Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 460: Ava: Deranged Bird

Chapter 460: Ava: Deranged Bird

A man appears out of nowhere, stumbling in the snow only twenty feet from us.

My skin crawls just looking at him.

He’s dressed as if he’s homeless, with bare feet, dirty skin, and matted hair. If we were in the middle of a city somewhere, I wouldn’t think twice over his existence. Here?

It’s strange.

Where’s he from? How is he surviving this cold in his threadbare clothing? Why no shoes? And how did he just appear in front of us?

Eleanor makes a soft sound. "He looks cold," she says, and I stick my arm out in silent warning for her to stay back.

Vester growls, and my bodyguards come between us. "Who are you?" he demands of the man.

He catches me staring and throws his head back, cackling with a laugh that splits the air like a blade. It’s high-pitched, manic, bouncing off the snow around us.

"Don’t you recognize me, little wolf?" He points at me, fingers dirty and nails blackened.

We’ve seen him before, Selene murmurs. I remember his scent. It was the time you took me shopping for that terrible kibble.

"I do," I say, my voice tight. "You were in Cedarwood." My stomach twists as recognition dawns. Not full recognition, but a hint of it. I vaguely recall this: a man who’d given me the creeps, staring at us a little too intently.

His eyes are hungrier now, his posture more predatory despite his frail appearance.

He wags his finger at me, clicking his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re lying. Naughty girl. Only the wolf recognized me. Only the wolf." His voice slides up and down scales like he can’t decide what pitch to use.

He takes a step toward us, and Vester snarls, taking a step forward with his chest puffed out.

"Stay back."

The homeless man skips backward, an exaggerated hop, painfully childish for a grown man. He giggles again, a piercing, high-pitched sound.

you know your people are in battle, right now, with vampires?" His smile stretches too wide, revealing far too many teeth. "As we speak, blood spills and souls depart. Tick

My back stiffens.

"How would

winks, letting out another unsettling chuckle. His eyes never leave

in front of me, adding another layer of protection. He smells wrong, Ava. Like living death.

swaying slightly. "To your home. I promise I won’t bite." He snaps

not," Vester answers before

an exaggerated pout. He sighs dramatically, making a show of his disappointment. "Such a shame, such

through my fear. "What are you?"

said something delightful. "Am I not human?

not human," I say flatly. "I’m a

the sound skittering across the snow like ice cracking. "Wolf, wolf, big bad

way he sways, the hunger in his gaze; it’s no wonder all

extends his hands, wrists pressed together. "You can bind me. I understand why you’d want to. I won’t fight. I won’t hurt you. I just need to see my

doesn’t match

suspicion is palpable. "And who’s this

winks again, tapping his finger against his lips. "The Alpha’s sister," he

muscles lock up. He’s not

about the

you getting anything from him?

Grimoire speaks with strange reluctance. He isn’t seem human, but... I don’t think

using your powers of observation? Look at

it, Grimoire admits. But I truly don’t think

deflating. Then, without warning, he drops to his hands and knees in the snow, pressing his forehead to the ground in

voice muffled. "I’m harmless. Please bring me

feel Eleanor’s confusion behind me, Vester’s tension beside me. But I’m focused

use magic?

after a pause. Nothing magical

Another long pause.

alive, Grimoire finally says. He’s a spirit. A leftover wish of someone’s soul, gone slowly mad. The