Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 231 Ava: Water

The rune for water swims before my eyes, its curves and lines blurring as I try to focus. My mind, however, has other plans. It drifts to Vanessa, her soft smile as she spoke of Vester. The ache in her voice. The longing.

I know that feeling all too well now.

Lucas. Where is he? Is he safe? Is the pack safe? Do we have more funeral rites coming? Are people hurting?

Are our hospitals inundated?

Your brain is so loud I can't sleep, Selene's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Rolling my eyes at her nonexistent self, knowing she can feel it, I drawl mentally, Let me just turn down the volume on my anxiety for you. Wouldn't want to disturb your beauty rest.

Selene huffs, a sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Worrying about things you can't control is a waste of time. You'd be better off focusing on what's in front of you. The sooner you master this, the sooner we can leave.

She's right, of course. Doesn't make it any easier, but she's right. I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Okay, okay. You're right. Let's do this."

"Is it Selene?" Vanessa asks in amusement. "Whenever you talk to her, your entire face scrunches up."

Damn. Really? I've watched them all go a little vacant-eyed when they're talking to their wolves or pack members, but no one's ever screwed up their whole face to do it.

That's embarrassing.

Still, I nod. "Yeah. She's giving me a pep talk."

"You can do this, Ava. Look what you accomplished earlier today." Giving me two thumbs-up that couldn't be more cheesy if she tried, Vanessa grins. "I have faith in you."

Heat flushes in my cheeks. No matter how much care and attention I've been given in my time at Westwood, it still feels awkward and wrong to have someone so enthusiastic in their praise of me.

Good, too.

Really good.

a little scary. It reminds me a little of how I'd begun to

back to my pack or anything—I can see how

not the one who stirs your

No, he isn't.

felt toward him; the way I wanted to lean on him and rely on him? They're the same ones I feel toward Vanessa, who's been in my corner from the first moment we met. Someone

Lucas, who's bonded to me. And aside from

didn't know who I was. And it's different from Selene, who's another half of my

without expecting anything in return. I'm weak to that. I see

appreciating those who care for you, Selene

in the future. Make sure

my heart ache at the thought that maybe Sister Miriam isn't the best person to trust. Or maybe that Magister Orion isn't the best choice of teacher. Maybe being

to soothe my ragged mind. You're going through everything you can to avoid what's in front

Right.

The magic.

deep breath, I purge my head as best as I

fire magic, but when I reach for it, it's like hitting a wall. I push against it, trying to

why not now? Visualizing the magic as a door that I need to open doesn't feel right. I tug at an imaginary handle, knock on its surface, even try

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

with exhaustion, just like they did after I accessed the fire magic.

trembling of overexerted

sits there, mocking me with its stillness. I want to crumple it up and throw it across the

myself than to Selene. "Maybe I'm

giving up too easily, Selene chides. Magic isn't something you can force. It's about finding

grumble. "You're not the

like one, she retorts, but there's no real bite

of the tension easing from my shoulders as I let out a soft chuckle.

in her corner, and I can't even feel her gaze on me. She's probably looking anywhere except at me, knowing

ever, I'm convinced

to me in a moment of intense emotion, a vivid memory.