Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

Vanessa sighs. "I'm not familiar enough with vampires to give much advice here. We really need to work on our inter-species medical knowledge."

"It isn't just vampires, though. Lisa didn't like men being near her. That's probably a trauma response, don't you think?"

She pinches the bridge of her nose, and I realize her fingers seem swollen. The dark circles under her eyes are pronounced, and her dark hair—normally pulled back into a professional ponytail—is a mess. "Yes, I would assume so. I'm not a counselor, though. If it's that bad, she's going to need serious intervention with a professional." Her eyes dart toward me, as if underlining her suggestion.

She probably is. She's suggested the same for me on several occasions, and I keep blowing her off.

Therapy, Selene muses.

They both need it.

Ignoring my ever-present voices, I watch Kellan instead. He's standing by the bathroom door with his arms crossed, waiting for Lisa to come out. She's been in there for at least half an hour, and the hot water should be depleted by now.

At least Lisa has Kellan by her side. Someone who's kind and sweet and waits for her. Their relationship isn't solid yet, and it's clearly from Lisa holding back, but it isn't fractured, either. Maybe I should schedule some girl time and talk to her. She never liked the idea of a fated mate connection forcing her hand, but she's not as resistant as she once was…

My stomach twists. I'm sitting here wondering if I can convince her to mate bond with Kellan when she isn't ready. You can't just push a mate bond like that.

It's not a bad idea, though, Selene pipes up. Having a properly cemented bond would probably weaken, if not destroy, any connection the vampire has with her. But her words are a little hesitant.

A mate bond won't destroy a previously existing bond, but her ability to resist will be strengthened based on the strength of her partner, Grimoire lectures Selene in that pompous way of his. It is a good idea, but humans can be rather closed-minded to lifetime contracts.

What is this connection the Mad Prince still holds over Lisa? We've talked about her experience as a captive, but it isn't like she went into extreme detail. Selene sensed nothing, and Sister Miriam never said anything, so we assumed she was free of his influence this entire time… "We were too complacent," I murmur.

She doesn't smell as if she's contracted, Selene points out. Whatever it is, it has to be temporary.

Scent means nothing.

"…more worried about her getting hurt. It seems to be some sort of compulsion, don't you think?"

Vanessa's words break through the noise of Selene and Grimoire's conversation, and I blink. "Sorry, can you say that again?"

Vanessa clears her throat. "I'm worried about Lisa having another episode. Whatever happened out there seems like some sort of compulsion, and she might get hurt if we try to stop her again." Her gaze shifts to Kellan, who hasn't moved from his post by the bathroom door. "Restricting her movements wouldn't be good for her mental state, but we still need to consider options in case it happens again."

The air around Kellan darkens, his broad shoulders tensing as he stares at the front door. My stomach twists at his expression—I know that look. It's the same one Lucas gets when he thinks I need protection.

"You're not thinking of keeping her locked up, are you?"

"It would be easier if I could," Kellan growls, his words rough and hard. Vanessa sighs.

The bathroom door flies open with a bang. Lisa stands in a cloud of steam, dressed in an oversized shirt and sweatpants, her black hair dripping wet and eyes blazing. "I am not going to be caged again, damn it."

Her voice quivers with panic, and my heart breaks. I step forward, ready to defend her, but Vanessa beats me to it.

"No, no—I meant something like tranquilizers if another episode occurs." Vanessa's voice stays calm and steady. "Nothing restrictive."

Lisa's mouth opens, then closes. A flush creeps up her neck as her outrage deflates, replaced by obvious embarrassment at her outburst.

Kellan, on the other hand, just… grunts. Like a tranquilizer isn't enough for him. The way his brooding stare lands on Lisa, I'm pretty sure he's thinking about locking her in their cabin until the Mad Prince is dead. That's absolutely the kind of reaction Lucas would have, and I can recognize that half-mad, overprotective stare immediately.

Lisa doesn't seem to notice. "A tranquilizer? Like a gun?"

Vanessa shakes her head, a laugh escaping her. "No, nothing that dramatic. Just a regular injectable. Though I should warn you, it'll probably hurt like hell."

"It is what it is." Lisa's shoulders slump in resignation.

Kellan reaches out, yanking her against his chest in a swift movement. Lisa stiffens, her hands coming up as if to push him away—but then she just stares at his face for a long time. Something in his expression must change her mind, because she lets out a soft sigh and relaxes into him instead.

My eyes meet Vanessa's. A small smile tugs at her lips, matching my own.

"So what have you figured out?" Lisa's voice is muffled against Kellan's shirt. "About what happened to me?"

The smile slips from my face. "We definitely think you're under some kind of vampire compulsion. How much blood did he take from you?"

"Um." She wiggles a little against Kellan's hold, as if he's squeezing her too hard. His tense arms relax, and Lisa turns around until her back is against his chest, though she stays in his embrace.

It's cute.

"It was only the one time," she mumbles, but her eyes slide off to a random corner of the room, like she doesn't want to make eye contact.

A flash of light, and Grimoire materializes in his child form, hovering cross-legged in front of Lisa. His cherubic face betrays none of the gravity of the situation.

"How long did the feeding last?"

Lisa's fingers twist in the hem of her shirt. "I don't... I'm not sure."

"And after?" Grimoire presses. "How did you feel?"

"My memory's fuzzy around then."

The spirit's eyes narrow. "Did you achieve orgasm during the feeding?"

She goes rigid. A growl rumbles through the room, and Kellan's arms tighten around her protectively.

"It's a standard question." Grimoire's voice carries an edge of annoyance, and I have to stifle the urge to smack him over his insensitivity. "The physical response matters."

"Keep your mouth shut," Kellan snarls, his voice promising violence.

Lisa pinches his forearm hard enough to make him flinch. The growling stops, but the tension in his body remains coiled tight.

"Why..." Lisa swallows. "Why is that important?" Her eyes fix on the floor as she continues, her words a bare mumble. "He was... fixated. On making sure I... you know."

My stomach turns at her words. At what she's trying so hard not to say directly. For a second, I want to vomit.

You're okay, Selene says, her worry clear in her our bond.

But I'm worried about Lisa—not me. The things I've experienced… I shove those memories far from this place and moment. It isn't about me. We're here for her.

"That is expected. The more pleasure experienced, the stronger the feedback loop in any bonding or contract."

"Because he gets more power that way?" Lisa's voice is hollow.

Grimoire makes an impatient sound. "That's what feedback means. The energy flows both ways. Wolves do the same with their mating marks. It's no different with vampires."

Vanessa looks thoughtful. "So, is there a way to see just how strong his influence is on her? There has to be, right?"

Grimoire drifts backward, his childlike face pinched and eyes darting around the room. "Vampires are tricky beasts. Anyone could miss the subtle connections."

My eyes narrow. "Why didn't you say that before?"

"What do you mean?" His gaze meets mine for a millisecond before sliding away again, focusing on some fascinating spot on the wall.

"We all assumed she was fine. Selene thought she was fine. But you knew this was possible, didn't you?" The accusation in my voice makes Lisa shift uncomfortably in Kellan's arms.noveldrama

A red flush creeps up Grimoire's neck—something I've never seen before. "Witches and vampires weren't exactly bosom friends, you know."

You were the one saying scent means nothing, Selene points out, her mental voice sharp with reproach. And witches would have researched their enemy, don't you think? So you knew this entire time.

Grimoire vanishes in a flash, retreating to his book form. It isn't as if I overlooked it, he protests in my head, flustered. There were no signs, and she seemed just fine.

The book thumps against my hip from its place in my bag, and I resist the urge to throw it across the room. "If you'd warned us from the start, we wouldn't be blindsided right now. She could have kept going…" To where, though?

If he's near enough, she was compelled by his presence. Because she wasn't violent when stopped, I doubt it was a specific Call.

Pain thuds through my chest. "You're saying the Mad Prince is here somewhere."

Well, yes. Isn't that obvious?

"No!" I snap, swallowing down a whole host of insults I want to hurl at him. "It's not obvious at all! How close is he, then?"

How am I supposed to know?

"Ava?" Vanessa asks, sounding hesitant. "We can't hear the entire conversation. What's going on?"

Kellan's eyes are fixed on me, a brooding stare promising violence. Not toward me, but toward his prey—the vampire who stole his mate. He's only silent because he's waiting.

"Grimoire says the Mad Prince is definitely nearby. We don't know how close he is, but Lisa was trying to get to him. That's what it's all about." My fingers clench as I watch my best friend flinch, her face pale and drawn… and scared. As if all these months of healing never happened.