Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 379 Ava: His Unwelcome Return

Lisa sits beside me on the couch, cradling a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

"I should have killed her sooner. When I first met her, I knew something was weird about her."

"You couldn't have known she would do something like this." The couch cushion dips as Lucas settles beside me. "Taking on the responsibility of her choices will just lead you down a road of madness. Don't blame yourself for this. None of us expected them to show up again."

It's a terrible oversight on all our parts, but it's been months, and the world has changed. While we still knew danger was out there, none of us actually expected the Mad Prince to show up again. At least, not like this.

Furious with myself for being so complacent, I mutter, "I should have kept better tabs on Dakota Sanctuary. Crazy vampires don't stop being crazy because the world ends."

Lucas' words brook no argument. "We had to focus on surviving. We barely had enough wolves to defend ourselves, let alone spy on other territories."

"But—"

"No." His fingers brush my chin, turning my face toward his. "You did what you had to do. We all did. I kept security on the both of you in case anything happened, but I too bear this blame. Neither of you need to take this responsibility on. Do you understand?"

His eyes flick to Lisa, too. And Kellan, standing in the corner with deceptive calm, despite radiating frustration and fury. I may not be able to sense the pack bond, but I can definitely feel that.

Lucas shifts, his expression hardening as he thinks. "Did this Marisol say anything before..."

"Before I burned her alive?" Lisa's laugh holds no humor. "No. She just asked if I missed her."

over the edge of the cushion I'm sitting on. "It can't be coincidence she was there. The Mad

a sound of pure male aggression that would

thrall is dead?"

form, all gangly limbs and messy red hair. "That depends on their

stomach drops. "And if she

only know the general direction where his

be suspicious of her death happening around here. If he didn't know we

"He has no way

would take down a vampire thrall?" I arch an eyebrow at him.

gives his answer; we all know humans likely

isn't stupid." I lean back against Lucas, drawing comfort from his solid presence. "He'll figure it out, if he hasn't already. Lisa said the man's obsessed. It makes sense

the corruption?" His fingers stroke my arm absently, his eyes

red hair falling into his silver eyes. "Without more information, it's

fingers to my temples. "So it could be that he's the giant bogeyman we

concern is whether he knows you're both here." Kellan pushes off the wall, his presence commanding attention. "If Marisol was sharing her

exactly where we are." Lisa's voice cracks. "And

attack. We have to assume the worst."

done." The beta's gray eyes fix on Lisa. "You're not

her. She's probably thinking she can have regular guards instead of imposing on Kellan,

goes for you." Lucas' words brush against my ear. "No more solo missions. I have to go with