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.

with a few simple words and encouragement is a little scary. It reminds me a little of how I'd begun to feel a little like I should stay with Clayton, all because he was kind to me and gave me a place to live, despite knowing

to my pack or anything—I can see how he was just an alpha struggling to do the right thing, and maybe a little too clouded by the heat-mating

Selene murmurs. But he is not the one who stirs your heart, is

No, he isn't.

Vanessa, who's been in my corner from the first moment we met. Someone

to me. And aside from Lisa,

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

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

nothing wrong in appreciating those who care for you,

the future. Make sure I'm not trusting the wrong people, all because

the best person to trust. Or maybe that Magister

many thoughts again, Selene says, affection from her coming through our bond to soothe my ragged mind. You're going through everything you can to avoid what's in front

Right.

The magic.

a deep breath, I purge my head as best as

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

to open doesn't feel right. I tug at

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

feels 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 did after I accessed the fire magic. But this time,

Just the trembling of overexerted muscles and the bitter taste

The water rune sits there, mocking me with its stillness. I want to

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

up too easily, Selene chides. Magic isn't something you

I grumble. "You're not the one

like one,

curve, some of the tension easing from my shoulders as

frustration. Vanessa is still and silent in her corner, and I can't even feel her gaze on me. She's

I'm convinced she's an

came to me in a moment of intense emotion,