Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 450: Ava: The Crone?

Vester magically catches up to me before I even leave Wolf's Landing, rounding out my posse of bodyguards.

"Lucas really needs to stop sending you out so much," I tell him with a frown. "Vanessa needs you around more."

Vester's laugh cuts through the crisp winter air—a deep, rolling sound. Coming from him, it's unfamiliar and out of place. Vester isn't really a laugh-out-loud kind of guy, at least around me.

He chuckles, or smirks, or smiles, but I don't think I've ever heard him belly laugh like this before.

"You must not know my wife very well," he says, slowing his pace to match mine. "Vanessa's a control freak."

"What? Vanessa?"

We pick up our pace, settling into a slow, steady jog toward the perimeter breach. My bodyguards mostly follow behind, but two range ahead by about fifteen feet.

Cold air stabs into my lungs with every inhale, but it's nice to be out like this again. Would be better if I wasn't mildly stressed about what I might find at the other end of this alert, though.

"So, what do you mean by control freak?" I ask, genuinely surprised. Vanessa always struck me as the calm, collected center of any storm.

Vester huffs, not even winded. "She's always complaining my help makes her work twice as hard."

His words sound suspiciously like a cop-out so he doesn't have to do chores. "I don't believe you."

"Every time I do the dishes," he says, jumping over a fallen branch without breaking stride, "she washes them again because she doesn't think they're clean enough."

My eyebrows shoot up. I'm unable to clear the log with his wolf-like grace, so I scramble over it like a three-legged deer instead. "You're kidding."

"Or when I fold the laundry, it isn't neat enough." His voice carries no bitterness, only fond exasperation. "I try, and try, but she keeps taking over."

The snow crunches beneath our boots, and I notice how Vester keeps scanning our surroundings even as he talks about Vanessa. Always on alert, even when relaxed.

"Maybe you should give her a direct order," he suggests, flashing me a smile full of mischief. "As Luna. Tell her to let me do the chores without complaining for the next year."

I nearly choke on a laugh. "I'm sorry, but I think that's above my pay grade."

His answering laugh echoes through the trees. For a moment, it feels almost normal—as if we're just friends out for a morning jog. I spend most of my time with Kellan, so it's nice to my relationship with Vester has progressed, too. I don't think he liked me very much at first.

the burning in my legs starts. Maybe

out between breaths, "how pissed was Lucas that I'm

glance, his expression somewhere between amused

isn't with you right now is because the Aspen Alpha offered to come along. So

easily, like he

"Really?"

him?" Vester asks, not slowing his pace even as he watches me for

I answer shortly, but if I had the breath I'd probably say something like, "You'd think he'd know by now I have no feelings for Clayton."

Shit. Ivy.

thinking about her all morning, but now I'm wondering how Clayton's doing with her gone. Guilt stabs me in the side of my ribs—or

better shape than this, damn it. I shouldn't already be

start, and you haven't stretched your body properly in days.

coaching helps not at all,

"Thanks," I mutter sarcastically.

of my face, and my legs settle into an easier, more familiar rhythm once I think

to breathe. After a couple minutes my lungs are still dying, but I'm also able to fill my

my magic, but

stay back, but I step closer anyway, my eyes scanning the snow. There are tracks

can't track to save her life, it means nothing to me except a lot

wards are off, as if someone's turned off their power—but visually, nothing seems

fur stark against the white landscape. Her nose works overtime, sniffing at the ground and air with increasing agitation. Suddenly, she sneezes

It's like walking through

kind of magic?" I ask under my breath, keeping my voice

me. Someone used a significant amount of power here recently. I think they were trying to

the back

Neither.

toward him.

sure they're

"Are you sure?"

Mostly.

mind races through possibilities. Another witch? It would be nice not to be the only one, but it seems strange one would appear smack-dab in the middle

goes rigid. Her nose extends forward, inching toward what appears to be empty air.