Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 463: Ava: Blessed Silence

Chapter 463: Ava: Blessed Silence

"Spin, spin, spin like a top, watch the blood spill, splatter, drop! Pretty eyes, rolling back, souls escaping through the crack!"

"Thank the Goddess," Lucas mutters as I finish pushing mana into the last rune of the ward Grimoire taught me about ten minutes ago.

The ghost’s sing-song voice cuts off mid-verse, like someone muted a particularly disturbing children’s show. The sudden silence washes over us like cool water, and I breathe a deep sigh.

"Better?" Grimoire asks, his voice smug as he hangs upside down in midair.

Now he’s the only spirit in here.

I sink onto the couch, my shoulder brushing against my mate’s with comfortable, informal warmth. "So much better. You’re amazing."

The book puffs his chest out. "I know."

Selene snorts from her position as a warmer across our mate’s feet.

Lucas wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer. I breathe in his scent like it’s the oxygen my lungs crave. My semi-frayed nerves settle in the aftermath of the ghost’s obnoxious singing.

I’ve been listening to it all day; it’s the worst.

"We should put this all over the compound," he sighs, leaning his head back as he closes his eyes.

"The ward requires refreshing every twelve hours," Grimoire explains, his expression suddenly serious. "And it only has approximately a twenty-foot radius of effectiveness. It would be inefficient to ward the entire compound."

sounds more like a

the ghost’s voice floats in, muffled but still audible through the window. "Buried deep where no one sees,

winces. "I feel a little

"Me too."

on my shoulder. It’s these stolen moments that feel surreal—pockets of normalcy in a world gone mad. His thumb brushes against the nape of my neck, and I lean further into his

could just live in his pocket,

think the ghost is connected to Ivy somehow," I say finally. "It’s mentioned her twice in a roundabout

closed. "You should tell Clayton.

poke Lucas’ cheek. "When

up. "Of course

makes my chest feel all gooey and full of

you know that?" he says, finally opening his golden eyes to stare at me. "You

me off-guard, and I glance away. "I’m

he says softly. "Holding it together when everything’s falling apart and still making the right calls." He pauses, expression darkening. "It’s strange though, isn’t it? This ghost appearing not long after we find vanishing bodies. I can’t help but feel they’re related. Dead bodies

they disappeared, but you didn’t really get into it." Granted, most of our conversations revolved around Ryder and the Fae

I realize he’s disappeared, himself. He must have returned to his book form. It

his body tensing as he collects his thoughts. Even Selene lifts her head, her

to Jericho, we found a

sod house? Like... made

His voice drops. "We

tightens.

ambush. Missing scouts since we arrived here. All

again?" We’d run into a few