Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 422: Ava: Functioning Luna in Crisis (III)

The feeling of my magic bounding around like an excited puppy leaves me almost motion sick.

That's interesting, Grimoire says, finally breaking his silence since we started our run.

Interesting is a word for it, but right now my entire body and mind are focused on trying not to vomit. That would be an amazing way to instill confidence in everyone here. Not.

The fizzy, carbonated-soda feeling in my veins persists, which is an odd counterweight to the nausea in my belly.

My magic writhes and rebels against my attempts to contain it, like a squirrel on a heavy dose of Ritalin, but I come out on top eventually. The sensation settles deep in my gut, a constant vibration that makes my teeth ache.

"Stay close," Greg whispers, his hand steady on my elbow. He should look ridiculous with the Grand Sage on his back, but he doesn't. Just rock-solid and comforting, like he won't let anything happen to us.

My magic writhes inside me, refusing to cooperate. It's impossible to send out another search net with it acting this way.

I don't see anything, Selene says, her confusion clear in our mental link. The tracks stop here, but—

There's something, Grimoire says. It's in the air.

The Grand Sage taps Greg's back, before pointing over his shoulder. "The ship is about a hundred yards ahead. It's cloaked, so you won't be able to sense it."

Greg's fingers tighten on my arm as we edge forward, and I realize only then that I keep stumbling without realizing it. Most of my concentration is on not vomiting and keeping my magic contained.

It wants to explode out of me.

hell is

It senses something.

I really need something more to

my concentration. There's something— A

The vibration in my

"Ava!"

body jerks so hard I almost lose

curse dies

pristine snow ahead of us. The next, bodies materialize from nowhere. The group stands like fur-covered specters in the white landscape, and my brain refuses to process what my

towers over the others, his shoulders broad enough to block out the sun. The rest blur together in my snow-blind vision, but that

surges, no longer contained. The force of it floods my system with pure, electric energy. With

the snow bank to my right. Their coordinated attack speaks of years of training, their movements fluid and deadly

rips from my throat before conscious thought

The sound bounces

Orion turns to the oncoming wolves, raising his hands. Magic pools around him and his companions like a living thing, ready to strike. My magic freaks out

of Greg's grip as I run forward, waving my arms

a stop, snow spraying in their wake. Only Selene keeps moving, her silver form a blur as she

follows close behind, his legs in an easy loping rhythm compared

pulses with recognition, with rightness. I should have

almost hysterically, I run faster. "Friends, Greg!

Greg's heavy footsteps crunch behind me.

look at me again. The oppressive weight of gathered magic dissipates. His eyes lock