Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 339 Ava: Defend the Pack

Aurum's golden figure streaks through the wolves defending us, in an unerring line straight for the closest vampire.

Seconds later, there's a blood-curdling roar.

Stop standing around staring, Grimoire says, unaffected by the fear crawling through my skin. They need your help.

Tearing my eyes from Aurum/Lucas, I dash forward, my magic-crafted blade cool against my sweaty palm.

"What's next?" I ask, squeezing through a mass of fur and hot bodies. The noise is too loud to hear my own voice, but Grimoire picks up my words straight from my head.

Get closer. You'll hurt an innocent if you try to do anything here. You don't have the control yet.

Ducking under a wildly swinging arm, I come face to face with a stranger. Pale skin. Lips glistening red, cracking at the corners, where you can see pale flesh peeking out beneath the blood.

Fangs. Long fangs, far longer than I ever thought a vampire could have, and red eyes that lock onto mine with unerring accuracy.

Don't go straight for the head, Grimoire warns as I do just that.

My blade whistles through the air. It's a clumsy strike, born of fear and adrenaline rather than skill, and I'm too far in to abort.

A vice-like grip closes around my forearm. The vampire's strength is inhuman, and I'm yanked forward, losing my balance.

With a twist of my body I'd never be able to replicate again, I manage to wrench

directions. Everyone's grabbing, snapping, clawing at

don't hesitate. With both hands, I drive my blade into his

fire to the blade. Grimoire's command rings clear in the

my arms and into the blade. The effect is instantaneous. The vampire's body stiffens, then

bones, leaving me staggering as he frees himself. The wolves

before my eyes. Strange, inky clouds materialize around the vampire's form. They writhe and pulse, shot through with flashes of crimson lightning. It's as if the very fabric of reality is tearing apart around him. To

even think to run, the creature turns lunges at

Grimoire's voice cuts through my panic. I obey without thinking, feeling claws whistle past my ear. Get your hand on him. Any

the letter. The vampire-thing lunges for me and I slam my hand against its face,

back with

it with ice. Strike at

switch the blade to my left hand, willing it to frost over. There's no thinking left in my magic. It just does what I want,

charges again, but I'm ready this time, filled with an otherworldly calm. Maybe it's Grimoire's presence inside my head. Maybe he's taken control of my body.

across its torso. The blade leaves a trail of frost in its wake, slowing the monster's movements as

Now for his head.

blade singing through the air before Grimoire's words fully register. The strange

the creature topples, its form twisting and warping until it settles into

chest heaves, each breath ragged and harsh. Blood and acrid, flesh-burned smoke fills my nostrils, making me want

still. The chaotic battlefield has frozen in an eerie

floor. And yet no