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.

exactly. Grimoire's mental voice carries a note of grim humor. You can always hit

I'm not. So.

the creature struck me earlier. The bracelet pulses, once again pushing

doesn't have an infinite level of

sense, but damn. I'd love a low battery notification

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.

doing

Look at the

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

glancing

focus on what you need

My brain's going fifty

minute, Selene says, her words clipped

away. Once they catch up, we're back in the same situation I was trying to

she insists, though I have no idea where

no other option

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

wolf gathers itself to spring,

around the bracelet, its metal warm against

work. Just

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

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 sort of manufactured

of darkness. I guess whatever damage taken is

I

sounding way too calm for this moment. You have the

as if underwater. I can track each