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.

is getting old. Fast.

warm weight against me. Someone must have let

them on a right merry chase around the

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

side.

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Lisa’s Gone

Kellan.

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

says, a whisper in my mind. He’s

What?

ma s no

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.

to be furious to

My heart sinks.

her back, Selene assures me, her voice strong and

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

awake. How do you

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Lisa’s

for the side of my throat, I confirm that the skin is

in my chest, but I already know

what that is.

We have to get rid

know much about vampires–but I know that being bonded with one is

Correct.

blood everywhere.” Kellan looks me over, like I haven’t probably been poked and prodded by numerous nurses

I reply shortly, not willing to talk about what happened.

information on her?”

his head. “No. Nothing. You

hair. Red eyes. Kind

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

description.“.

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Lisa’s Gone

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

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

Selene says. Their appearances

silver hair es give us a small hint about his age,” Kellan continues, “but even that isn’t a

dye their

escapes him. “Not only do they dye their hair, but they also wear contacts. They live among

Vampires walking freely among the unsuspecting

so long, Selene muses. Adaptation is necessary

taken by an adaptive

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Lisa’s

us as nothing more than kittens to play with. Fantastic.

do we find her?” I ask, trying to keep

clenches. “We have our ways. Every

It’s just a matter of picking up the

every supernatural, Selene corrects, but

what are we waiting for? Let’s go find

but Kellan’s hand on my shoulder stops me.

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

time. Your wounds are healed, but your blood loss remains.

want to argue, but I can feel the exhaustion pulling