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..."

embedded in your upper

I stop walking. "Embedded?"

in your arm would draw power directly from your blood's magic and

wireless charger," I mutter, thinking of my

"A what?"

to the most important thing. "What exactly do you mean by embedded in my

human physiology better than I do. I'm

it would work with

Fae used to do this quite regularly—those at the highest ranks would have jewels embedded within their bodies. The most skilled gnome artisans would

it was so great, why isn't it common

the necessary skills to create such a connection. Knowledge lost in time, as

narrow my eyes at him.

tiny shoulders.

Oh, hell no.

eccentric little old man figure out all his little research. I've shot fire at trees and nearly murdered my own guards—on accident,

absolutely will not be a part

not getting some bizarre rock

for a moment I actually feel like I'm being unreasonable for telling him

be a great experiment. It would

go with you to talk to whoever you want to talk to, but I'm drawing the line at putting

"Quartz, actually."

still gives me the heebie jeebies that it can see inside my head. So, no. We won't be

shoulders slump, and he lets out a heavy sigh. "Very well. I will

I follow him back along the path, grateful he's not pushing the issue. My arm itches under the brace—probably

turns his head. He does this twice more before we reach the hospital

"Something wrong?"

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

"And yet what?"

one in the

the brace sits. "What, do you have some kind of built-in weather app

frown deepens.

the snow from

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

him. He seems fastidious and well put-together, but

cold without even..." I press my fingers to my temples. "Never

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