Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 400 Ava: Confronting Ivy

Snow crunches under my boots as I pace, each step carving deeper tracks into the pristine cover of snow that swept in overnight.

Three steps left. Three steps right. My breath clouds in front of my face.

"Just knock already," I mutter to myself.

You've been out here twenty minutes, Selene points out.

"Not helping."

How do you tell someone they might be corrupted by dark magic? 'Hey, noticed you've been acting weird lately, mind if I check for evil taint?' Yeah, that'll go over well.

The door flies open with a bang that makes me jump. Ivy stands in the doorway, her usual perfect appearance nowhere to be found. Dark circles ring her eyes, and her chestnut hair hangs limp around her face.

"What do you want?" Her voice comes out raspy, like she's been gargling glass.

"I..." All my carefully planned words evaporate. "Are you okay?"

She leans against the doorframe. "Fine. Just tired."

But she's not fine. I can see the slight tremor in her hands, the way she's barely keeping herself upright. My magic flutters in response to... something.

"You look sick."

"Thanks." Her laugh turns into a cough. "Always good to hear how terrible I look."

"That's not what I meant." I step forward, catching her arm when she sways. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Yes." She tries to pull away but doesn't have the strength. "Or tried to. Everything hurts."

gets worse. Without thinking, I press my palm to her forehead. She's

need to

"I don't need—"

tone brooks no argument. "And you can barely

to protest, then closes it as another wave of dizziness hits. I tighten my grip on

only because I don't think I

my arm around her waist, supporting her weight. She's lighter than I expected, and heat radiates through

murmur. "We're not

grows more labored with each step, and I take more of

medical lodge comes into view, smoke curling from its chimney. "Just a

are you helping me?" Her words

Vanessa's concerned

Her head drops to my shoulder.

inside. The warmth hits like

happened?" the healer asks, directing us to an

We ease Ivy onto

closed as soon as she's

you felt ill?" Vanessa asks, already checking her blood pressure

Her voice is barely audible. "Thought it

time. I want to reach for it, to understand what I'm sensing, but not

probably dehydrated. And your body temperature is dangerously high." Vanessa disappears from the side of the bed, ostensibly

I planned to approach Ivy about the corruption, but maybe it's better this way.

with an IV bag. "But don't

much as they seem to surprise Ivy, whose eyes crack open. "Being alone sucks. I can keep

laugh turns into a weak cough. "Always...

again as Vanessa inserts the IV. I sink into a chair beside the

think caused this?" I ask