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?

lean against it with a sigh, only to jump when

she holds out, but before Ava can slip away, I grab her hands. The fabric bunches between our palms. "Wait. Please.

she steps inside and closes the door behind her. Her arms

"Ave?"

worry. I'm working on figuring it out. I've been

heart 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? Have I lost half

The words

back, her hands firm on my

tell a different story. There's fear

ties itself in knots. "What aren't

for now, okay?

me over for what?" The words come out sharper than intended. "Ava, please. I lost time.

it has to do with the

tiny microsecond, I have some relief that there's no brain-eating amoeba or life-sucking magitech tendencies to worry about. But my

Not even a tiny bit of

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

once again secure beneath

what out? Not sure. My thigh

of fabric hitting tile makes me look down. When did I drop the clothes? My fingers feel numb and empty, and I can't

them on the counter with careful movements. Her

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

me right in the chest. My eyes burn, and I blink rapidly to keep the tears from falling. A lump forms in my throat, making it impossible to speak. All I