Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 394 Ava: Casual Conversation

"Hot chocolate delivery!" Lisa's voice carries across the clearing, and I turn to see her balancing a large tray of steaming mugs.

The kids swarm her like hungry puppies, but Lisa navigates through them with practiced grace. Her skin looks almost translucent against her dark sweater, and shadows pool under her eyes.

"Thanks for the assist." I help her distribute the mugs, making sure each child has a secure grip before letting go. "Careful, it's hot."

"Blow on it first," Lisa reminds Tommy as he tries to gulp his down.

We settle on a nearby log while the kids huddle in small groups, sipping their treats and chatting about their successful hits during training. Lisa's hands tremble slightly as she wraps them around her mug.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." Lisa takes a careful sip. "Why?"

"You don't look fine. You're pale as the snow."

Lisa's free hand flies to her cheek. "Really? I feel fine, though." She presses the back of her hand against her forehead. "No fever or anything."

"Then what have you been up to?"

"Oh." Lisa brightens. "I was actually training with something new the Grand Sage created." She extends her pinky finger, showing off a delicate silver ring. "What do you think?"

I squint at the unremarkable piece of jewelry. "It's... pretty?"

"It's not much to look at," Lisa admits. "But it can send up an emergency flare if I'm in trouble. It also has a secondary function, though. It can send a ten-second recording to a paired ring that the Grand Sage has. He's been fiddling with the technology from the magic watches he created."

to respond, I take a sip

neat. Nothing super crazy, but

agree, though I'm a little confused on why it would be more useful than the magic watch Lisa already has. Why send

I guess it might be helpful in

of this right now. It's pretty much undetectable, he says, so it can all happen under the nose of any vampire or Fae. This way, if I get kidnapped again, it'll be easier to find me." She pauses. "In

video recording… That would make more sense. "How does that work? Wouldn't it need

control where the focus of the video is, so he's hoping to figure that out, but he did manage

sounds amazing. As soon as Lucas hears about it, he'll

toe," Lisa agrees with

chase each other through the snow. They've finished their drinks in record time, with the immunity to tongue burn

shows off his snowball-making technique to the group, his chest puffed with pride.

out of twenty-eight, Grimoire

out here?" The question slips out as I notice the elaborate setup. Tables and chairs, as if it was planned. "The

twists. "Ivy's

the ceramic mug. "What? She shouldn't be back for at least another week." The travel time

one who made it back. Lucas and Kellan spent all morning questioning

this." A frown tugs at my lips. Why wouldn't Lucas mention

wasn't until about thirty minutes ago when she showed up in the cafeteria to

do you

listening to the gossip

isn't anywhere near us. The mental image forms of her sprawled under a cafeteria table, ears perked as she eavesdrops on conversations

Lucas didn't tell me about Ivy's return. But even as the emotion rises, I recognize it as unfair. Lucas doesn't typically seek me out for every development that doesn't directly involve my responsibilities. We catch

Still, this is Ivy.

territorial, Selene comments, sounding