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

contract with

"What do you mean?"

attempted to force a blood contract. You resisted. It resulted in a half-bond, but that seems to have dissipated, since it was not reciprocated. That

thralls from

Ah, them.

Ick.

want to be one of

any different," I offer cautiously. "No desire

eyes are distinctly contemptuous. Contracting and turning are two separate

Oh.

"Then what is contracting?"

of soul bonding. For the first time, Selene sounds unsure. It has never succeeded between Lycans and vampires. The attempt has always killed one or both of

still sounding hesitant. But

hazy, but he

ears twitch. I don't

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

agitation. I don't know what that means, but

number. I don't,

A number?

you'd like to tell me right now?" Selene is quiet for a moment, presumably while

it, I check the time. Two in the

calls, and five text

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

click onto Lucas'

Sorry. Was exhausted after seeing Mom. Fell asleep.

every opportunity and haven't held up my side of things. If

has.

always work as

resolved to do

off the guilt, I glance at Selene. "Okay.

There is one person who might

though

My phone rings

Lucas.

a hurry. "What

about you.

could roll their eyes, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what

go back to bed. But a smile curves

anyway.