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.

if he can't feel it, there's a part of him wanting to trust me. Knowing I'm his

if he doesn't want to see

Fuck.

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

cascades over my skin, hot to turn it pink. It's my second shower in hours, but I

and angry red, as if I can

It doesn't work.

out. Dressing in the clothes I

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

spots on the pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from left

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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

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

at the door startles me from my restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond,

gentle

I'm on my

an instant, practically flying across the room and

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

murmurs, rubbing soothing circles

at my eyes. "Sorry, I just...

face is grim as she asks,

my voice barely above a whisper.

the side before meeting mine

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

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

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

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

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