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.

Grimoire points out. "She forgot my words on our first meeting, as well." His form is finally upside down as he

"What are these wards?"

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

I'd forget so completely. My heart trembles, and I wrap my arms around myself. As if I

eyes dart to Selene again, because—they

chin against the

and soothing in my head, like a metaphysical hug. Can you feel where they

gaps in my memories. No empty spaces. No missing pieces. Everything feels whole, complete—and that terrifies me more than finding holes would. At least Selene has a fuzzy

Wouldn't I notice if

closer, upright once again. "The mind is

wonder how many other conversations we've had that you no longer

little more than a minor bump in the road. "At least you have us

air. "And these wards are on my soul? What are

true nature, your full potential. The reason you can't shift or integrate with the pack links. It's only my theory, but I can't imagine it

agreed it isn't

Twenty-seven names. The

more strength. And the terrifying idea I could disappear, lost in my own

my body live on, dependent on IVs and machines to keep me alive? Lucas would do that—waiting

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 pretending to

pull him onto my lap, grateful for the warmth he brings. It's enough