Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
“Ah.” He shuffles through the snow. “According to legend, they existed in a space between realms. Neither fully in our world nor in the Fae realm. The stories speak of crystal spires that touched the clouds, streets paved with precious metals that conducted magical energy.”
“That sounds…” My nose wrinkles. “Unreal? Like a fairy tale.”
“Indeed. The texts describe gods walking among mortals, sharing their knowledge freely. Magical fountains that could cure any ailment. Buildings that floated in the sky.” He chuckles, closing the journal. “Pure fantasy, most likely. Though the principles behind these stories intrigue me more than their historical accuracy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Consider the concept of the floating buildings. While the story itself may be fiction, it suggests our ancestors understood principles of magical levitation that we’ve lost.” He taps his notepad. “The same applies to their supposed mastery of magical energy. The idea that they could create self-sustaining magical circuits…”
“And that’s where your siphon comes in?”
“Precisely.” He beams at me like a proud teacher. “Whether or not these cities existed is irrelevant. The theoretical framework they present—the possibility of creating a perpetual magical energy source—that’s what fascinates me.”
“But how would it actually work? I mean, even basic spells need some kind of power source, right?”
“Think of it like a waterwheel.” His hands move through the air, sketching invisible diagrams. “The initial push of water starts the wheel turning. Once in motion, the wheel’s movement draws more water, which keeps the wheel spinning. A perfect cycle.”
That sounds too easy. “You think it’ll work?”
“I have no idea.” He adjusts his glasses. “But that’s why we experiment. We learn. We improve. Speaking of which, I think it’s time to bring the brace into some sparring, but there’s a problem.”
My lips twitch. “You mean the one where I might accidentally blow someone’s head off when we’re just trying to practice?”
“Yes. I failed to activate any sort of safety measure for testing purposes. I suppose I should work on that. Your efficacy will come with practice, and you can’t aim at trees forever. We need moving targets, real-time danger.”
The enthusiasm in his words gives me an uneasy sense of deja vu. Like a certain grizzled wolf shifter who loved to throw two girls into intense marathon sessions of running and other calisthenic workouts.
“That sounds… Dangerous.”
“It should be, yes. Otherwise how can we trust you will be able to act in a real emergency? You need training. You need to think while hurt and stunned. Think while on the run. You need to be able to access its power under any circumstance, without faltering.”
Jesus. He’s going to be worse than Jericho.
Vanessa and I have come up with a plan. It’s a little crazy, and something we’ve been trying to avoid, but—there’s a chance it’s going to make things a lot easier for me.
We’re going to spend a week on the perimeter, chasing down areas of corruption. No more wasted time walking miles back home every day. Granted, we’ll be carrying a lot more stuff than normal, but I’ve already been banned from holding anything heavier than a whisper.
Is it crazy to admit that I’m a little excited?
Lucas frowns as he tugs my coat firmly closed. “I don’t like it.”
“It doesn’t matter if we like it or not. We don’t have a choice.” Wrapping my hands around his, I keep my voice soft. “We can’t risk our people getting caught up in this stuff.”
His fingers work methodically to secure each button of my coat. “I just don’t see why you can’t come back every day.”
“And waste hours and energy trudging back and forth through the snow?” My boots are comfortable, like walking on clouds, and I stamp my feet experimentally. They’re new; Lucas gave them to me last night. I’m a little worried about breaking them in, but he swears up and down I won’t get a single blister. “That’s not practical. We need to cover more ground, and camping out is the most efficient way. It’ll give me more rest between sites, too.”
“I said no.” His jaw tightens as he tugs my scarf higher.
“You didn’t, actually. You said you don’t like it. There’s a difference.”
His golden eyes narrow, and I swear I can see him pondering whether or not to wrap my mouth with the scarf to keep me from arguing with him. Of course, he won’t keep me here. He’s already agreed to it. He’s just reserving his right to complain—at length. “Winter camping is brutal, Ava. The temperatures drop well below freezing at night.”
“Good thing you’ve assembled an experienced team then.” I catch his hands as they fuss with my collar for the third time. “I’m not the same girl you first met. I’m stronger now.”
“Being stronger doesn’t make you immune to hypothermia.”
“No, but it means I can handle myself better.” I squeeze his fingers. “Marcus has years of experience with winter expeditions. Greg practically grew up in the snow. The entire team knows what they’re doing. And I have my magic to keep me warm. Fire’s easy.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is? Because from where I’m standing, this is the most logical solution. We can’t risk leaving any of that tainted energy out there where it could affect more wolves.”
Lucas’s shoulders tense. “The point is that my mate wants to camp in subzero temperatures while there are rogues and hunters in the area. Not long after collapsing, too.”
“Your mate wants to protect our people.” I step closer, letting his warmth seep into me. “And she has an entire team of highly trained wolves to keep her safe while she does it. Plus, Vanessa and Marcus are coming. They’ll make sure I don’t put my health into danger. And Grimoire’s keeping a closer eye on me, too.”
“Still, they can miss something.”
“It’s a team that includes two of your most trusted people, and arguably the best healer in your pack.” I press my palm against his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath my touch. “Plus Selene and Grimoire. I’ll have more protection than the average alpha.”
His hands settle on my waist, grip firm through the layers of winter gear. “You’re not the average anything.”
“No, I’m your Luna. Which means I have responsibilities to our pack.” I rise on my toes to brush my lips against his jaw. “Let me do this. Let me help keep them safe.”
Lucas pulls me closer, his lips capturing mine in a heated kiss that makes my toes curl inside my boots. The cold air vanishes, replaced by his warmth.
“You need to eat.” His words vibrate against my mouth between kisses. “More than usual. The cold burns through—” Another kiss steals his words. “Through your energy reserves.”
“We’ve packed enough supplies.” I lean into him, savoring his touch. “Plus, Marcus and Greg are excellent hunters.”
His hands slide up my back, pressing me closer. “Check in every morning and night.” His teeth graze my lower lip. “No excuses.”
“Yes, Alpha.” A smile tugs at my lips as he growls at my teasing tone. “You know, if you time your night patrols right, you could always stop by our camp. That would be a fun way to keep warm, don’t you think?”
A rumbling sound in his chest is his only response before he claims my mouth again. His kiss turns possessive, demanding, stealing my breath—
The front door creaks open, followed by Vester’s exaggerated sigh. “This is what’s taking so long?”
“Shut up. Like you don’t maul Vanessa before every mission.” Lucas doesn’t bother looking away from me.
“I do not maul—“
“You absolutely do.” His thumb traces my cheek. “At least I keep my clothes on.”
“That was one time! And we thought we were alone.”
Lucas steals another quick kiss. “Behind the med tent isn’t alone. Everyone uses that path.”
This is a fascinating story, and I’m definitely going to bother Vanessa about it later. But I shove my gloved hands against my mate’s mouth, my cheeks hot. “I have to go.”
“Agreed.” Vester clears his throat, once again cool as a cucumber. “Are you done saying goodbye, Alpha, or should I give you another minute?”
Lucas growls, but there’s no heat or aggression behind it. Sliding his arm around my waist, he guides me to the door, following Vester.
Once we reach the de facto village exit, where most of us gather before saying goodbye to any scout team departing—where most of our cars are parked, currently buried beneath a few inches of snow—I stop in my tracks.
The sight before me is…
Startling.
Four massive wolves stand in formation, hooked up to what can only be described as the most impressive dog sled I’ve ever seen. Their fur gleams in the morning light, like someone’s given them a bath and brushed them out. Leather straps connect them to a wooden contraption that looks both ancient and perfectly maintained.
“Surprise!” Vanessa’s voice rings with pride.
My mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.
“You said you had it worked out, but…” The words trail off as I take in the setup. Supplies are already loaded, secured with thick rope against the wooden slats.
“Did you think I meant we’d just carry less?” Vanessa’s laugh echoes across the snow. She seems excited, more energetic than normal.
She’s very happy, Selene agrees, dashing out of nowhere to approach the sled. Her delicate black nose goes wild as she sniffs it over.
“It’s perfect.” The words come out breathless. No more fighting through waist-deep snow. No more exhausting myself before I even reach the contaminated areas.
Marcus steps forward, adjusting one of the harnesses. “These four are our best distance runners. They’ll have us covering twice the ground in half the time. They’re also great hunters. We’re bringing food, but they’ll be able to supplement what we have.”
“And you’ll actually have energy left to purify the taint when we find it.” Vanessa’s smile turns smug as she catches her alpha’s eye. “See? Told you I had it handled.”
His arm tightens around my waist, but I can already tell he’s more relaxed than before. “You could have mentioned this part earlier.”
“And miss the look on your face?” Vanessa snorts. “Not a chance. It’s not every day an Alpha gets to see his wolves hooked up like common huskies. No offense, Selene.”