Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 436: Ava: Wards

Grimoire appears, floating in mid-air, in his preferred form of a child. "I'm not up to anything, you suspicious mutt."

Selene's lips curl back, exposing sharp teeth in a silent warning. The darker fur along her spine bristles, but she remains where she is. Grimoire ignores her.

"What's going through that head of yours?" I ask, feeling a vague sense of trepidation tickling its way down my spine. "You're plotting something. I can tell."

"I believe it's time we seriously consider removing your soul's wards." Grimoire's childlike form hovers as he rotates slowly, his hair and clothes the only things that move according to gravity. It's a trick he doesn't do often; not everyone in Wolf's Landing knows he exists. Outside of our cabin, he's usually in the form of a fox, if he takes a form at all.

A few have seen the red-haired child, but not often enough to cause rumors. While everyone knows about Selene, few know about this second magical being in my head.

"My what?" Frowning, I turn his words over in my head. They're strange and don't make sense. Soul wards? "What are you talking about?"

Grimoire's palm meets his forehead with a sharp smack; it's a mannerism he's picked up from watching the pack's children, and looks odd when he does it. "Not this again. We've had this conversation before, Ava."

A chill races across my skin. My gaze darts to Selene, whose ears now lay flat against her skull.

Yes, Selene says, answering my unspoken question. I remember this discussion. We decided it wasn't worth the risk.

That's impossible. I would remember being a part of this conversation. "When did we talk about this?"

It's been quite some time now, but not long enough for you to forget.

first meeting, as well." His form is finally upside

"What are these wards?"

soul are what we believe prevent you from shifting. They're

arms around myself. As if I can hold all my memories inside by the simple movement. "This can't be true. Memories don't just

again, because—they do. She's living, furry proof of

the floor, heaving a

in my head, like a metaphysical hug. Can you feel where they are missing? The

can't feel any gaps in my memories. No empty spaces. No missing pieces. Everything feels whole, complete—and that

Wouldn't I notice if

form floats closer, upright

conversations we've had that you no

Grimoire says, with a shrug—as if this is little more

shiver wracks my body, but the cold isn't from the winter air. "And these wards

can't shift or integrate with the pack links. It's only my theory, but I can't imagine it being wrong."

strong enough as she is. Selene's hackles rise. We agreed it isn't

is sudden and overwhelming. Twenty-seven names. The pack's

words. With how desperately I want more strength. And the terrifying idea I

would my body live on, dependent on IVs and machines to keep me

impossible to answer your questions. Tampering with a soul is forbidden for many reasons—the outcome is never assured." Grimoire lowers himself until he's standing on the ground and walks toward me with his arms stretched out for a hug, like he's the child he's

I grab his tiny body and pull him onto my lap, grateful for the warmth he brings. It's enough to chase away the chill of fear leaving