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.

up. Instinct takes over, even if it's a little sluggish and unrefined. With a twist of my body I'd never be able to replicate again, I manage to wrench my

too slow, dragged in various directions. Everyone's grabbing, snapping, clawing at him, even

both hands, I drive my blade into his

the blade. Grimoire's

it. I reach for that well of power inside me, channeling heat through my arms and into the blade. The effect is instantaneous. The vampire's body stiffens, then begins to glow from within. He tears away from me with an unholy shriek that freezes

wrenching himself away, even as my weapon tears through his flesh and bones, leaving me staggering as he

It's as if the very fabric of reality is tearing apart around

even think to run, the creature

feeling claws whistle past my ear. Get your hand on him. Any

instructions to the letter. The vampire-thing lunges for me and I slam my hand against its face, feeling its fangs cut

reels back with another

it with ice. Strike at

thinking left in my magic. It just does what I

filled with an otherworldly calm. Maybe it's Grimoire's presence inside my head. Maybe he's taken control

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

Now for his head.

strange vampire thing's head separates from its shoulders with

if in slow motion, the creature topples, its form twisting and warping until it settles into a more recognizable shape—just another vampire,

and harsh. Blood and acrid, flesh-burned smoke fills my nostrils, making me want to gag. But as I glance around, confusion replaces the adrenaline coursing

chaotic battlefield has

many bodies litter the floor. And yet