Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 314 Ava: Grimoire's Manipulation

Before my eyes, the book's form fades. In its place, Grimoire materializes, perched on the edge of the table.

Flames lick at his skin, but do nothing to the wood of the table. His expression is distinctly sour as he glowers at

Lucas.

"It isn't right to wedge yourself between my bond with Ava."

| feel Lucas tense behind me, his hand tightening around mine.

"I'm not wedging myself anywhere. She's my mate."

Grimoire's eyes narrow. "And | am her magical counterpart. Our bond is just as important. Perhaps even more

so."

The way my mate tenses behindhasscrambling to defuse the situation. "Enough, Grimoire."

Know your place, Selene adds, her mental growl making my eardrums vibrate.

Lucas's thumb traces circles on the back of my hand, and when I glance back, he looks... pleased.

His lips curl up, his face relaxed. In fact, | think I'd categorize him as distinctly smug.

Grimoire, on the other hand, has shrunk from the size of a man to the size of a child. He even looks younger, the

planes of his face round and soft, and his voice a higher pitch than before. "He still has to respect our bond,"

Grimoire insists, crossing his arms in a sulky demeanor that makes him seem about five years old.

He's...

Adorable.

Even though | know he's thousands upon thousands of years old, my heart pitters and patters, squeezing out

maternal affection at his appearance.

Really? Selene's exasperation snapsout of it. He's a book, Ava. Not your kid.

Frowning at Grimoire, | focus on the bond between us. There's an odd sort of fuzziness there that brings up all

those maternal feelings again when | touch it.

My eyes narrow. "Are you manipulating my emotions, Grimoire?"

His eyes go wide. Wider than should be possible. He looks like a woebegone child, and my heart trembles—until |

slam closed the magical connection between us. The childish figure of Grimoire pops out of existence, leaving

behind only his book form.

Our bond tugs and yanks incessantly.

"Not until you act right. No manipulating me, Grimoire. | mean it." It doesn't feel good to know he was able to

force emotions into| didn't want to feel.

The yanking stops.

Lucas pullsinto his arms, his chest warm against my back. "See? | don't like him. He turned into a child to

gain your sympathy."

Instead of a yank this time, there's a tiny little tug. So gentle | would miss it, if | wasn't waiting for it.

Reaching out, | touch the book again, thinking of how my magic flowed into it last time. He hadn't asked for

permission; he'd just taken it. That pissesoff, now that | think about it.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

I'm sorry, Grimoire says, sounding suitably chastised. | won't do that again.

Narrowing my eyes at the book, | ask suspiciously, "And how am | supposed to believe you?"

| swear | won't do it again. | allowed my jealousy to take over. You've been spending all your twith him and

ignoring me.

That doesn't excuse what you did, Selene says irritably. You're old enough to know better. Bonds are sacred. If

you only bonded her to manipulate her into doing what you want, I'll tell her exactly how to break it.

Break it? You can do that? Fascinating...

I won't. | won't do it again. | promise. Please, letout. I'll be on my best behavior.

There's no hint of the condescending elitist; it's all back to that puppy-dog bond, the one that's overly

affectionate and needy.

Infusing our connection with magic is easier than | thought it would be. The book fades away again, leaving

child-Grimoire in its place. This time, | don't feel a rush of maternal emotions when I see his face.

It's cute, but in the way children can be cute. Nothing special. Just a kid.

"Thank you," child-Grimoire says gratefully.

Lucas grunts, his arms tightening around me. "Why is he back?"

"| wanted to say something!" Grimoire holds up his tiny hands. "I want to help."

As if any of that was helpful, Selene mutters. If | was there, he'd have teeth marks all along his spine.

Grimoire shudders. "I'm sorry, okay? | already apologized."

That is hardly an apology.

"What more should I—"

"That's enough." Interrupting the two is necessary for my sanity. "Why were you trying to get my attention,

Grimoire?"

"Ah." Grimoire brightens. Somehow, this childish look of his suits his personality. "I thought of something."

"Oh?"

"Your wolf was once mated to his, wasn't she?"

Selene's growl inside my head intensifies. You have no right to speak of such things.

He scowls. "How can | help it? I'm bonded to your mistress, too."

Then close your ears to what doesn't concern you, she snaps.

"Your wolf is as illogical as you are," Grimoire mutters.

| narrow my eyes, but he just looks away, clearing his throat. "Either way, this means the mate connection

between them is strong. For it to persist through several lifetimes is quite rare. It is a blessing from the

Goddess."

The sheer rage that explodes out of Selene's side of our bond would havefalling to my knees, if Lucas wasn't

holdingup.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his arms tight as he bears my weight.

"She's angry."

You know not of which you speak, Selene snarls. Get your filthy soul out of this bond.

"Your mate might not have appreciated the blessing, but that doesn't change the truth, wolf."

Enough, book.

"Guys..." Even though Selene's not here, | hold my hand up as if flagging their attention. "Can we get back to the

problem at hand?"

It's clear my new bond has upset the delicate balance inside my head. They hate each other. And my mate isn't

fond of him, either.

"Selene," Grimoire says, pointing at Lucas over my shoulder, "can control his wolf. Use the bomb."

word

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