Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 366 Lisa: Improvements

LISA

I am a precision instrument.

Or, well, my wrist brace is.

Okay—the word precision might be stretching it a bit. If I'm within fifty yards of my target, I might be able to get a single hit off in a real fight.

But the real point here is, if I hit my target, their head is going to explode. The power I hold in a single wrist brace might be getting to my head a little.

"Timber!" I shout cheerfully, though no one's near the tree now falling.

The Grand Sage's pen scratches across his notepad with manic energy. His white hair sticks up in every direction, like he's been electrocuted. Which, knowing him, is entirely possible.

"Excellent work today, Lisa. The trajectory calculations are spot on." He peers at me over his glasses. "Your aim has improved significantly, and we've even increased the economy of power consumption."

Pride swells in my chest. "Thanks to your adjustments on the brace." I flex my wrist, admiring how the metal catches the weak winter sunlight. "Though I still need to work on my stamina."

"Nonsense." He waves his pen at me. "The amount of magical energy required to power these devices is substantial. Your body needs time to adjust."

"But what if I need to use it in an emergency?" The tree I felled lies in the snow, its branches spread like fallen soldiers. "I can't ask the bad guys to wait while I catch my breath."

"Which is precisely why we're developing alternative power sources." He flips through his notes. "The blood activation is merely temporary. I have some promising theories about crystalline batteries."

up. "Crystals? Like the ones Ava

principle, different application." He scribbles something else, muttering under his breath. "We could potentially

makes my head spin. "So I wouldn't need to

mad scientist gleam I've come to both love and fear. "Think of it as a magical battery pack. Pre-charged and ready for deployment. It

my arms, trying to warm up. The cold has seeped through my workout clothes, and my sweat is starting to freeze. "But you'd need to use Ava's power for that, right? She's

"In a sense, yes."

mention of Ava. "That girl works

my mind—blood and screams and death. Bodies of wolves who died protecting

one's said a word to me about the lives

someone else I know." The Grand

least I'm doing something useful now. These weapons you're

your burdens." He shuffles through his papers with

"How would that work?"

energy through a continuous feedback loop. The applications would be revolutionary! We could power entire cities, create defensive barriers that never falter, develop weapons that—" He stops mid-gesture, his enthusiasm deflating. "Well, that's assuming it's

incredible." The concept of unlimited magical power makes my head spin. "Like something

the ability to harness and perpetuate magical energy was

Grimoire

me more about these ancient cities." Entertaining myself by puffing out clouds of my breath, I keep pace with the trudging elderly gnome as we head back to Wolf's Landing. My bodyguards follow behind, as usual.

world nor in the Fae realm. The stories speak of crystal spires that touched the clouds, streets paved with precious metals that conducted magical

sounds..." My nose wrinkles. "Unreal? Like a

texts describe gods walking among mortals, sharing their knowledge freely. Magical fountains that could cure any ailment. Buildings that floated in the sky." He chuckles, closing the journal. "Pure fantasy, most

"What do you mean?"