Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 281 Ava: Catching Up

"That sounds..." | grope for a word. "Unpleasant?"

"Very." She shudders and leans forward. "Anyway, Chloe and Mia brought the vampires to the last place, and we

barely escaped. We've been flying under the radar since and finally got here."

Puzzling over that, | ask, "Are you sure it was them? You didn't hear what they were saying."

| hate both of them, so I'm not trying to defend them. | just don't want to tarnish any innocent names. Lord

knows | have enough black marks againstin this pack.

Lisa looks atsoberly. "No. But the way they were acting... And the Grand Sage—ugh, sorry. Dr. Blackwell said

he saw something on the phones."

| shudder. Even with as much hatred as | felt toward Blackwood, | never wanted them wiped from the map. Well,

sometimes—but to call down an army upon the speople who watchedgrow up, even if they turned a

blind eye to my abuse, sours my stomach.

There are innocent people in any pack. They don't deserve to live through a nightmare like that.

"I'm glad you're okay." Reaching over the table, | squeeze her hands. "Really glad. It was hard. Sometimes, | had

to stop thinking about you..." Shit. That sounds terrible.

Lisa shakes her head and grips my hand tightly. "Trust me, | had to do the ssometimes."

"Yeah, but you were the one in a jail cell. | was out here." My lips twist into a grimace. "I should have been able

to do more."

"Shut up, Ava." With a gentle squeeze that belies the harshness of her words, Lisa continues, "We're both

unequipped to deal with all these supernatural guys. No wonder Jericho pushed us so hard. And yet..."

And yet we were still so easily overpowered.

Hearing her unspoken words, my soul shrivels at the memory.

Clearing her throat, she says, "What happened while | was gone? How are you and Lucas?"

Ah.

She studies my face, her brows drawing together. "Ava? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing compared to what you went through." Rubbing at my forehead, | sigh. "He's lost his memories. He

doesn't feel our bond. | don't really know what to do."

"Your pain matters, too," she says immediately. "Telleverything."

"I know, | know." I run a hand over my face. "So many things have happened, | don't even know where to start.

Everything's a blur anymore." A memory hitsand | sit up straight, eyes wide. "Oh! You won't believe this!"

Lisa leans forward, curiosity piqued. "What?"

"Mrs. Elkins? My boss from Cedarwood?"

Lisa nods. "The lady who gave you the apartment, right?"

"Yeah. She's from a bloodline of old witches. She broughta magic book after the Moon Goddess brought her

to Blackwood." Which | really need to get my hands on.

Lisa's jaw drops. "What? Are you serious? No, wait. More importantly, if the Moon Goddess can intervene like

that, why doesn't she do anything directly? Why can't she just give you whatever knowledge you need, if she

wants you to learn it?"

I shrug, feeling a bit sheepish. "I have no idea. Honestly? | only half-believed in the Moon Goddess because of

how | was raised. It all seemed like stories to keep us in line, you know? Especially because the humans never

believe in her."

"I never believed in the Moon Goddess at all," Lisa admits. "I mean, I'm human. It wasn't part of my world."

| can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Here we are, discussing deities like we're debating the weather.

"| didn't even end up learning anything from it. Instead | ended up in the city where you were held. Sister Miriam

gota teacher there, in the Fae Ward. That's why | was there."

Lisa's eyes widen. "Really? I'm glad she can be trusted then."

| hesitate. "I still don't fully understand her motives, but she's helped us out too many times forto doubt her

anymore. Even Selene is warming up to her. She's had it out for her ever since she calleda witch."

"Hey, where's Selene?" Lisa glances around, like she's just going to appear out of nowhere.

| take a deep breath, knowing I'm about to dive into a long explanation. "That's... a bit of a story."

Over the next hour, | give Lisa a crash course in the madness that's been my life since she was taken. | tell her

about my training at the Fae Ward, about the imposing yet oddly paternal Magister Orion, and how

communication with the outside world suddenly ceased when we could no longer contact anyone from the pack.

Lisa shakes her head in disbelief. "I can't even imagine. And Selene?"

"Selene and Sister Miriam left together to gather intel," | say, still feeling a twinge of worry at their absence. "It

was right before everything went silent. | haven't heard from them since."

"Do you think they're okay?"

I nod. "They're here somewhere. Sister Miriam saved Lucas' life—" Lisa gasps, and | sigh. "It's a long story. | don't

even know the details. | just know she kept him alive.

They're out now, trying to get more information from somewhere, | think." My brain's been such mush, | can't

even remember the details of what Kellan told me.

"God, Ava. That's legitimately crazy. My head's swimming just hearing about it." Lisa scrunches up her nose. "|

feel like I'm more lost than before."

"Tellabout it. It's like the more | learn, the more nothing makes sense. As soon as | think | have a grasp on

things, another layer appears and it's like just kidding!"

"I need a notebook to keep up with this shit." Lisa shakes her head. "I just chere to hang out with my best

friend because her family sucks. | didn't realize you were bringingstraight into the middle of a supernatural

war."

| open my mouth, ready to protest, but Lisa's laughter cutsoff.

"Don't take it so seriously, Ave. I'm just messing with you."

How can | not? My eyes trace her gaunt features, the shadows under her eyes, the way her clothes hang loose

on her frame. The guilt gnaws at me.

Lisa's expression sobers as she catches my gaze. "Hey, I'm a big girl. | can take responsibility for the choices that

ledhere."

Her understanding is even worse. She shouldn't have to take responsibility for this mess. None of this would

have happened if | hadn't dragged her into my world.

Before | can voice these thoughts, a knock on the door interrupts us. Dr. Blackwell and Elverly enter, followed by

Kellan, Marcus, and Vanessa. The room suddenly feels cramped.

Kellan moves to stand behind Lisa's chair, his presence looming. | can't help but notice how Lisa tenses, her

fingers curling into fists on the table. The very air between them seems to crackle.

Marcus takes up position by the door, ever the silent sentinel. Sometimes | wonder if he sees danger in every

shadow.

"You seem to be doing well," Dr. Blackwell tells Lisa, with a fatherly smile. The wizened old gnlooks nothing

like the garden statues we're used to thinking of.

"I'm glad to be with Ava," she agrees, not seeming to notice—or care—as Kellan stiffens behind her.

Poor guy.

Watching him is like a lesson in the torture | must have given Lucas, making my heart hurt further.

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