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

to see me for the rest of the

Fuck.

spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with cash on delivery. Now

hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to

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

It doesn't work.

I

my brain and maybe wake up and find

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

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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 he spoke like none of our history involved him at

from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours.

restless attempt at sleep. Before I

gentle voice

I'm on my

instant, practically flying across

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

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on my

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

face is grim as she asks,

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

the side before meeting mine

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

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

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

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

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