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?

survive without his

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. My anchor in

they rest on his stomach. His touch is warm, familiar,

and

scent fills my lungs,

voice breaks the silence, low and rumbling.

do? The options before us are all shit,

shit mountain.

A What 10 You

Think I

the state of

weren't

have more

be forced

learned so many times, life isn't

admit softly. "There's

slightly over mine.

the weight of

you keep your sense of self... I worry that you would feel

how it feels

any normal shifter has with their wolf. Distance can create emptiness within our bond. And-scariest of all-I can die and leave her alone

slightly. "And I worry about what that would mean

but I can

him. "And selfishly, I miss you. The you who remembers

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. "Something inside of me is so happy,

"I feel it too,"

his touch gentle. "But this isn't just about us. I have a responsibility

leaning

are not one body? Selene asks, still sounding

I admit. But I can't imagine not

the

has me smiling, and Lucas narrows his eyes. "Are