Tangled

Unshift 275

Unshift 275

275 Ava: Visitors

"Ava." D

My head feels like it weighs a million pounds. My ears feel stuffed and woolly. And Kellan's hands. dragging me to my feet are like burning embers pressed against my skin.

"What?"

"You passed out."

Staring at him blankly, it takes a while for my brain to catch up to his words. "Oh. Shit. I guess that's one way to deal with stress; just let your body shut down.

Don't really recommend it.

and Kellan doesn't ask questions about my visit with Lucas, just escorts me back to the cottage a makes sure I'm taken care of. Brings lunch I don't want to eat and promises to check on me in

another hour or two.

Of course, lunch is out of the question. My stomach's too queasy for that. And until Sister Miriam and Selene return, I don't have a great way to get information on what happened to Lucas' wolf. I'm definitely not going to tell people he doesn't have one; the pack needs stability, not another

blow.

I'm not even sure Kellan knows.

I

The thought that Lucas may have trusted me with a little secret buoys my depressed spirits by a

millimeter or two.

even if he can't feel it, there's a part of

want to see me for the rest of

Fuck.

bill for all the time he spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with cash on delivery. Now it's my turn to wait and

second shower in hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to me like second skin.

is raw and angry red, as if I can wash

It doesn't work.

Dressing in the clothes I was just wearing-they're

Just a few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and

wet spots on the pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly to back, struggling to find a

13

275 Ava: Visitors

doesn't come. Instead, there's a constant replay in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The way

side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My eyes burn with unshed tears

startles me from my restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond, the

gentle

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the

solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on

eyes. "Sorry, I just... it's been a

as she asks, "How are you holding

barely

dart to the side before meeting mine again.

holding

Vanessa's gaze

then to the windows. Her voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing

furrows my brow until she pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something

being watched, listened to. There might even be

as she asks, "Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I heard rumors flying around