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.

it, there's a part of him wanting to trust

want to see me

Fuck.

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

my skin, hot to turn it pink. It's my second shower in hours, but

until my skin is raw and angry red, as if I can wash away the

It doesn't work.

in the clothes I was just wearing-they're still clean. -I flop onto

my brain and maybe

the pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly

13

275 Ava: Visitors

every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The way he spoke like none of our history involved

sheets tangle around my legs as I flip from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like

my restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond,

gentle

I'm on my

across the room and

human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on

pull back, wiping at my eyes. "Sorry, I just... it's been a

she asks, "How are

Not great," I admit, my voice barely above a

eyes dart to the side before meeting mine again.

holding

Vanessa's gaze

rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing well. Such a relief to see

furrows my brow until she pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know about his memory

to. There might even be a traitor somewhere. We can't talk about

unnaturally cheerful as she asks, "Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the