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.

there's a part of him wanting

want to see me for the rest of

Fuck.

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

my skin, hot to turn it pink. It's my second shower in hours, but I can't shake

until my skin is raw and angry red, as if I can wash away the memory of Lucas staring at

It doesn't work.

in the clothes I

a few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this

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

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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 Lucas. The confusion in his eyes.

my legs as I flip from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My

from my restless attempt

gentle voice calls

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the room and into her

The solitude of the past few hours weighs on

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing

pull back, wiping at my eyes. "Sorry, I

is grim as she asks, "How are you holding

admit, my voice barely above a

dart to the side before

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

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

a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know about his

widen. Of course. We're being watched, listened to. There might even be a traitor somewhere. We can't talk

break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I heard rumors