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 him wanting

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

Fuck.

time he spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with

in hours, but I can't shake the depression

and angry red, as if I can wash away the memory of Lucas

It doesn't work.

hot water runs out. Dressing in the clothes I was just

That's what I need. Just a few hours to reset my brain and maybe

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 position that

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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.

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

my restless attempt at sleep.

Vanessa's gentle voice

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across

human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few

she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles

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

face is grim as she asks, "How are

admit, my voice barely above

the side before meeting

holding

Vanessa's gaze

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

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

We're being watched, listened to. There might

asks, "Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway?