Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

"That's the million dollar question," I mutter as Vanessa presses a wet washcloth against Ivy's forehead.

The coolness seems to settle her, and I wonder if she's conscious enough to hear our conversation. This isn't how I wanted her to find out that there's something definitely going on inside of her body.

Though now we really have no idea what it is.

Grimoire rounds the bed to squat on the other side, his intense gaze fixed on Ivy. Stoking Ivy's hand in a gesture I hope is comforting, I focus on the sensation emanating from her. The corruption pulses beneath Ivy's skin in an odd rhythm—one, two, three... pause. One, two, three... pause. Like a heartbeat, but not quite right.

This is no illusion. Your vast intellect must have overlooked something, oh wise one.

"Your sarcasm does nothing to help the situation." Grimoire glowers at Selene over the bed. "Unless you've suddenly developed expertise in magical theory?"

Calling it an illusion makes no sense at all. Even I know that much.

"Please enlighten us with your extensive knowledge of magic. I'm sure your centuries of study far exceed my own limited understanding."

The steady count in my head falters as their bickering intensifies. One-two-three... what comes next?

"Both of you, stop it." My fingers still on Ivy's wrist. "Selene, leave Grimoire alone. He's doing his best."

Her tail swishes. But—

"We're all missing something here, and sniping at each other won't help us figure it out." The strange rhythm starts again under my fingertips. One, two, three...

Why are you counting? Clearly decided retreat is better for her lupine pride, Selene nudges at my thigh with her paw.

"I don't know. I just am." Frustrated, I reach out with my magic again. But there's just nothing to interact with. Just Ivy, whole and—magically speaking—healthy.

That core of power inside of me almost vibrates in frustration.

"Why do you think it's an illusion?" Vanessa's voice interrupts my frustrated dead-end thoughts.

Grimoire doesn't even glance at the healer as he answers, settling into lecture mode. "Magic leaves traces. It isn't so easily hidden. When examining a patient, you must first establish baseline readings of their natural energy signature."

My eyes narrow at his tone. He sounds like one of my old teachers. Not one I liked. Condescending and elitist.

Selene rumbles a little. She doesn't like how he's addressing Vanessa, either. It's a valid question from someone with no training in magical theory, after all.

"Start with the physical symptoms." He gestures to Ivy's prone form. "Temperature, heart rate, blood pressure. Then layer magical sensing over those readings. The metaphysical exists alongside the physical, not separate from it. But in Ivy's case, there are no physical manifestations. When I attempt to trace the corruption Ava senses, the magic disperses like smoke. A true corruption is much like any disease; it leaves its effects. Magical residue, if you will. There's none here."

The steady beat under my fingers skips. One-two... pause. Three?

Is this thing listening to him?

"But there is something," Vanessa argues. "She has a fever. And this sleep is not natural."

She seems like she's in a coma, Selene agrees. Why isn't she awake with all your poking and prodding and talking?

"You check vitals, then order tests based on symptoms, yes? Even a negative result can rule out causes. There's nothing there; therefore, the fever might not be—"

He freezes mid-sentence.

The silence stretches so long I lift my head. "Grimoire?"

Slowly, he turns to Vanessa, an intense gleam in his unnatural eyes. "You. Healer. Is there a way to force a shifter to transform?"

Startled, she shakes her head. "It's dangerous. Forcing a shift on an ill wolf is not recommended."

"Her wolf," he says sharply. "We need to see her wolf."

Understanding dawns. We've been examining Ivy's human form, but what if the corruption is hiding in her other half?

"The corruption's in her wolf?" My fingers tighten on Ivy's wrist, that strange rhythm suddenly taking on new meaning. Maybe it isn't her heartbeat. Maybe the ebb and flow in response to her emotional state has a simple reason.

"It would explain why we can't detect it." Grimoire's eyes gleam with triumph. "The wolf exists in a state between physical and metaphysical. If something's affecting only that form..."

"We'd need alpha command." Vanessa shakes her head. "And even then, it's risky. Her fever's too high."

"But how can something affect only her wolf?" I interject with a frown.

The same way Lucas and Aurum are separate, even though they're one.

I guess that kind of makes sense. Maybe. "But if you break your leg when you shift, it's still broken when you become human again."

"Not now." Grimoire waves his hand in my direction, as if batting away an annoying fly. "We need to verify this theory before we go down any metaphysical rabbit holes."

Rabbit holes are fun. Selene yawns and shakes her head vigorously. Much more fun to explore those than magic ones. At least there's something to chase at the bottom.

My lips twitch at her commentary, even if the humor seems ill-timed. But Vanessa's stern voice draws my attention back to the matter at hand.

"We can't just force a shift when she's this unstable." She checks Ivy's temperature again. "Her fever's still climbing. The strain could kill her."

"And if we wait, whatever's affecting her wolf form could do far worse. We have no idea what it can do." Grimoire's eyes flash with that eerie silver light. "We need your alpha here. Now."

"Absolutely not. I won't allow it until we get her temperature down and her vitals stabilized. I don't care what magical theory you're testing—I won't risk my patient's life."

The steady pulse beneath my fingers quickens. One-two-three-pause. One-two-three-pause. Faster now, like Ivy can sense the tension in the room even in her unconscious state. Or maybe it's her wolf after all.

"Your medical expertise is admirable, but you don't understand the magical implications—"

"And you don't seem to understand basic biology." Vanessa crosses her arms. "Forcing a shift puts enormous strain on the body. Her heart is already stressed from the fever. Add a forced transformation? Are you going to take responsibility if her heart stops? A shift is not a simple change, Grimoire."

Grimoire scowls, but I shake my head.

"Vanessa's right. You need to think about the person behind all the strange phenomenon, Grim. Whatever this is, it seems to be stable enough to wait for us to treat Ivy first."

Don't argue with our healer just to prove your superiority, Selene agrees, with another wide yawn.

He deflates a little. "Fine."

There's a definite sense of wounded pride radiating from him, but I turn my attention back to Ivy, whose brow furrows as she lets out a soft little whine.

Vanessa, to her credit, doesn't rub the ancient book's nose in her victory. Instead, she takes the opportunity to take another full set of vitals, before bustling away to get some more medication in hopes of lowering Ivy's fever.

"Come on, Ivy. It would be super helpful if you could wake up now." I squeeze her hand gently, forgetting all about my grievances with the pretty she-wolf. "You're stronger than this."