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 human markets.

wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching

tense I’ve been. I

as scary as Lucas, but just

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

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

But fuck if I don’t feel

since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine how she’s holding up, but she never

myself in a towel that feels too soft against my skin.

I miss Ava.

finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first

the world around

hear them whispered in the halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Ava’s

It’s a political nightmare,

is rallying behind Westwood, but Jericho says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows.

to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his

waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the floor. She’s been my constant companion these past few weeks, a comforting presence in a

now I could walk it in my sleep. The guards nod at me as I

be too busy to do the pick ups and drop

wish, but I’m always followed by

Always.

tightly around hers. He looks up as I enter, his

I ask, though I already know the answer.

his head. “Nothing yet. But she’s

back to us.”

seat on the other side of

any moment now she’ll wake

She hasn’t for

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

moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired of