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.

began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the pursuit of the

to regain some of

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

that's been bothering me

Of course.

No shifter has

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 really answered. We are both separate and

You're being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they don't have

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

are you, an English professor now? And what are

quiet pride. I came to be

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

is a story for another time, Selene says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it's more important that you

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

I don't want to be in a frantic state like yesterday. But I can't let this conversation go just yet. I'm

you mean, we're separate and one at the

one, Selene says, her voice softening. There is much you don't understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be

skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get

One humiliation is enough.

ground as I go.

are, but they're close enough that I'm