Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 398 Ava: Divine Artifacts

"Where did I put it?" I rummage through the dresser drawers, tossing clothes onto the floor. "I swear I had my phone when we got here." I pause. "Didn't I?"

The details are a little fuzzy, considering. Between months passing and the insanity of our escape from the Fae Ward…

You've never been good at keeping track of your belongings.

"That's not true." But even as I say it, doubt creeps in. When was the last time I saw my phone? Is it still in the Fae Ward? The idea that someone might have access to my texts leaves me a little sick to my stomach.

Oh? Remember that time you lost your house keys three times in about five minutes?

"That was different. I was distracted."

And your favorite shirt? The blue one?

"It probably got mixed up in the laundry." I move to the nightstand, rifling through the drawer. Nothing but a few hair ties. A luxury item, and I try my best not to lose them.

What about your necklace and ring?

My hand flies to my throat, fingers searching for a weight I already know isn't there. It's been months.

"They must be in my luggage back at Westwood." But even as I say it, uncertainty gnaws at me. Did I put them somewhere else for safety, instead? Well, it doesn't matter. Either way, they're in Westwood. Someone's probably stolen them by now.

Those pieces of jewelry were more than accessories—they were protection, ways to hide what I am. Hopefully they don't fall into the wrong hands. Not that I'm sure what anyone can do with them.

Shaking those thoughts off, I head back to my dresser. It has to be there, if it's anywhere at all.

"What are you two discussing?" Grimoire materializes beside me, his child form perched on the dresser. Sometimes he's nosy.

aside a stack of sweaters, but there's still no

strange sensation tickles my mind—like fingers rifling through my memories. The jewelry appears in crystal clarity: the amethyst

Grimoire's voice booms in my head and ears, making me stumble back. His eyes glisten with

Grim." I rub my temple. "No need to

remember discussing the Goddess' blessings. This is the first I'm hearing of them." He

"The... what?"

he talking about? Selene's voice holds an edge of

more insistent. "Those weren't mere trinkets to suppress magic.

Those things never seemed normal.

with an otherworldly light. "The Goddess crafted three pieces of jewelry for a young Luna, thousands of years past. A necklace, a ring,

heart skips. "I never

rhythmic quality, as if reciting from memory. "Her children were strong shifters, all except one. A daughter, blessed with magic but unable to shift

Selene's mental voice carries a note of unease as

the Luna's prayers," Grimoire continues. "She crafted these artifacts to help

saying the necklace and ring I wore were two

magic leaves traces even

to Selene. "Where exactly did

from anywhere. Her

was in my apartment, and the other—I still remember that horrible run. And how she made me dig for the box because she didn't want to get her paws dirty. "You had to

I... I don't

know what they were for?

knew. But now that I think about it, I can't recall how I

Knowledge like that doesn't

Or if they did, it's lost with the rest of my

about this before? Sometimes it's hard to remember that Grimoire hasn't been with us forever. It feels like forever