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.

what the hell

It senses something.

is kind of obvious. I really need

voice cuts through my concentration. There's something— A violent sneeze echoes in the clearing. Something familiar.

my gut intensifies, and I press my hand against my stomach,

"Ava!"

My body jerks so hard I almost lose my footing again, but

sh—" The curse dies in my

bodies materialize from nowhere. The group stands like fur-covered specters in the white landscape, and my brain refuses

sun. The

it floods

attack speaks of years of training, their movements fluid and deadly as

my throat before

magic amplifies my voice, carrying it across the field. The sound bounces

Magic pools around him and his

out of Greg's grip as I run forward, waving my arms like a madwoman. "Friends! Don't

to a stop, snow spraying in their wake. Only Selene keeps moving, her silver form a blur as she races toward the group, but I already know she's not going

certain?" Greg follows close behind, his legs in an easy loping rhythm compared to my more frantic

I should have listened to its frantic, excited energy and realized there was no

I run faster.

footsteps crunch

at me again. The oppressive weight of gathered