Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 375 Ava: First Contact

They have contact.

Selene's words have my heart dropping down to my half-frozen toes.

"How far are we now?"

Too far.

If it weren't for the gloves keeping my hands warm, my nails would be cutting through the skin of my palms. "We need to hurry."

My words are ripped away by the wind, but Selene knows what I'm saying, and I know she's relaying my words to the wolves.

Ten wolves. How many were with Lisa today? I think it might have been five. Outnumbered not only two to one, but one of ours is human.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"Grimoire, is there anything we can do?"

I know there isn't, but I have to ask. It's Lisa, for God's sake.

You aren't sensitive enough to pick up the enemy. What do you expect?

His words sound harsh. Cold. Like judgment's already been made, finding me lacking. But I know it's his own frustration bleeding through.

"Is there anything you can do?"

I've learned things about our bond. Little trickles of information over time. Like, Grimoire's constrained by some basic laws in this world. He can't just utilize his magic and become a God among men, for example. That's why he was locked away for so long.

to his book and whatever rules were created at

bond. While he's able to use some of his magic through me, it's only as much as my body can handle. And while he can somewhat take over my magical control, or even boost it, it's all within the boundaries of what I would—theoretically—be

understand them. Maybe Magister Orion would know more; as thrilled as I am to be reunited with Lucas, I'm frustrated by my lack of support here. Grimoire's knowledge

ultimately, he isn't

things in different ways than we do. Sees things in

language

to a small extent—something he did the day the vampires

don't know exactly what he lost in the transaction, but

while my magical affinity was boosted, it was forced in

I could see them, my magic would be too diluted by the time

offers some protection from the relentless wind, but my cheeks and nose still burn from exposure. My heart

brutal pace, their massive wolf forms cutting through the snow like ships through water. Steam rises from their fur in great

a small thing, but I've managed to cast a warm barrier over them all. It's not a lot and something I wish I'd thought of earlier, but it helps melt the snow they come into contact

to touch them, either, but that's a

Has anything changed?" I can

Nothing distinct.

"Selene, any updates?"

They're fighting.

lurches.

The connection

has it been like

Since they started fighting.

mental communication is

just

ragged breathing. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to focus on

smile this morning as she joked about the cold,

I whisper helplessly. "How far are we