Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 231

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.

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

back to my pack or anything—I can see how he was just an alpha struggling to do

like him, Selene murmurs. But he is not the

No, he isn't.

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

me. And aside

than Mrs. Elkins, who didn't know who I was. And it's different from Selene, who's

who gives without expecting anything in return. I'm weak to that. I see that now, and it

appreciating those who care for

in the future. Make sure I'm not trusting the wrong people, all because they treat me

Magister Orion isn't the best choice of teacher. Maybe being here in the Fae Ward itself is

our bond to soothe my ragged mind.

Right.

The magic.

my head as best as I can, turning my attention back to

I reach for it, it's like hitting a wall.

I need to open doesn't feel right. I tug at an imaginary handle, knock on its surface, even try to kick it down

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

like I'm just leaning against this invisible barrier now, too exhausted to keep fighting. My arms and legs shake with exhaustion, just like they

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

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

to Selene. "Maybe I'm just a one-trick pony. Fire

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

grumble. "You're not the one sitting here feeling like

one, she retorts, but there's

easing from my shoulders as

and silent in her corner, and I can't even feel her gaze on me.

I'm convinced

me in

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255