Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 140

140 Ava: Lisa’s Gone

“Ava!”

Kellan’s familiar voice should bring hope, but all I feel is despair as I stare into the distance, wishing that vampire would reappear.

A thousand of them could come and it would be fine. As long as they bring Lisa back.

“Ava! Can you hear me?”

Kellan’s face swims in and out of focus, a hazy blur against the night sky. I squint, trying to bring him into clarity, but it ike trying to grasp smoke.

“They have Lisa,” I whisper, the words scraping my throat raw. “The vampire… He took her.”

Kellan’s eyes widen, a flicker of anguish passing over his features before he schools them into careful neutrality. But I can see the tension in his jaw, the rigidity of his shoulders. He’s barely holding it together.

“I know, Ava. We’ll get her back.” His voice is strained, distracted. Like his mind is a million miles away even

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140 Ava Lisa’s Gone

as he’s right here with me.

Strong arms scoop me up, cradling me against a broad chest. For a moment, I think it’s Kellan, but the scent is wrong. Earthy and unfamiliar, not the piney–leather smell I associate with him. I turn my head, blinking sluggishly at the face above me. It takes a moment for recognition to click into place. One of the guards from Lisa’s apartment. I can’t recall his name, but I

remember him standing sentry outside her door, stoic and watchful.

He carries me away from the carnage, away from the bodies strewn across the grass like broken dolls. I want to protest, to demand he put me down, but my limbs feel weighted, my tongue thick and useless in my

mouth.

Behind us, I can hear Kellan pacing, his footsteps heavy and agitated against the ground. He’s growling, the sound low and menacing, interspersed with words I can’t quite make out. But one stands out, sharp and clear amid the jumbled mess of my thoughts.

Mate.

He keeps saying it, over and over, like a mantra. Like a

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140 Ava: Lisa’s Gone

prayer.

I try to focus on him, to call out and ask what he means, but the world is tilting, spinning off its axis. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision, a black tide threatening to pull me under.

The last thing I see before unconsciousness claims me is Selene running in from the woodline, coming straight for me.

Ava! 

***

The hospital ceiling greets me again when I open my

eyes.

This… is getting old. Fast.

I agree, Selene grumbles, but I can feel her warm weight against me. Someone must have let her in.

Of course they did. I wouldn’t leave. Led them on a right merry chase around the garden. They call themselves wolves and can’t even catch a single dog. 

Letting out a soft snort, I rub my hands down her fur, turning my head to the presence I can sense by my

side.

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140 Ava: Lisa’s Gone

Kellan.

He’s staring out the window and hasn’t even noticed that I’m awake, his brow furrowed and gray eyes distant.

He’s worried about Lisa, Selene says, a whisper in my mind. He’s finally realized that they’re fated.

What?

Lisa? Fated? That ma s no sense.

It is a rare occurrence, but humans can be mates. He probably didn’t realize until he could smell her blood. It’s not uncommon. It’s a very faint scent in humans until the bonding takes place.

How fascinating.

Lisa’s going to be furious to know…

My heart sinks.

We will get her back, Selene assures me, her voice strong and determined.

“I take it we haven’t found her yet?” I ask Kellan, whose head snaps in my direction.

“Ava. You’re awake. How do you feel?”

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“I’m fine.” Reaching for the side of my throat, I confirm that the skin is unblemished. “Nothing wrong at all.”

Except an odd burning in my chest, but I already know

what that is.

It’s a half–bond. We have to get rid of it.

I don’t know much about vampires–but I know that being bonded with one is bad news.

Correct. 

“You had blood everywhere.” Kellan looks me over, like I haven’t probably been poked and prodded by numerous nurses and doctors.

“I healed,” I reply shortly, not willing to talk about what happened. “What about Lisa? Do we have any

information on her?”

He stiffens at her name and shakes his head. “No. Nothing. You said a vampire took her?”

“Yes. Tall. Silver hair. Red eyes. Kind of freaky. Kept calling us kittens.”

He’s right, Selene says. Their appearances are too similar. 

It’s how they’ve survived so long, Selene muses. Adaptation is necessary for any species to thrive.

Not every supernatural, Selene corrects, but I ignore her.

He’s right, Ava. You’re not fully recovered. Your body needs time. Your wounds are healed, but your blood loss remains.

Our pack, Selene corrects gently. You have already accepted Lucas in y ‘r heart, haven’t you?