Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 399 Ava: Magic Awareness

I slap my forehead. "Son of a bitch!"

The attack on Ivy's people. The possibility of corruption in our pack. Both conversations I needed to have with Lucas slip through my fingers like water. My teeth catch my inner cheek as I consider his current load—the president's assassination, the supernatural reveal, our tenuous position in this world.

I guess I can wait a little.

"Something wrong?" Grimoire floats upside down in front of me, his red hair touching the ground.

"Just remembered I need to talk to Lucas about Ivy and the corruption." I release my cheek with a sigh. "But with everything happening right now..."

"Ah. Perhaps waiting until tonight or tomorrow would be wiser. The situation with the government takes precedence."

"My thoughts exactly." I rub my temples. "Speaking of Ivy though—how long would we need to spend around her to get familiar with whatever's happening there? To really understand what we're dealing with?"

Grimoire's begins to slowly circle in midair, his hair oddly hypnotizing as it obeys gravity. "I cannot even begin to guess. The nature of corruption is... unpredictable. What manifests in one person might present entirely differently in another. We can only start by trying."

A grimace pulls at my lips. The prospect of spending extended time with Ivy, watching and waiting for signs of something amiss, makes my stomach turn. But if there's even a chance she's been touched by the taint...

"Wonderful," I mutter. "Just wonderful."

You should keep an eye on her anyway. Selene's disgruntled mood is clear, her mind voice more of a grumble than anything else.

"I know, I know. I can't bring her with me, but at least between purifications..." My fingers tap against my thigh as I consider the logistics. "I could invite her to help with the refugees, I guess. That's what she would be doing anyway."

But the thought of purification snags in my mind like a hook. Obviously, I can purify Ivy now. But if I do that, I lose my chance at recognizing this low-level corruption among others in my pack.

"Does it make me a bad person? To let her suffer just so I can figure out what corruption looks like in others?"

Grimoire stops his slow rotation, hanging upside down again with his eyes fixed on mine. "She isn't suffering yet. She's the ideal test subject."

"When you put it that way, it sounds worse." My fingers twist in the hem of my shirt. "But if there's even a chance others are corrupted... if we can learn what to look for..."

It's practical, Selene offers. But you're asking the wrong question.

"What do you mean?"

The real question isn't whether you're a bad person. It's whether you can live with the consequences of your choice.

"Consider this," Grimoire says, finally righting himself. "What would Ivy choose, if given the option? To be purified immediately, or to help protect the pack by allowing us to study the corruption's effects?"

"That's not fair. She'd choose to help the pack because that's what she thinks will prove her loyalty. She'd martyr herself for a chance at acceptance."

But then I feel like shit for saying that, because… well, my issues with her aside, Ivy's always been devoted to her pack. I shake my head. "No. She would do it because it's the right thing to do."

Then perhaps you should respect that choice.

"But it's not her choice if we don't tell her, Selene."

upside down again. "The fact that you're struggling with this decision speaks volumes, Ava. A truly bad person wouldn't care about the

bad about it." I press my palms against my eyes. "We should tell her. We already know what she's going to say, right?

like her very much, but

probably take credit, Selene

fine. She will deserve

even if it means giving up tactical advantages. Some things just

I suppose.

as he pokes at her ears. "Those missing

flatten against her

surely you're curious about what you've forgotten?

I said no.

a tiny peek? For

Really? Selene's tail lashes back and forth. That's the best you

prefer 'for the good of

stay out of

The bickering is almost... comforting. Normal. A break from all the heavy decisions

his arms wide. "The secrets of the past, the true nature of

nature of my

back a laugh.

He started it.

floats upside down again, his hair defying gravity this time. "I merely suggested a perfectly reasonable

want to go poking

like you're using all

growl fills the room. I

bite

bite you

interrupt, unable to keep the smile from my voice. "Play

"I'm simply saying, if there are memories lost,

Not yours to rifle

"But—"

No.

"What if—"

Also no.

"You're being unreasonable."

You're being pushy.

back, crossing my arms. "You know, Selene, he does have a point. Those memories could

Her head droops, betrayal echoing through our bond. I

that doesn't mean

preens. "Thank you,

what's in my head? Selene

surely there must be something

fingers to my temples. "You two are giving

repeats, but there's less heat

finishing it." I fix them both with what I hope is a stern look. "Grimoire,

look somewhat chastened.