Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

LISA

Everyone's acting strangely, but I can't blame them—my mind's busy whirling with how I got outside without any memory of it. It's clear I've lost a decent chunk of time, because last I remember, Lucas wasn't back yet.

"Take a shower," Ava suggests, worry etched in the lines of her forehead. Her light blue eyes seem darker than usual, and it's clear she isn't telling me something.

My fingers catch in my tangled hair. The strands are stiff with cold, and my scalp protests the rough treatment. My toes feel like blocks of ice in my shoes, so a hot shower sounds perfect right now.

But Kellan won't look at me. His jaw is tight, his shoulders stiff, and his eyes fix on some point over my head. My stomach twists. What did I do? What happened in that blank space of time I can't remember?

Lucas and Ava hover nearby, and the awkwardness thickens with each passing second. Ava's face does that thing it does when she's having a conversation with someone else—probably Selene or her magical book friend. No one's leaving, despite the suggestion to shower, and I wonder where Selene went. She was with us until we got home.

Ava's eyes dart between me and Lucas, and understanding dawns on her face. "Lucas, go back. We'll wait for Vanessa."noveldrama

There's someone else coming? "Um, why is Vanessa…?"

"We need to check for frostbite." Kellan's voice is rough, sounding almost… irritated, maybe. He still won't look at me.

A nervous laugh bubbles up. "I don't have frostbite. My toes are just cold."

Silence. Heavy, oppressive silence. Kellan's jaw works, but no words come out.

Fine. Whatever. I turn toward the bathroom, my movements stiff and awkward. Questions swirl in my head—what happened out there? Why won't anyone tell me straight out? Why are they all acting like I might break?

The bathroom door clicks shut behind me, and I lean against it with a sigh, only to jump when Ava knocks on the door and pokes her head through. "Here's some clothes. Don't worry, Lucas is gone."

My fingers clutch the clothes she holds out, but before Ava can slip away, I grab her hands. The fabric bunches between our palms. "Wait. Please. What's happening to me?"

The sharp lines of worry on her face melt into something softer, sadder. Without a word, she steps inside and closes the door behind her. Her arms wrap around me, tight enough that I can barely breathe.

"Ave?"

"Don't worry. I'm working on figuring it out. I've been talking with Grimoire, and—"

My heart stutters. Grimoire? If he's involved, I'm not sure I want to know what's wrong with me. Is there a strange magical parasite in my head? Have I lost half my life because I've been using magitech?

"Why is Grimoire worried?" The words scratch past my throat.

"Hey." Ava pulls back, her hands firm on my shoulders. "I said don't worry. We're handling it."

But her eyes tell a different story. There's fear there, hidden beneath determination.

My stomach ties itself in knots. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Try to relax for now, okay? Vanessa's coming to check you over—"

"Check me over for what?" The words come out sharper than intended. "Ava, please. I lost time. I ended up outside somehow. Kellan won't even look at me. What happened?"

She hesitates, and that hesitation speaks volumes. "Grimoire thinks it has to do with the vampire who kidnapped you."

For one tiny microsecond, I have some relief that there's no brain-eating amoeba or life-sucking magitech tendencies to worry about. But my knees go weak, and Ava squeaks as she catches me from falling on my ass. "Lise, are you okay?"

Nope. Not okay. Not even a tiny bit of okay. But I nod mechanically. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She shoves her face into mine, her blue eyes sharp as she stares me down. Then she sighs. "I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid telling you so your shower would be more relaxing, but I think that backfired."

"Mm. No, I get it." Rubbing my face, I back away, my legs once again secure beneath me. "It's fine. I'll be okay. I'll just shower and… we'll figure it out, I guess."

Figure what out? Not sure. My thigh throbs suddenly.

The soft thump of fabric hitting tile makes me look down. When did I drop the clothes? My fingers feel numb and empty, and I can't remember letting go.

Ava scoops them up, setting them on the counter with careful movements. Her hands shake, just a little. She's trying to hide it, but I notice.

"I failed you before." Her voice breaks on the last word. She wraps her arms around me again, and this time the embrace is different. Desperate. Like she's trying to shield me from something neither of us can see. "I won't let it happen again. I swear, Lisa. No matter what it takes, I'll keep you safe this time."

Her fierce whisper hits me right in the chest. My eyes burn, and I blink rapidly to keep the tears from falling. A lump forms in my throat, making it impossible to speak. All I can do is nod against her shoulder.

My thigh throbs again, a phantom pain that makes me want to scratch my skin off. The Mad Prince's face flashes through my mind—that cruel smile, those cold eyes. The memory of his touch makes bile rise in my throat.

But Ava's here. She's real, and warm, and safe. She smells like safety and home. Nothing like that horrible place I've blocked off in my memories.

"I'm okay," I say, keeping my voice as light as possible. "I'm with you. Kellan's here. I have guards at all times. Everything's going to be okay, Ava."

Her head pops up, her worry transforming into a scowl. "I'm supposed to be comforting you, Lise. Not the other way around."

A laugh bubbles up, surprising me with how genuine it feels. The knot of worry in my chest loosens, just a bit. "Get out of here before we end up showering together. I don't think Kellan would appreciate that. Or Lucas."

Ava's answering laugh brightens the room. Her head tilts to the side, reminding me of Selene when she hears something interesting. "Vanessa's here."

"Oh? I didn't hear—" The words die in my throat. Ava's been picking up sounds impossible to hear, smelling things I can't. She's becoming more wolf-like every day. Less human.

The thought settles uncomfortably in my stomach. I push it away, forcing a smile. "Go talk to Vanessa. I need to defrost these toes before they fall off."

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yes, mom." I wave her toward the door. "I plan to use all the hot water in Wolf's Landing. Tell Kellan he might want to shower somewhere else tonight."

"Lisa—"

"Seriously, Ave. I'm fine. Go do your Luna thing while I turn into a prune."