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 Prince must have sent

unison, a sound of pure male aggression that would be funny in any

know now that his thrall

arrival. He takes his child form, all gangly limbs and messy red hair. "That depends on their connection. If

stomach drops. "And if

he'll only know the general

happening around here. If he didn't know we were here before, he knows

finally speaks. "He has no way to know it

else would take down a vampire thrall?" I arch

follows gives his answer; we all know

from his solid presence. "He'll figure it out, if he hasn't already. Lisa said the man's obsessed. It makes sense he wouldn't have given up after

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

eyes. "Without more information, it's impossible to determine if he's involved. It's always

"So it could be that he's the giant bogeyman we have to deal with, or he can have a

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

are." Lisa's voice cracks. "And he

an attack. We have to assume the worst." Lucas' arm tightens around me. "Kellan,

fix

thinking she can have regular guards instead of imposing on Kellan, but there's no

against my ear. "No more solo missions. I have to go