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

18:12

1/10

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

18:12

2/10

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

Selene grumbles, but I can feel her warm weight against me. Someone must

them on a right merry chase around the garden. They call themselves wolves

hands down her fur, turning my head to the presence I can sense by

side.

18:13

3/10

Ava: Lisa’s

Kellan.

and hasn’t even noticed that

says, a whisper in my mind. He’s finally

What?

ma

rare occurrence, but humans can be mates. He probably didn’t realize until he could smell her blood. It’s not uncommon. It’s a

How fascinating.

be furious to

My heart sinks.

her back, Selene assures me, her voice strong

we haven’t found her yet?” I ask Kellan, whose head snaps

awake. How

18:13

4/10

Ava Lisa’s Gone

confirm that the skin

in my chest, but I already

what that is.

have to

I know that being

Correct.

blood everywhere.” Kellan looks me over, like I haven’t

willing to talk about what

information on her?”

stiffens at her name and shakes his head.

Kind

rubs the bridge of his nose in frustration. “It’s impossible to find a

description.“.

5/10

Ava: Lisa’s

in my gut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t

make you feel bad, Ava.

right, Selene says. Their appearances are too

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

“Vampires dye their hair?”

they dye their hair, but they

freely among the unsuspecting populace, wearing whatever disguise suits them best. It’s a chilling realization.

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

Lisa’s been taken by an

18:13

6/10

Ava: Lisa’s

sees us as nothing more than kittens

her?” I ask, trying

jaw clenches. “We have our ways. Every

It’s just a matter of picking up the right il.”

Selene corrects, but I ignore her.

for? Let’s go

but Kellan’s hand on my shoulder stops me. “Ava, you’re in no condition to go anywhere. You

little. “I can’t just sit here while Lisa’s out there!”

not fully recovered. Your body needs time. Your wounds are healed, but

pulling at me.