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

Fuck.

waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with cash on delivery. Now it's my turn to wait and

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

red, as if I

It doesn't work.

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

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

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 position that brings

13

275 Ava: Visitors

matter how tightly I screw my eyes shut, sleep doesn't come. Instead, there's a constant replay in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with

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

restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond, the

Vanessa's gentle voice calls

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the room

this moment. The solitude of the past few hours

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on my

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

as she asks, "How are you holding

barely above a whisper.

eyes dart to the side before meeting mine again.

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

she says, "I'm

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

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

voice is unnaturally cheerful as she asks, "Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I heard rumors