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.

affection in my heart that's brought about with a few simple words and encouragement is a little scary. It reminds me a little of how I'd begun to feel

back to my pack or anything—I can see how

him, Selene murmurs. But he is not the one who

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 who's willing to help me, to talk to me, to listen. To get to know my thoughts and feelings. Someone who cares about

Lucas, who's bonded to me. And aside from Lisa, who—despite being my

who I was. And

that. I see that now, and it only gets clearer

nothing wrong in appreciating those who care for you,

worries me. I'm going to need to be smarter in the future. Make sure I'm not trusting the wrong

I feel 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 here in the Fae Ward itself is nothing more

coming through our bond to soothe my ragged mind. You're

Right.

The magic.

as I can, turning my attention back to

that place deep inside me where I felt the fire magic, but when I reach for it, it's like hitting a wall. I push against it, trying

builds quicker than before. I managed it before, 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

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

against this invisible barrier now, too exhausted to keep fighting. My arms and legs shake with exhaustion, just like they did after I accessed the fire magic. But this

power, no flickering flame. Just the trembling of overexerted muscles and the bitter

eyes, blinking away the spots dancing in my vision. The water rune sits there, mocking me with

mutter, more to myself than to Selene. "Maybe I'm just a one-trick pony. Fire

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

for you to say," I grumble. "You're not

one watching you act like one, she retorts, but there's no

lips curve, some of the tension easing from my shoulders as I let out a soft

can't even feel her gaze on me. She's probably looking anywhere except at me, knowing the stress her regard would put me

I'm convinced she's an

again, maybe I'm approaching this all wrong. Fire came to me in a moment of intense emotion, a vivid memory. What