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 to trust me. Knowing I'm

to see me for the rest of the

Fuck.

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

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

is raw and angry 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

few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this has all been

leaves wet spots on the pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly to back, struggling

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

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

startles me from my restless attempt

gentle

I'm on my

flying across the

how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the

murmurs, rubbing soothing

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

as she asks,

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

eyes dart to the side before meeting

holding

Vanessa's gaze

says, "I'm so glad he's

pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so

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

crying out of sheer relief in the hallway?