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.

with vampires?" His smile stretches too wide, revealing far too many teeth. "As we speak, blood spills and souls depart.

My back stiffens.

"How would you

side of his nose and winks, letting out another unsettling

in front of me, adding another layer of protection. He

man asks, swaying slightly. "To your home. I promise I won’t bite."

Vester answers before I

pout. He sighs dramatically, making a show of his disappointment. "Such a shame, such a shame. To encounter such prejudice, even this far

"What are you?" I

eyes light up and he claps his hands like I’ve said something delightful. "Am I not human? If I

human," I say

the sound skittering across the snow like ice cracking. "Wolf, wolf, big bad wolf. It all comes back to wolves,

and dangerous. The way he sways, the hunger in his gaze; it’s no wonder

says again, voice suddenly plaintive. He 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

match the gleam

suspicion is palpable. "And who’s

Alpha’s sister," he stage-whispers, then dissolves into

He’s not talking about

about

getting anything from him?

stretches too long, Grimoire speaks with strange reluctance. He isn’t seem human, but... I

Are you using your powers of observation? Look at him. Any fool

can’t explain it, Grimoire admits. But I truly don’t

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

he begs, voice muffled. "I’m harmless. Please

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

to use magic? I ask Grimoire. Anything you can pick up

Grimoire answers after a pause.

Another long pause.

leftover wish of someone’s soul, gone slowly mad. The worst he could do is possess someone, but with how