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.

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

some of the warmth that

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

on a question that's been bothering me from the beginning. "Selene, you're

Of course.

me? No shifter

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

bonded with ancient magic, and they don't

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

what are we, exactly? Are you a

Selene says, her voice filled with a quiet pride. I came to

work better. "How is that possible? Doesn't

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

sends a shiver down my spine, and I can

a frantic state like yesterday. But I can't let this conversation go just

just choose to be with me? And what do you mean, we're separate and one at

much you don't understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time.

demand answers, but the heat is building faster now, and I can feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under control before

One humiliation is enough.

for the bathroom, tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone;

a powerful wolf. I don't know how far they are, but they're close enough that I'm lifting my chin to