Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 410

LISA

Lately, the Grand Sage has been buried deep in his magic energy flux capacitor thingamajig research, insisting there has to be a way to create a renewable energy source. Which is why he's the last person I expect to see when a knock raps against the door of Kellan's cabin.

Our cabin now, I guess.

"Grand Sage?" A little flummoxed, I open the door wider. "Did you need something?"

"Yes, actually."

"Bring your brace and come with me." The Grand Sage bounces on his toes, his eyes bright with that manic gleam he gets when he's made a breakthrough. "I've had an idea."

"Right now?" I glance at the clock, despite already knowing what time it is. "I haven't had breakfast yet."

"Indeed, now would be preferable."

"It's freezing outside."

He stops bouncing, looking at me over the rim of his glasses as if I'm a recalcitrant child. "It has been well below freezing for months, child."

He has a point.

I grab my heavy coat and boots, knowing better than to argue when he's this excited. The brace is easy to find; it sits on my bedside table. "Should I be worried?"

"No, no. Well. Perhaps a little. It's somewhat unorthodox."

Those words from the Grand Sage have the uncanny ability to send chlls down my spine. I'm incredibly fond of this short little man and his eccentricities, but there are definitely things I've come to understand about gnomes.

Like, they don't understand the limitations of a human body.

And sometimes they don't really think of humans like people. Not in a bad way, but in like… I don't know. A sciencey way.

"Define unorthodox," I say, with a lot of foreboding.

He trudges along the worn-down paths in the snow, slipping on occasion. The gnomes don't have anything that really fit them; his coat is too large, even though it's sized for children. He looks funny as he walks. Like a kid, but with white hair and a long beard.

"I believe I've found a way to increase the efficiency of your brace. It involves quartz stones—a matched pair. A linked pair, to be precise."

So far, it doesn't sound terrible. "Okay..."

would be embedded

I stop walking. "Embedded?"

the brace. The stone in your arm would draw power directly

a wireless charger," I mutter,

"A what?"

brain returns to the most important thing. "What exactly do you mean by

we're heading to the hospital. I need to consult with someone who understands human physiology better than I do. I'm not entirely certain it would work with a human

would work with

at the highest ranks would have jewels embedded within their bodies. The most skilled gnome artisans would

so great, why isn't it

"Very few possess the necessary skills to create such a connection.

narrow my eyes at

his tiny shoulders.

Oh, hell no.

I've shot fire at trees and

not be a part

"No. Nope. I'm not

so devastated that for a moment I actually feel like

be a great experiment. It

my head. "I'll go with you to talk to whoever you want to talk to, but I'm drawing the line at putting anything inside my body. It's already weird enough that I have

"Quartz, actually."

thing work. It still gives me the heebie jeebies that it can

heavy sigh. "Very well. I will not pressure you into any

along the path, grateful he's not pushing the issue. My arm itches

Sage pauses, his white beard swaying as he turns his head. He does

"Something wrong?"

He squints at the sky. "It doesn't appear as if

"And yet what?"

in

where the brace sits. "What, do you have some kind

frown deepens.

off the snow from

tugs at his beard. "I haven't actually set up a meeting. I don't know anyone who

organization on his part is very him. He seems fastidious and well put-together, but he's used to having people

the cold without even..." I press my fingers

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