Tangled

140 Ava: Lisa’s Gone

“Ava!”

Kellan’s familiar voice should bring hope, but all I feel is despair as I stare into the distance, wishing that vampire would reappear.

A thousand of them could come and it would be fine. As long as they bring Lisa back.

“Ava! Can you hear me?”

Kellan’s face swims in and out of focus, a hazy blur against the night sky. I squint, trying to bring him into clarity, but it ike trying to grasp smoke.

“They have Lisa,” I whisper, the words scraping my throat raw. “The vampire… He took her.”

Kellan’s eyes widen, a flicker of anguish passing over his features before he schools them into careful neutrality. But I can see the tension in his jaw, the rigidity of his shoulders. He’s barely holding it together.

“I know, Ava. We’ll get her back.” His voice is strained, distracted. Like his mind is a million miles away even

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140 Ava Lisa’s Gone

as he’s right here with me.

Strong arms scoop me up, cradling me against a broad chest. For a moment, I think it’s Kellan, but the scent is wrong. Earthy and unfamiliar, not the piney–leather smell I associate with him. I turn my head, blinking sluggishly at the face above me. It takes a moment for recognition to click into place. One of the guards from Lisa’s apartment. I can’t recall his name, but I

remember him standing sentry outside her door, stoic and watchful.

He carries me away from the carnage, away from the bodies strewn across the grass like broken dolls. I want to protest, to demand he put me down, but my limbs feel weighted, my tongue thick and useless in my

mouth.

Behind us, I can hear Kellan pacing, his footsteps heavy and agitated against the ground. He’s growling, the sound low and menacing, interspersed with words I can’t quite make out. But one stands out, sharp and clear amid the jumbled mess of my thoughts.

Mate.

He keeps saying it, over and over, like a mantra. Like a

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140 Ava: Lisa’s Gone

prayer.

I try to focus on him, to call out and ask what he means, but the world is tilting, spinning off its axis. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision, a black tide threatening to pull me under.

The last thing I see before unconsciousness claims me is Selene running in from the woodline, coming straight for me.

Ava!

***

The hospital ceiling greets me again when I open my Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

eyes.

getting

can feel her warm weight against

chase around

a soft snort, I rub my hands down her fur, turning my head to the presence I can sense by

side.

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Ava: Lisa’s

Kellan.

window and hasn’t even noticed that I’m awake, his brow furrowed and

Selene says, a whisper in my mind. He’s finally realized that they’re fated.

What?

ma s

until he could smell her blood. It’s

How fascinating.

going to be furious to know…

My heart sinks.

back, Selene assures me, her voice

found her yet?” I ask Kellan, whose head snaps in my

You’re awake. How

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Ava Lisa’s Gone

side of my throat, I confirm that the skin is

in my chest, but I already

what that is.

We have to get rid

know that being bonded with

Correct.

looks me over, like I haven’t probably

reply shortly, not willing to talk about what happened. “What about

information on her?”

stiffens at her name and shakes his head. “No. Nothing. You said a vampire took

eyes. Kind of freaky. Kept calling us

the bridge of his nose in frustration. “It’s impossible to find a single vampire with that

description.“.

5/10

Lisa’s

in my gut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see much else.”

my apology. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Ava.

Their appearances are

age,” Kellan continues, “but even that isn’t a guarantee anymore. Not with the new trend

“Vampires dye

they dye their hair, but they also wear contacts.

freely among the unsuspecting populace,

survived so long, Selene muses. Adaptation is necessary for any species to

taken

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Lisa’s

sees us as nothing more than kittens to

how do we find her?” I ask, trying

“We have our ways. Every

just a matter of picking

Selene corrects, but I ignore

for? Let’s

me. “Ava, you’re in no

even as the room spins a little. “I can’t just sit here while

fully recovered. Your body needs time. Your wounds are

pulling at me. The adrenaline that kept me going is fading,