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.

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

"What are these wards?"

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

My heart trembles, and I wrap my arms around myself. As if I

eyes dart to Selene again, because—they do.

rests her chin against the floor, heaving

pain, she says, her presence warm and soothing in my head, like a metaphysical hug. Can

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 realization of

understand. Wouldn't I

closer, upright once

we've had that you

been lost," Grimoire says, with a shrug—as if this is little more than a minor

body, but the cold isn't from the winter air. "And these wards are on my soul? What

pack links.

hackles rise. We agreed it isn't worth the risk. You said she

overwhelming. Twenty-seven names. The pack's howls of grief still

head spins, aching with Grimoire's words. With how desperately I want more strength. And the terrifying

dependent on IVs and machines to keep me alive? Lucas would do that—waiting for the day I woke up

answer your questions. Tampering with a soul is forbidden for many reasons—the outcome is never assured." Grimoire lowers himself until he's

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