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.

part of him wanting to trust me. Knowing

to see

Fuck.

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

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

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

It doesn't work.

runs out. Dressing in the clothes I was just

hours to reset my brain and

hair 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 to find a

13

275 Ava: Visitors

my eyes shut, sleep doesn't come. Instead, there's a constant replay in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The

from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My eyes burn with

from my restless attempt at

gentle voice

I'm on my

practically flying across the room

The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's presence a lifeline I

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing

eyes. "Sorry,

is grim as she asks,

barely

side before meeting mine again.

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's

notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I

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

you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I heard rumors flying around