Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 421: Ava: Functioning Luna in Crisis (II)

"What ship?" I ask, because it's the first time I've ever heard of this thing. We have a ship? We're not even close to the ocean, so how can we have a ship?

But the Grand Sage isn't interested in answering. He jumps to the floor in a flurry of movement, snapping his fingers in our general direction. "Come, come. You wanted to know where they are. Now we know."

My eyes brighten. If the Grand Sage knows where they are, then—

"Stay here," Kellan says.

"No."

Okay. Maybe Functioning Luna—

Stop.

Maybe Functioning Ava shouldn't be heading out. Maybe she should be staying here, safe in Wolf's Landing, with her people.

But there's something zinging around in my blood, insisting that I need to be there. My wolves are great people. They are strong, capable, and I know they would lay down their lives for this pack.

Magic, though? They're woefully incapable of handling anything to deal with magic.

"I'm going," I say, even though my instinct is to ask for permission instead.

Kellan just nods. That's it. The argument's over in half a second. "Understood. Dr. Blackwell, how far is this ship?"

The Grand Sage shakes his head. "It's close. Near where your soldiers picked us up when we got here."

is, but Kellan seems to know immediately. "Understood. Greg," and he motions to the wolf in question, "will

his hand. "I am aware of how to

one to bring up the overwhelming issue at hand. "What about that?" he asks, jerking his

Still

can send

how covens began. Along with wizarding academies and the like. Grimoire perks up at my train of thought, sounding excited at the prospect, but I shake

the time, Ava. Not. The.

warded." Mustering confidence is hard, considering how much damage this creature can do to my people. "They shouldn't be able

of gray-skinned Fae-maybe people work, after all. "Have Vanessa come by. I'm

a silent approval of my plan. It isn't the kind of nod where people have to check with him to

"Understood, Luna."

for a single moment, Marcus,"

* * *

even acknowledge her. We're in a rush, and there's a whole-ass army

like twenty wolves,

them are shifted, and I learn through Kellan's orders that they're going to split

a word or a motion of Kellan's hand to know what they're supposed to do. I'm a

and bright, without any clouds to muddy us up with any possibility of snow. The breeze is a bare minimum, not adding to

visibility is far and I'm deeply concerned the

will, Selene says. She's far ahead, scouting with the shifted, and her predatory instincts are strong enough to underline every thought she

Hunt.

Hunt.

a rhythmic chant in my bones, an insistent

Hunt.