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..."

be embedded in your upper

I stop walking. "Embedded?"

in your arm would draw power directly

a wireless charger," I mutter,

"A what?"

important thing. "What exactly do you mean by embedded

"That's actually why 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 body." He ushers me forward,

work

ranks would have jewels embedded within their bodies. The most skilled gnome artisans would create

was so great, why isn't it common

necessary skills to create such a connection. Knowledge lost

my eyes at

his tiny shoulders. "I've studied

Oh, hell no.

helping this eccentric little old man figure out all his little research. I've shot fire at trees and nearly murdered my own guards—on accident, of course. The brace he's given

I absolutely will not be a part of

not." I come to a screeching halt. "No. Nope. I'm not getting some bizarre rock put in my body over

for a moment I actually feel like I'm being

would be a great experiment.

whoever you want to talk to, but I'm drawing the line at putting anything inside my

"Quartz, actually."

order to make this thing work. It still gives me the heebie jeebies that it can see inside my head. So, no. We won't be doing any surgery

he lets out a heavy

he's not pushing the issue. My arm itches under the brace—probably psychosomatic after all

beard swaying as he turns his

"Something wrong?"

"It doesn't appear as if a storm approaches,

"And yet what?"

in

"What, do you have some kind

frown deepens.

shake off the snow from my boots.

haven't actually set up a meeting. I don't know

fastidious and well put-together, but he's used to having

press my fingers to my temples. "Never mind. Let

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