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.

Not with the

is commendable, though we might all freeze to

sensation that dances across my skin, even beneath the layers of fur fashioned into a coat, courtesy

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

tell Grimoire, who's 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 be

his joyous

an additional one, not part of the main security system, and simpler

of snow, thanks to a bit of summoned fire, I simply draw a simple glyph

though he admits the history

mystical and strange, and apparently the concept of time back then was quite fluid to

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

will and Grimoire's quiet instructions. The cold fades away, replaced by the

your mind. This glyph will absorb its instructions from you and act accordingly. It

balance is off now that my focus is back in my physical

it's Marcus—steadies me with his massive

murmur, patting his flank. To Grimoire, I ask,

magical fox circles the area, his nose twitching as he assesses my work. The obfuscation element is significantly stronger. It should prove

many

on