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.

teach each other, too many lives were lost in the

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

shoving down the odd sense of loss. Magic would have been amazing to learn, of course. But—if Selene says it's too dangerous, I believe her. It isn't worth

I focus on a question that's been bothering me

Of course.

No shifter

hums, a thoughtful sound that echoes through my mind. You were born bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non-explaining way, where nothing is

groan. "That makes no sense. You're being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic,

be helped, Selene sighs, and I can almost picture her shaking her head. It's the nature of what

And what are we,

a quiet pride. I came to be with you of my own

that somehow makes my brain work better. "How is that possible? Doesn't the curse decide

another time, Selene says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it's more important that you take a cold shower before your heat starts

sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel the first tendrils

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

me? And what do you mean, we're separate and one at the same time? I

understand yet. But trust me when I say that

my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under control before I become a feral,

One humiliation is enough.

tossing it on the ground as I

the presence of a powerful wolf. I don't know how far they are, but they're close enough that I'm