Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 445: Lisa: What Happened?

LISA

Everyone's acting strangely, but I can't blame them—my mind's busy whirling with how I got outside without any memory of it. It's clear I've lost a decent chunk of time, because last I remember, Lucas wasn't back yet.

"Take a shower," Ava suggests, worry etched in the lines of her forehead. Her light blue eyes seem darker than usual, and it's clear she isn't telling me something.

My fingers catch in my tangled hair. The strands are stiff with cold, and my scalp protests the rough treatment. My toes feel like blocks of ice in my shoes, so a hot shower sounds perfect right now.

But Kellan won't look at me. His jaw is tight, his shoulders stiff, and his eyes fix on some point over my head. My stomach twists. What did I do? What happened in that blank space of time I can't remember?

Lucas and Ava hover nearby, and the awkwardness thickens with each passing second. Ava's face does that thing it does when she's having a conversation with someone else—probably Selene or her magical book friend. No one's leaving, despite the suggestion to shower, and I wonder where Selene went. She was with us until we got home.

Ava's eyes dart between me and Lucas, and understanding dawns on her face. "Lucas, go back. We'll wait for Vanessa."

There's someone else coming? "Um, why is Vanessa…?"

"We need to check for frostbite." Kellan's voice is rough, sounding almost… irritated, maybe. He still won't look at me.

A nervous laugh bubbles up. "I don't have frostbite. My toes are just cold."

Silence. Heavy, oppressive silence. Kellan's jaw works, but no words come out.

Fine. Whatever. I turn toward the bathroom, my movements stiff and awkward. Questions swirl in my head—what happened out there? Why won't anyone tell me straight out? Why are they all acting like I might break?

me, and I lean against it with a sigh, only to jump when Ava knocks on the door and pokes

I grab her hands.

melt into something softer, sadder. Without a word, she steps inside and closes the door behind her.

"Ave?"

I'm working on figuring it out. I've been talking with

stutters. Grimoire? If he's involved, I'm not sure I want to know what's wrong with me. Is there a strange magical parasite in my head?

Grimoire worried?" The words scratch past my

my shoulders. "I said don't

her eyes tell a different story. There's fear there, hidden beneath

in knots.

relax for now, okay? Vanessa's

I lost time. I ended up outside somehow. Kellan won't even

"Grimoire thinks it has to do with the vampire

brain-eating amoeba or life-sucking magitech tendencies to worry about. But my knees go weak, and Ava squeaks

of okay. But I nod mechanically. "Yeah, I'm

blue eyes sharp as she stares me down. Then she sighs. "I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid telling

beneath me. "It's fine. I'll be okay. I'll

Not sure.

look down. When did I drop the

them on the counter with careful movements. Her hands shake,

and this time the embrace is different. Desperate. Like she's trying to shield me from something neither of us can see. "I won't let it happen again. I swear, Lisa. No matter what it takes, I'll keep you safe

the tears from