Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted - Chapter 350

Chapter 350: Ava: At the Perimeter
There’s a pause, and when Grimoire speaks again, his tone is more serious. Do you remember what I said when we first met?

The dying, otherworldly forest flashes through my mind. But try as I might, I can’t recall anything specific Grimoire might have said.

“No.”

Vanessa and the others don’t even look at me as I speak; they’re all used to my one-sided conversations at this point. Of course, very few people know about Grimoire, but they all know about Selene.

Who’s ignoring our conversation as she hops through the snow, tail high.

I mentioned that you have wards all over your soul.

The words trigger a vague recollection, and I frown. “I… yes, I think I remember that now.” But why wouldn’t I remember something so important? At least, it sounds important.

It’s precisely because of the wards on your soul.

Hmm.

What are these wards? Selene’s voice echoes in my mind, her curiosity palpable.

Grimoire sighs, a sound that reverberates through my consciousness. I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.

“Wait, what?” I blurt out, earning a curious glance from Vanessa. I wave her off with a smile, focusing on the conversation only I can hear. “You don’t know what they are?”

I don’t know every literal thing about the world, Ava, he retorts, a hint of defensiveness in his tone. I only know what I’ve witnessed over the centuries.

Have your memories faded since being with Ava? Selene asks him.

Absolutely not, Grimoire replies firmly. My knowledge and memories remain intact.

She stops her playful bounding through the snow, turning to stare at the messenger bag where Grimoire rests in his book form. Her ice-blue eyes narrow, and I can sense her jealousy.

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up?” I ask, absently patting the bag, as if making sure Selene hasn’t grabbed at it and hauled him away to chew on his spine.

She’s done that a couple times when he really got on her nerves.

Despite our repeated failures at integrating you with the pack bond, I still believe it’s possible. These wards are the problem, Ava. They’re blocking you from full integration with any pack.

I pause, considering his words. “But I feel connected to the Westwood Pack. It’s not as strong as what others describe, but it’s there.”

That extra connection you feel, Grimoire explains, is likely supplemented by your bond with Selene and your mate bond with Lucas, not from you, yourself.

“Have you seen other wards on souls before?” I’m curious as to the extent of his knowledge in this area.

I have, he admits. Usually, they’re simpler. Protection spells, curses, that sort of thing. But yours… they’re different. Layered. Almost as if they were put there over time. I first thought they were to hide your powers, but you don’t seem limited by their existence.

She cannot shift, Selene points out.

Touche, wolf. Maybe it is suppressing her shifter abilities.

“Ava, the herbs are just north of us. I’ll meet you at the next ward.”

I nod at Vanessa, watching her retreating form as she breaks off from our little group.

A flicker of concern crosses my mind.

“Marcus, can one of the them accompany Vanessa? Just to be safe.”

Marcus nods, his expression stoic. “Of course, Luna.” He signals to one of the wolves, who trots off after the healer.

I turn back to the path ahead, my feet crunching through the snow. It’s not as difficult as it was months ago. My muscles have grown stronger, more accustomed to grueling hikes. I can feel the difference with each step.

Marcus and the remaining three bodyguard wolves fall into formation behind me as I make my way to the next ward.

As my thoughts settle, I turn my attention back to Grimoire. “So, what’s your plan? You wouldn’t bring up these wards without having an idea in mind.”

Perceptive as always, Ava, Grimoire’s voice echoes in my mind. I’ve been considering a ritual that might help us understand these wards better, possibly even remove them.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “A ritual? What kind?”

It’s an ancient practice, one that allows a person to delve into their own soul. To see and interact with the very essence of their being.

“That sounds… intense. And potentially dangerous.”

All magic carries risks, Grimoire admits. But this could provide answers we desperately need.

Selene, who has been quietly listening, chimes in. I don’t like it. It sounds too risky.

The familiar tingle against my skin tells me we’ve arrived, and I replenish this ward as I did the last. But this time, instead of leaving for the next, I clear a patch of snow and sit on the ground, waiting for Vanessa.

“I don’t feel like the benefits outweigh the risks.”

You don’t even know the risks yet.

“Let me guess. I can get lost inside my soul or something?”

Grimoire goes silent for a long time, before reluctantly admitting, Yes.

“See? Benefits don’t match the risks.”

You shouldn’t put Ava in danger just to appease your own curiosity, Selene snaps at him, coming to flop onto my lap as she pants heavily.

Marcus clears his throat, drawing my attention. His brow is furrowed, concern etched across his weathered features. I realize he must have overheard my conversation with Grimoire and Selene.

“Don’t worry, Marcus. I’m not about to do anything stupid or risky,” I assure him, offering a small smile.

His shoulders relax slightly, but the worry doesn’t completely leave his eyes. “Of course, Luna. I trust your judgment.”

I would have been there the entire time, Grimoire mutters, sounding almost petulant. You wouldn’t have been at risk.

Selene lifts her head from my lap, her ice-blue eyes narrowing. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Ava’s just fine and growing stronger every day, even with the wards in place.

It doesn’t feel right to leave her soul warded. He sounds frustrated.

I stroke Selene’s fur. “Let’s just focus on the present for now, okay?”

We lapse into peaceful silence as we wait for Vanessa. The quiet of the forest settles around us, broken only by the occasional crunch of snow as one of the bodyguard wolves shifts their weight. The rhythmic sound of Selene’s breathing and the warmth of her body against mine lulls me into a light doze.

Suddenly, a sharp tingle shoots through my wrist, shocking me awake. My heart races as I look down at the witch bracelet, its silver surface gleaming in the weak winter sunlight.

What does that mean? Selene asks, her ears perked forward in alertness.

“I don’t know,” I admit, running my fingers over the cool metal. It’s silent, like it’s a normal bracelet again.

I’ve been wearing it for so long, I almost forgot it’s a magical artifact. Unfortunately, I still have no idea how it works. Maybe the Grand Sage will know.

It’s a warning, Grimoire says, his tone grim.

I shoot to my feet, nearly dislodging Selene from my lap, my mind immediately rushing to Vanessa’s safety.

Marcus tenses.

Calm down, Grimoire says, his voice steady. The bracelet reacts to certain types of magic. Run a magical survey around your perimeter.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and reach out with my senses, feeling the magic that thrums through the forest. I can sense Vanessa’s familiar energy signature, moving steadily towards us. But there’s something else, a slow-moving, cloud-like feeling of dark energy that makes my skin crawl.

“I can see how far Vanessa is,” I report, opening my eyes. “She’s on her way back. But there’s something else out there. It feels… wrong.”

We need to investigate, Grimoire says, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the unease churning in my gut.

“Should we wait for Vanessa first?” I ask, glancing in the direction I can sense her approaching from.

It’s moving slow enough that waiting should be fine.

I nod, turning to Marcus. “There’s something out there. We’re going to wait for Vanessa, then investigate.”

Marcus’s expression hardens, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of his knife. “Understood, Luna. We’ll be ready.”

As we wait, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that’s settled over me. The forest seems too quiet now, as if holding its breath in anticipation of what’s to come. I find myself straining my ears, trying to catch any sound that might give away the nature of the dark energy I sensed.

The sound of crunching snow alerts us to Vanessa’s approach before we see her. She emerges from between the trees, her backpack bulging. The fourth bodyguard tags along behind her.