Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 400

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."

worse. Without thinking, I press my palm to her forehead.

need to

"I don't need—"

My tone brooks

protest, then closes it as another wave of

she whispers. "But only because I don't think I can make

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

murmur. "We're not in a

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 slur slightly. "You hate

opens as we approach, Vanessa's concerned face appearing. "I just don't

head drops to my shoulder.

to help, and together we guide Ivy inside. The warmth hits like a wall after

happened?" the healer asks, directing us to an empty

ease Ivy

as soon as she's

you felt ill?" Vanessa asks, already checking her

Her voice is barely audible. "Thought

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

high." Vanessa

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

Vanessa says, returning with an IV bag. "But don't just stand there

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

playing Luna." Ivy's laugh turns into a weak cough.

eyes close again as Vanessa inserts the IV. I sink into a chair beside the bed, watching the steady drip of

you think caused this?" I ask our healer

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