Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 351 Ava: Investigating

Don't take everyone.

"What?"

The more people, the more victims.

"Oh." Shit. I hadn't thought of that. Biting my lip, I look over my entourage. Vanessa's brows raise as she watches me, her breath puffing out in the frigid air.

They're my bodyguards, but they can't save me from something magical.

Selene's thoughtful hum vibrates in my head.

"Marcus, you and..." I scan the faces, settling on a stoic-looking wolf. I think his name is Greg. "You. Stay with me. The rest of you, I need you to be our lifeline."

Vanessa frowns. "Ava, are you sure about this?"

I nod, trying to project more confidence than I feel. "I can sense magic and familiar energies, but there's no guarantee I haven't missed something. Or someone."

The other wolves shift awkwardly, as they always do when I speak of magic. It's still an uncomfortable subject for many in the pack.

"If something goes wrong, you need to get word to Lucas immediately."

Discontent ripples through the group. I can see it in the set of their jaws, the tension in their shoulders. They don't like the idea of letting me walk into potential danger without them.

"I know you don't like this," I say, addressing the group's unspoken protests. "But none of you are able to help with a magical force. I need to make sure the pack is warned if anything goes wrong."

Marcus, ever the professional, takes over. "We'll check in with Vanessa every ten minutes. Standard procedure."

to Vanessa, holding up my

watches. We

our watches synchronized, allowing us to contact each other directly, and the plan set, I take a steadying breath. The dark, cloud-like presence I sensed earlier is a little closer now. It's moving at a sluggish rate, but I don't know if it will stay that

I say, squaring my

Greg brings up the rear, watching our backs. And Selene roams ahead, no longer happy-go-lucky in the snow as she scouts ahead

smells strange,

my skin. As we get closer, it sends small, pulsing shocks into my wrist. Not enough to affect the use of my hand or arm,

reach the area where the

sense is

can feel its existence, even if we can't see

turn to Marcus and Greg, my words

Grimoire materializes before me, no longer in his usual humanoid form. Instead, he's a small white fox, his fur gleaming against the snow. He bounds

sight, he's just standing in

it, just beyond

"Do you recognize this?"

as he stares ahead. It has a horrible feeling to

circle the area slowly, hyper-aware of every step. As I move, the energy seems to shift, turning towards me like a flower following the sun. My skin

freeze in place, but the energy

warns. Don't let

can move, Selene lets out a sharp

and Greg step forward, but I hold up an arm, waving them back.

Something stung my nose.

his ear. Be more

only approximate its location through Ava's senses, Selene

but maybe she's just embarrassed. "What's the purpose of this

winding around my ankle in a coquettish gesture. He's learned that his fox form gets him a lot more affection than his human one, even