Tangled

111 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

LISA

Three fucking weeks.

No matter how many times I count, it’s been three fucking weeks.

The calendar on my wall mocks me, today’s date staring me in the face from any particular point of my

kitchen.

Selene whines when I nearly step on her paw for the third time this morning. “Sorry, girl. Give me a second, and we’ll go see her.”

I’m drenched in sweat. Jericho hasn’t blinked a single eyelash over Ava being in the hospital, and we’ve all settled into a new kind of normal.

It’s not normal at all, but it’s life now. At least until Ava

wakes up again.

I’m stronger. Fastér, though nothing compared to these shifters who surround me. I’m learning some basic self–defense, and Selene has helped with the hands–on training to evade and defend against wolf

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111 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

attacks.

I have bruises and wounds everywhere, and a few of them have even gotten infected, but Healer Vanessa is a godsend who always has some magical cream on her somewhere. Antibacterial, antifungal, prevents scarring, and smells divine. I have no idea why they

in the

keep up with the demand. For all I know, it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ

slip into the shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching

back, a blistering reminder of just how tense I’ve been.

Kellan, if he was even here. He’s not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in the

while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I get it, I do. Lucas has every

Ava’s

fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning

Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine

the water and step out, wrapping myself in a towel that feels too soft

I miss Ava.

a trio whose first priority is always what fun is around

she’s lying in a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the

see them in the sidelong glances thrown my way. The Blackwood

Ava’s Absence (IV)

a Westwood hospital. It’s a political nightmare, even I can

says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how to defend

mamas,” he told me yesterday, his

the floor. She’s been

guards nod at me as I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard following me in silence. I pretend

that way. Kellan might be too busy to do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me

wish, but I’m

Always.

tightly around hers. He looks up as I

though I

his head. “Nothing

come back to us.”

take my usual seat on the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush a strand

so still. Like she’s just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes about how we all

she doesn’t. She hasn’t

the bed, curling up at Ava’s feet. She’s been doing that more and more lately, like she’s

closing my eyes for a moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired of all of this.