Tangled

144 Ava: Searching for a Candle

144 Ava: Searching for a Candle

It takes a little more effort than I expected to convince Dr. Beaumont to discharge me home, but after

promising up and down to let Vanessa visit twice a day for bloodwork and vitals, I finally get my way.

Lucas treats me like a fragile vase on the way to the apartment, worrying over leaving me in Lisa’s place alone. He’s not thrilled that I refuse to go to the alpha lodge in the wake of the vampire attack, and it feels like the entire apartment building is filled with wolf shifters in suits, glowering at everyone who passes by.

But I still count it as a win.

I can’t believe two healthy adult women in their twenties don’t have a single candle in their apartment. Selene noses open a cabinet to sniff inside, before clicking her nails across the kitchen to another one. Nothing here.

As she checks the lower cabinets, I shove my way through our everything drawer, only coming up with a small lighter. Helpful, but only half of what I need.

I even check the pantry, but there’s no waxy pillar to

17:39 C

184 Asa Searching for a Candle

be found.

Going behind Selene, I double check where she’s already looked, ignoring her half–offended snort when I come up as empty as she did.

I told you, there are no candles. My nose works quicker and better than your eyes.

We’ve already checked Lisa’s room and mine. Not a single candle to be had.

How are we out of candles? At the bare minimum, we should have some handy in case the electricity ever goes out.

I stalk to the bathroom, flinging open drawers. “Where

the hell are the candles?”

Selene opens the linen cabinet with a deft paw, shoving her head inside to sniff.

It’s all towels, of course.

And shampoo.

And soap.

things that make her sneeze.

slam another drawer shut. “We didn’t

17:30 *

Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the

Searching fa a Candio

of all the wolves around. Scented stuff bothers

snorts. Point taken. But on TV, the girls are always taking bubble baths with scented

watch too much TV. It’s going to rot

is just fine. Although I question yours

sometimes…

her, yanking open the cabinet under the sink.

with her nose for a quick sniff,

I set the candle aside. I’ll have to call for Sister

swing it open, unsurprised to find Lucas standing there, hands shoved in his pockets and brows furrowed. Who else would make it past all the guards to

hasn’t been gone long, though.

I ask, as my heart races

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Ava Searching for

from his presence.

no other person can make me

never put

current situation, I’d probably throw myself at him

have loved that.

thoughts that plague me at the thought of Teddy’s face, slack in death, and Lisa’s absence, I

like shit when I

How much I’ve pushed him

away.

is patient, Selene says, sounding as if she’d rather be murdered than

Ava. Not with Lisa gone.” Lucas‘ fingers slide through mine as he shuts the door behind him, cutting us off from the bodyguards he has watching over me. “I’m supposed to

Ava Searching for

with Kellan, but I wasn’t sure how you

just fine–because I was busy hunting down a candle to do something

at me. “It’s hard,” I agree, because it is. I don’t like looking around and knowing that Lisa isn’t here. “But I’ll be fine, Lucas. Really. You have enough on your plate, and I’d rather have you looking for

Ava. Vampires invaded my territory. Attacked my mate.” His jaw clenches. “I couldn’t be there to protect you, but I can at least be here so you’re not alone. I won’t drag you to the alpha lodge, if this is where you want to be. But I don’t feel right leaving you here without her. I can stay for a little

I can take

scared. I’m

went from feeling safe and thinking Lucas and Kellan were worrywarts, to

678

Av Soarching for a Candlo

by a vampire.

supernatural doesn’t prepare

that.

from society, it’s like