Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 431: Ava: Ivy's Fate

Magister Orion and his Fae friends are settled into the Grand Sage's cabin, though there isn't much room. Elverly, shockingly, takes it all in stride, without a single complaint. She treats the Fae with respect; it's so strange, coming out of that cranky old gnome woman. Is she ill?

Magister Orion settles into his vigil over the dream-eater, and the weight of responsibility lifts from my shoulders, if only for a moment. He's the only other person who can help me in this situation.

It's nice to have backup.

I am here, Grimoire points out.

It's not the same.

The question burns in my throat, but I need to know. Everyone else has left the room—once Elverly's room, but we've moved her bed into the Grand Sage's in order to use it as a temporary holding cell—except for Magister Orion, who studies the dream-eater's unconscious form with intense focus.

"Magister." My voice is soft; it's hard to let the words come out. "I need to ask you something."

His eyes meet mine. "Yes, child?"

"Ivy Shadowpine. She's a wolf shifter, a strong one. She's been missing since the dream-eater appeared at our hospital."

His head inclines slightly, encouraging me to go on.

"There was a strange feeling within her, something that felt corrupted and alive inside her."

His expression shifts, a subtle tightening around his eyes. "You suspect possession."

"Is it possible?" Heat rises to my face. "Could the dream-eater have taken over her body?" It's a fantastical question, especially once the dream-eater showed a form that doesn't look anything like Ivy. But she's still missing, and there's no other conclusion I can come to.

gaze returns to the creature. His massive frame seems to grow still, like a statue

is expected, but still

cannot determine." He gestures to the dream-eater. "These creatures do not possess in the way you are thinking; they leave no trace of their victims. They consume the essence, the memories, everything that makes a person who

my throat. It's hard to imagine such a

dream-eater did not

was walking among us, wearing her face. Her voice.

learned her mannerisms, her

head out?" Kellan's voice breaks through

me.

myself off the floor. "I'm ready. Could you call Vanessa to meet us at your cabin? I need to

over for a

* * *

the news better than I did, and she admits she suspected much of the same. We both

it on my arms, the solid wood of Kellan's kitchen table offering little comfort. The scent of coffee fills the air—rich, bitter,

to tell Clayton about Ivy." The words are dirt in my mouth. "If Lucas doesn't make

do it." Kellan's voice carries that stern Beta authority, probably because the

from me. It would be disrespectful..." My voice trails off. The memory of Ivy confiding in me at the hospital… Was that real? Or was it the dream-eater, playing

this? How does he handle

circles ring her eyes, testament to the chaos of the day. "You're

I don't wish I had her experience, but I do wish

to shelve the Ivy issue for now. My brain can't handle it anymore. Though, this subject isn't any better. "How many did we lose

further. "Twenty-seven confirmed. Three more are critical. The others…

Twenty-seven.

My heart aches.