Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 359 Ava: Reinforcing Wards

Lucas is almost to Wolf's Landing, Selene reports, my ever-dutiful link to the pack since I can't hear them myself. He sounds exhausted.

"I'm sure he is."

I trudge through the snow, each step a battle against the elements. The white expanse stretches before me, sometimes reaching my waist.

"Damn it," I mutter, yanking my foot free from a particularly deep drift. "We really need to invest in some snowshoes."

Ahead of me, my bodyguards forge a path in their wolf forms. Their massive paws act as natural snowshoes, distributing their weight and making it easier for them to navigate the treacherous terrain. I envy their effortless grace as I stumble along behind them.

Without them breaking the trail, it would be even worse.

We're approaching the first ward, Selene encourages me. We've made better time than I expected.

I nod, focusing on the task at hand. The wards are a crucial part of our defense, and maintaining them has become a significant part of my duties as Luna. It's time-consuming work, but necessary. Especially now, with the recent blizzard potentially compromising their integrity.

"Grimoire," I call out, my voice muffled by the thick scarf wrapped around my face. "Any signs of damage?"

The magical tome materializes beside me, taking the form of a silver fox. His fur shimmers against the white snow.

Not that I can sense. Remember that while a strong storm can wipe out the energy signature of a weak ward, it isn't common when they are properly maintained. I still think you're being overly cautious.

chances. Not with

is commendable, though we

long, a tingling sensation that dances across my skin, even beneath the layers of fur fashioned into a coat, courtesy of our hunters. As we draw closer, I extend my senses, probing the magical barrier for

the ward seems intact. Its energy pulses steadily, a testament to

bounding through the snow as if he's a pup himself. "Make it harder for those taint-touched wolves to find us. Or anything else that might

joyous bounding. A wise

reinforce obfuscation wards. It's an additional one, not part of the main security system, and simpler than you'd

fire, I simply draw a simple glyph into the ground and infuse

this rune was created by one of the Fae gods, though he admits the history is a little fuzzy, even to him. Despite

then was quite fluid to his senses. Grimoire's very existence is remarkable, something us mere mortals

a book, but not any sort of god, and not even really a

will and Grimoire's quiet

your mind. This glyph will absorb its instructions from you and act accordingly. It is very simplistic in

I open my eyes, swaying slightly; my balance is off now that my focus

my bodyguards—pretty sure it's Marcus—steadies me with his massive furry

murmur, patting his flank. To Grimoire, I ask, "How's it

fox circles the area, his nose twitching as he assesses my work. The obfuscation element is significantly stronger. It should prove quite challenging for any unwanted visitors to penetrate. It's a little

many more wards do we need

on