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

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

Fuck.

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

my second shower in hours,

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

It doesn't work.

clothes I was just wearing-they're still clean. -I flop onto the

hours to reset my brain

flop from left to right, then from belly to back, struggling to find

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 way he spoke like none

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

my restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond, the door creaks

Vanessa's gentle

I'm on my

flying across the room

moment. The solitude of the past few hours

rubbing soothing

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

is grim as she asks, "How are you holding

my voice barely above a whisper. "How much do you

side before meeting

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

the front door, then to the windows. Her voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing

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

Of course. 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