Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 393 Ava: Snowball Training

The mattress dips, and warmth radiates against my back as Lucas slides under the covers, his scent wrapping around me in comfort.

"Sorry I didn't get to see you when you got back." His voice rumbles through his chest, pressed against my spine. "I was with the trainees."

"S'okay." I burrow deeper into his embrace, savoring the solid wall of his chest. He makes the best winter heater. "Everything okay?"

"Mostly." His breath tickles my neck as he nuzzles into my hair. The tension melts from my muscles, replaced by a bone-deep contentment that only comes from being held by my mate.

Then he sniffs me, nudging against the scar and mate mark on my neck.

"You smell like magic." His nose traces along my shoulder. "I heard it was rough today."

Sleep tugs at the edges of my consciousness, but I fight it to enjoy this moment. "Yeah, but it'll be easier next time."

His hand rests with possessive familiarity against my hip, the simple touch sends sparks of pleasure through my drowsy body. "Good. I worry when you push yourself too hard."

"I'm learning my limits."

The bed shifts again as Selene hops up, circling twice before nuzzling her head against Lucas' hip and belly.

I crack one eye open to glare at her.

What? Her tail thumps against the mattress. I missed our mate too.

"Traitor," I mutter, but there's no heat behind it.

It's perfectly normal. She yawns, showing off her impressive fangs. We're connected, remember? I feel what you feel.

His chest vibrates with silent laughter. "Let her stay."

Her presence adds another layer

kiss to my temple.

I can see him on the floor

a little rumbling

* * *

Stop yawning.

yawn escapes before I can clamp my mouth shut. My eyes water, and I swipe at them with my gloved

adjusting to normal magical levels, Grimoire says, his fox form perched on a nearby log. You've been running on excess power for so long, you don't even realize how much you've been borrowing from your

my ear. I throw up a small shield, just big enough to deflect it. The packed snow explodes into

huddle. Their excitement at being included in "Luna's training" hasn't dimmed despite the cold turning their cheeks and

little Sierra shouts, her gap-toothed

should be no larger than necessary,

know." My next shield wobbles, barely materializing in time to block Tommy's fastball. The boy has scary good

conjuring a shield the size of my palm.

you wet!" Penny bounces up and down, her

care about the score. The kids do, of course. Grimoire has a little scoreboard going for

lead weights. Even these tiny bursts of magic drain more energy than I expected. Without my usual reserves to draw from, each

do, the more

around me, so I get advance warning before a snowball

every second my magic pulses around me, and I only have about a five-foot radius of

doing great!" Marcus calls from his position near the kids. He and Greg volunteered to supervise the "ammunition makers"

regimen, because it's

at me simultaneously. I manage to block one with a perfectly sized shield, but the second catches me in the shoulder. It's a tiny, icy rock, the snow packed densely by tiny

air. "Did

my pack. The mothers of these young pups are thrilled to have them interacting with their Luna, and the kids are over the moon to be a part of

and dissipates before the snowball reaches it, leaving me with a face full

we should end here for today,