Unshift

315 Ava: Plan of Action, Finally

“The bomb is risky” I protest automatically. “You said it could shatter his mind.

Meanwhile, the rest of my brain is focused on this idea that Selene can somehow control Lucas‘ wolf. Really? He’s an alpha. The strongest of the strong. Though, Selene showed her presence as Luna, and that was a force I never expected….

I am stronger, she asserts, sounding mildly insulted.

“Don’t shatter it, then. Only weaken the barrier.”

*Not destroy it completely?” I ask again, seeking clarification–because this is nothing like he explained earlier.

Grimoire’s flames flicker as he nods. “Correct. Your magic would create a weak point, allowing Lucas‘ wolf to break through naturally.”

“But then wouldn’t that lead to my wolf side taking over?” Lucas asks, absently running a hand

hair in a gentle caress. “Wouldn’t that be the outcome we are trying to avoid?”

over

my

“Indeed,” Grimoire confirms. “Once your minds reconnect, the wolf will become feral due to the breakdown of your psyche.”

Feral. The image of Lucas‘ golden eyes, wild and uncontrolled, flashes through my mind. Reaching up to grab his hand, I link our fingers in a firm grip, even as my hand shakes at the worries of my mind.

“That’s where Selene comes in, right?” My gaze never leaves Grimoire, my voice steady with false calm. “She can control his wolf. Keep him from becoming feral.”

Grimoire looks pleased. “Precisely.”

Forcing submission is not easy. Not when your opponent is an alpha.

But she doesn’t sound like she opposes the plan.

Grimoire continues, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. “As long as Selene maintains control, Lucas will be able to recover his mental strength and regain balance. It’s crucial to understand that Lycan and human souls can only coexist when the Lycan soul is tempered into submission.

“If that’s so,” I interject slowly, turning these facts over in my head, “Why weren’t Lycans like this before? I mean, in the past? Selene was never feral.

It was uncommon to run across a feral Lycan. Usually a rogue, with too little time spent in a pack.

Grimoire’s flames dance excitedly, clearly pleased by my curiosity. “Ah, an excellent question! You see, the human mind is inherently too weak to contain a Lycan soul and endure its primal instincts. This is precisely why the shifters of today are much weaker than the Lycans of history.”

Lucas leans forward. “What are these Lycans? This doesn’t sound like proper history.

He wouldn’t know anything about the true history of wolf shifters; only what he’s grown up with. I can’t even remember if I’ve ever shared what I learned with him before his memory loss.

315 Ava Planol Action, Finally

As Grimoire launches into what promises to be a lengthy explanation, I clear my throat. Even with as little time as I’ve spent with the book, I can recognize that he’s getting carried away with

his own voice.

“Grimoire,” I interject, trying to sound firm instead of exasperated. “We appreciate the history lesson, but maybe we should focus on the matter at hand?”

Selene adds her own mental nudge, and Grimoire’s flames flicker.

“Of course, of course. My apologics, I do tend to get carried away with the wealth of knowledge at my disposal.”

Lucas, for his part, looks a little

the problem in front of us, to Appointed at the interruption. But it’s too easy to try to avoid

the problem in front of us, to get distracted by other things. I don’t want his memories to become a lack of priority.

There’s too much at stake, and the idea that an alpha challenge could come at any time has the area between my shoulder blades itching.

“What do you think?” I ask, pulling his attention away from the book. “Should we try Grimoire’s plan?”

I’m not sure how I feel about it.

“Something in here… Lucas taps his chest. “Something tells me to try it.”

His wolf agrees, Selene says quietly. His wolf wants out. He hates being apart from Lucas.

But that doesn’t mean this is a great idea..

Privately funneling my thoughts toward Selene still feels awkward. You said it won’t be easy. Do you really think you can do it?

At first, there’s silence. Then her mental voice, firm and steady. I will do it.

Fumbling to enter Lucas‘ mind is an exercise in futility.

“It isn’t inside you,” Grimoire lectures, though his tone is kind. “It’s in the mental bond between

you.”

But no matter how I open myself up, no matter how I reach, and no matter how I try to feel for anything else, any glimmer of connection between us, there’s only the bond that’s warm and golden in my chest.

It pulses steadily, but now that I know what I’m supposed to be hunting for, there’s a vague sense that it’s incomplete. Like a bridge missing its other half.

“Ava,” Lucas murmurs, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. “It’s okay. Take your time.

I feel his hand reach for mine, seeking to offer comfort. Before our fingers can touch, a sharp crack echoes through the room.

“No physical contact, Grimoire snaps. “It’ll only muddle things further

amund must hann kann hlin amaalidne 1 mama! banal anima

My ever so patient mate grunts in annoyance but doesn’t argue. I hear him shift on the couch, probably settling back into position.

“Sorry,” I mutter, more to Lucas than Grimoire.

“Don’t apologize,” he says. “You’re doing great.”

But I’m not. I’m falling miserably.

“You’re thinking too hard, Grimoire chides. “Stop trying to force it. Let the magic flow naturally.”

I want to snap at him, to tell him how easy that is to say when you’re not the one fumbling in the dark. But at some point, I’ve learned more about myself. I can recognize that instinctive reaction as my frustration with myself, not with my teacher. I’m angry at my own incapability. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

And, as Magister Orion cautioned me many times, that frustration is only an obstacle to my eventual success.

Taking a deep breath, I clear my mind. It’s an easy exercise now, hardly worth a thought in my

head.

I focus on the golden warmth in my chest, imagining it expanding outward. Like tendrils of light that stretch from me, searching for something–anything–to connect with.

Nothing.

“Again, it isn’t from there, Ava. You’re looking out now, but that’s still not where it is. Not from here. I can feel his fingers tap my chest. “It’s up here.” And then my temple.

“Okay, okay.”

But even when I fumble up there, there’s nothing

Only Selene. And Grimoire.

“Such latent talent,” Grimoire mumbles. “Yet you’re so dense at picking up the application.”

Love at World’s End-