops.

warm against my back. "See? I don't like him. He turned into

a tiny little tug. So gentle I would miss

thinking of how my magic flowed into it last time. He hadn't asked for permission; he'd just taken it. That pisses me

have something to

sounding suitably chastised. I won't do that

eyes at the book, I ask suspiciously, "And how am I supposed to

I won't do it again. I allowed my jealousy to take

what you did, Selene says irritably. You're old enough to know better. Bonds are sacred. If you only bonded her to manipulate her into doing what you want, I'll tell her

it? You can do that?

I promise. Please, let me

no hint of the condescending elitist; it's all back to that puppy-dog bond, the one that's overly affectionate and

connection with magic is easier than I thought it would be. The book fades away again, leaving child-Grimoire in its place. This time, I don't feel a rush of maternal emotions when I see his

children can be cute.

child-Grimoire

arms tightening around me. "Why is

say something!" Grimoire holds up his tiny hands. "I want

Selene mutters. If I was there, he'd have teeth

shudders. "I'm sorry, okay?

hardly an

"What more should I—"

is necessary for my sanity. "Why were you trying to get my

this childish look of his suits his personality.