Tangled

Unshift 313

Unshift 313

313 Ava: What Do You Think I Should Do?

Grimoire's presence inside of me is unfazed after his revelations from the morning. I swear his

book form even looks cheerful, sitting there on the table.

You seem worried, Selene says, sounding distracted.

"I am. I still don't agree with Grimoire"

About the summoning?

"Yes. Wouldn't you know if you were summoned?"

I suppose. Selene goes quiet for a bit, before asking, How does Lucas feel about it?

Lucas.

He's standing by the window, watching the light rain drizzle across our world. The soft patter of droplets on glass is the only sound outside of my voice. Sister Miriam and Vester left a while ago, leaving us to contemplate our next move. Lucas hasn't spoken since they departed, his thoughts as opaque as the cloudy sky outside.

"I don't know."

He seems ambivalent to the idea of summoning his wolf, but I can't blame him.

After dropping the bomb of Selene's alleged summoning-though she denies it-he did mention. the possible negatives.

While Lucas would not lose his sense of self, he might lose his wolf. Like me, he would exist as a human. But unlike me, he wouldn't have magic to bridge that supernatural gap.

No healing. No strength. What would happen if he were challenged then?

Is it any better than now?

strong, but can an Alpha survive without his internal wolf? Would the

I slip my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against the broad expanse of his back. The steady thump of his heart echoes through me. Soothing. Strong.

rest on his stomach. His touch is warm, familiar, yet so new. We

and

The warmth of his scent fills my lungs, surrounding me in assurance, soothing the anxiety

low and rumbling. I can feel the vibration of his

before us are all

shit mountain.

A What 10 You

Think I

weren't for the state

weren't for

we'd have

we wouldn't be

so many times, life isn't

I admit softly. "There's so much

fingers tighten slightly over mine.

all the weight of

would feel as if you were living half a life without your

it feels to

has changed my world, but it's still different from the bond any normal shifter has with their wolf. Distance can create emptiness within our bond. And-scariest of all-I can die and

I worry about what that would mean for you

I can

"And selfishly, I miss you. The you who

in my arms, his golden eyes searching my face. "I feel that connection with you," he says softly. "Even without the memories, there's something right about being with you. It's here: He taps his chest, then mine.

feel it too," I

gentle. "But this isn't just about us. I have

leaning

regret that we are not one

I admit. But I can't imagine

the

smiling, and Lucas narrows his eyes. "Are