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.

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 a little like I

that he didn't exactly have any sinister designs to throw me back to my pack or anything—I can see how

Selene murmurs. But he is not the one who stirs

No, he isn't.

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

And aside from Lisa, who—despite being my best friend—doesn't

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

weak to that. I see that

nothing wrong in appreciating those who

future. Make

thought that maybe Sister Miriam isn't the best person to trust. Or maybe that Magister Orion isn't the best choice of

affection from her coming through our bond to soothe my ragged mind. You're going through everything

Right.

The magic.

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

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

that I need to open doesn't feel right. I tug at an imaginary handle,

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

My arms and legs shake with exhaustion, just like they did after I accessed the fire magic. But this time,

flame. Just the trembling of overexerted

spots dancing in my vision. The water rune sits there, mocking me with its

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

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

not the one sitting here feeling like

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

of the tension easing from my shoulders as

take another deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration. Vanessa is still and silent in her corner, and I can't even feel her gaze on me.

than ever, I'm convinced she's

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