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.

wrench my arm free of

slow, dragged in various directions. Everyone's

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

Grimoire's command rings clear in the

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

weapon tears through his flesh and bones, leaving me staggering as he frees himself. The wolves in front

vampire's form. They writhe and pulse, shot through with flashes of crimson lightning. It's as if

I can even think to run, the creature

my panic. I obey without thinking, feeling claws whistle past my ear. Get your hand on him. Any

if possessed, following Grimoire's instructions to the letter. The vampire-thing lunges for me and I slam my hand against its face, feeling its fangs cut at my palm. A spurt of flame erupts from

back with

hand, infuse it

hand, willing it to frost over. There's no thinking left in my magic. It just

Grimoire's presence inside my head. Maybe he's taken control of my body.

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

Now for his head.

words fully register. The strange vampire thing's head separates from its shoulders with a sickening

if in slow motion, the creature topples, its form twisting and warping until it settles into a more

my nostrils, making me want

standing still. The chaotic battlefield has frozen

litter the floor. And yet no vampires