Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 413: Ava: Courage From Somewhere

Reconciling this strange shadow wolf with Ivy's existence is impossible. This creepy thing can't be her wolf. It just can't be.

But my brain's denial doesn't help anyone in this situation. Especially when the eerily silent creature dives toward me with a clear intent of violence.

Grimoire's voice echoes in my head, piercing through my frozen brain.

Pure instinct throws my body to the side. Something heavy collides with my shoulder, and it feels like my arm's torn from its socket.

A sudden heat explodes around my wrist. The silver bracelet the Grand Sage had given me so long ago ignites with white-hot power. The surge rushes through my veins like liquid lightning.

And, more importantly, the shadow wolf stumbles back a step, its darkness rippling as if struck by an invisible force. Ivy's toxic green eyes widen with what looks like surprise.

My breath catches. What just—

The creature lunges again. Faster.

No time to think.

The bracelet. That's our answer! Grimoire shouts, his excitement flooding our bond as I dodge again, my brain and body finally in sync again.

Another slash of claws tears through the air where my head had been a heartbeat before. The bracelet pulses, and again the creature stumbles back.

"What the hell is happening?" I grip my shoulder, which still throbs from the impact. "What do you mean, that's the answer? What's happening? A little more detail would be helpful right now!"

It phases into reality the moment it's set to strike. Otherwise, any hit would just go right through you. That's the key.

My feet slide across the frozen ground as I dart away from another strike. The shadow wolf's claws whistle past my ear, close enough that I feel the air displacement ruffle my hair.

So what you're saying is I need to let it hit me to hit it back? My magic pulses through my limbs, lending me the speed I desperately need. That sounds like a fucking suicide mission.

of grim humor. You can always hit and evade at the last second,

I'm not. So.

My lungs burn from the constant movement, and my shoulder screams where the creature struck me earlier. The bracelet pulses, once again pushing the shadow wolf back.

infinite level of

I'd love

my eye as I pivot away from its next attack. Where the wolf's claws struck the ground, patches of dead grass spread in perfect little circles. The blades shrivel and blacken,

wasn't doing that

Look at

Death magic. Or rather, anti-life magic. It's consuming the vital energy of everything it touches. It seems your jewelry is doing some damage

stomach lurches. If those claws had connected with more than a glancing blow to my shoulder, would my arm

focus on what you need

than done. My brain's

says, her

they catch up,

help, she insists, though I have no

it's because there's no

into my arms and legs, watching toxic green eyes track my every movement. I don't want to kill Ivy, but I don't

to spring, and I gather courage from

bracelet, its metal warm

Just

Ivy's wolf takes one step forward, muscles bunching and

each second extending into eternity. The world narrows to pinpoints of detail. The way the shadows writhe. Those vibrant, eerie green eyes—so brilliantly artificial, like some

circles beneath the paws of darkness. I

time, I don't

way too calm for this

forward, but everything moves as if underwater. I can track each flex of its ethereal form. My breathing never quickens, and my