Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 39 Ava: Her Identity

You have the potential, Selene says, her voice a cautious whisper in my mind. The arcane flows through your veins. But…

My breath escapes me in a giddy rush. Magic. Real magic. Human magic. It's something out of a fairy tale, not something that should exist in my life. Then again, supernaturals exist—and we're pretty nonstandard, ourselves.

It's not that simple, Selene continues, her tone growing more serious. Magic is not a toy, little one. It's a force of nature, raw and untamed. To wield it requires knowledge, discipline, and control.

I swallow hard, feeling the warning in her words. "But how do I learn? I don't even know where to start."

You would need a teacher, Selene explains, her voice tinged with hesitation. Someone well-versed in the arcane arts, who could guide you, show you how to harness and control your power. But magic is a lost art. Magicians were lost to the curse and became shifters.

Talk about a letdown.

"So, I won't be able to do magic." Is that how you say it? Do magic? Cast magic? Spell magic? Cast spells? It all feels weird in my mouth.

It is unlikely, Selene says, but she still has that cautious sound to her voice.

"If I tried, what's the worst that could happen?"

Death.

A simple word, bluntly given, with all the truth in the world behind it. I shudder at the matter-of-fact tone.

times long past, many talented humans were lost to the recklessness of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the pursuit of the power within them. Do not

my arms vigorously, trying to regain some of the warmth that fled my body as she

have been amazing to learn, of course. But—if Selene says it's too dangerous, I believe her. It isn't worth my life to

on a question that's been bothering me from the

Of course.

from me? No

were born bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non-explaining way, where nothing

cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they

that can't be helped, Selene sighs, and I can almost

an English professor now? And what

voice filled with a quiet pride. I came to be with you of

makes my brain work better. "How

brisk. For now, it's more important that you take a cold

sends a shiver down my spine, and I

I don't want to be in a frantic state like yesterday. But I

do you mean, we're separate and one at

little one, Selene says, her voice softening. There is much you don't understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time. For now, focus on getting through your heat. We can talk more

now, and I can feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under control before I

One humiliation is enough.

tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want to get control of my body as

know how far they are, but they're close enough that I'm lifting my chin to sniff, trying to