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."

turn to Vanessa, holding up my

sync our watches. We can't

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

squaring my shoulders. "Let's move

beside me, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings. Greg brings up the rear, watching our backs. And Selene roams ahead, no longer happy-go-lucky in the snow as she scouts

smells strange, she

shocks into my wrist. Not enough to affect the use of my hand or arm, but just irritating enough to

area where the dark, cloud-like

All Selene can sense is a strange scent in the air, something she doesn't

existence, even if

Marcus and Greg, my words

faces tighten but they obey, retreating several paces. As they move away, Grimoire materializes before me, no longer in his usual humanoid form. Instead, he's a small white fox, his fur gleaming

he's just standing in the middle of

it, just

"Do you recognize this?"

even twitch as he stares ahead. It has

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

in place, but the energy

Grimoire warns. Don't let it

I can move, Selene lets

step forward, but I hold up an arm, waving

Something stung my nose.

his ear. Be more

location through Ava's senses, Selene retorts

but maybe she's just embarrassed.

until he makes it to my feet, winding around my ankle in a coquettish gesture. He's learned that his fox form gets him a lot more affection