Tangled

164

164

164 Ava: Blood Contract?

Come along, kitten. You and your friend, too. I'll give you the freedom he can't. I'll give you the knowledge she won't. Come, Ava Grey, Ward of the Witches. You seek a home, and I have one to give."

A scream rips from my throat as I thrash against the sheets, gasping for air. Fear is a heavy weight pressing down on my chest. crushing me, stealing my ability to breathe..

In the darkness behind my eyelids, crimson eyes bore into me, glowing with malice. Moonlight glints off razor-sharp fangs as a sinister voice whispers in my mind. You'll be begging me to fulfill our contract. Don't worry, kitten. I'll come back for you.

I jolt upright, heart hammering against my ribs. Sweat plasters my hair to my forehead. The room slowly comes into focus-

dark walls, the dresser on the other side of the room, Selene's furry form at the foot of the bed. Her head perks up, ice-blue eyes studying me with concern.

Ava? Are you alright? Her voice echoes in my mind, gentle and worried.

"I..." My voice comes out raspy and I swallow hard, trying to wet my parched throat. "I had a nightmare

Selene cocks her head, fluffy ears twitching. About?

"It's hard to tell. Trying to grasp the wisps of memory that dance just out of reach is like grasping for smoke. "I feel like I'm

forgetting something important. About what happened right before Lisa was taken."

Selene goes still, her ears flattening against her skull. When she speaks, her mental voice is hesitant, almost wary. What do you remember, Ava?

"The vampire. Fighting. Pain."

But why did I hurt, exactly? Why is this suddenly so fuzzy?

1 frown, sorting through the hazy images in my mind.

The Mad Prince. Selene murmurs.

"Right." My head clears again. "He bit me. I remember that. It was weird, and..." I shake my head, frustrated. "There's something else. Something I'm not remembering."

A flash of Selene's voice screaming in my head returns, and I jerk toward her. "You were yelling at me."

Yes, she agrees cautiously. What else?

"He said-I would beg him to fulfill our contract soon."

Selene's quiet for a long moment. If it helps, I don't think you have

with

"What do you mean?"

It resulted in a half-bond, but that seems to have dissipated, since it was not reciprocated. That might be why your memory's

thralls from Sister Miriam's

Ah, them.

Ick.

definitely don't want to be one of

different," I offer cautiously.

are distinctly contemptuous. Contracting and turning are

Oh.

"Then what is contracting?"

Selene sounds unsure. It has never succeeded between Lycans and vampires. The attempt has always killed

succeeded, she says, still sounding hesitant. But I

still hazy, but

ears twitch. I don't

best to summon the words in my nightmare. "He called me by name. Ava Grey... Ward of the Witches. He knew who

head cocks and her tail swishes in agitation. I don't know what

number.

A number?

there anything else horribly life-altering that you'd like to tell me right now?" Selene is quiet

check the time. Two in the

calls, and five text

course, except for a spam discount advertisement text that just came in. I don't remember giving my number

click onto Lucas' thread

Fell asleep. I'll call

my side of things. If this relationship is going to work between us, I really need

has.

always

But I'd resolved to

breath and shaking off the guilt, I glance at Selene. "Okay. My magic. You

There is one person who might

though

My phone rings

Lucas.

in a hurry. "What

you. Worrying

a dog could roll

to go back to bed.

anyway.