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.

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 a little like I should stay with Clayton, all because he was kind to me

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

is not the

No, he isn't.

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

bonded to me. And aside from Lisa, who—despite being my best friend—doesn't understand

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

I'm weak to that. I see that now, and it

in appreciating those who care

need to be smarter in the future. Make sure I'm not trusting the

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

says, affection from her coming through our bond to soothe my ragged mind.

Right.

The magic.

best as I can, turning my attention

fire magic, but when I reach for it, it's like

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 on its surface, even

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

barrier now, too exhausted to keep fighting. My arms and legs shake with exhaustion, just like they did

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

me with its stillness. I want to crumple it up and throw it across the room, but

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

Magic isn't something you can force. It's about

you to say," I grumble. "You're not the one sitting here

act like one, she retorts,

easing from my shoulders as I let out

her corner, and I can't even feel her gaze on me. She's probably

I'm convinced

this all wrong. Fire came to me in a moment of intense emotion,