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

if he doesn't want to see me for the rest

Fuck.

he spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with

my skin, hot to turn it pink. It's my second shower in hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to me like second skin. Steam

I can wash away the memory

It doesn't work.

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

to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this has

discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly

13

275 Ava: Visitors

eyes shut, sleep 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 he spoke

Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My eyes

me from my restless attempt at

gentle

I'm on my

an instant, practically flying across the room and into her

I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's presence

she murmurs, rubbing soothing

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

grim as she

great," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "How much

eyes dart to the side before meeting mine again. "About

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

then to the windows. Her voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing well. Such a relief to see him up

pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know about

eyes widen. Of course. We're being watched, listened to. There might even be a traitor somewhere.

crying out of sheer