Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 283 Ava: Create Contact

I slam my hand on the table, frustration boiling over. "What's the point of all this magical training if I can't even activate a simple orb?"

The communication ball sits there, mocking me with its inert silence. I've tried everything I can think of—touching it, willing it to work, even whispering different incantations I can barely remember. I'm not even sure what most of them are for.

Nothing.

Vanessa places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Ava, we weren't expecting your connection to magic to be cut off so suddenly. Your training was brief."

"I know, I know." Running a hand through my hair, I blow out a long sigh. "I just wish I'd started earlier. Maybe things would be easier now."

If only I'd known then what I know now. But hindsight's always perfect, isn't it?

Dr. Blackwell clears his throat, drawing my attention. He's holding something in his wrinkled hand—a bracelet, but not like the chunky white one on Lisa's wrist. This one's a delicate silver chain, adorned with stars and moon phases.

"This might help," he says, offering it to me.

The metal is cool against my skin, but there's a familiar energy to it. Something I've long ago associated with magic within an item. "How?"

He shrugs, his eyes twinkling. "I don't know. It's an artifact, made for a witch long ago."

Long ago? That's shocking. "But it looks so... modern."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Dr. Blackwell says with a wink. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small obsidian disc. "This is a wardstone. This will create a ten-foot radius where no one can hear what's being said. One of our most requested items.

Just infuse it with magic, or use the incantation. Just be warned, the silence activates after the incantation."

So basically—don't use the incantation if you don't want your enemies to know what you're doing. Got it.

"What's the incantation?" There's nothing about the stone that hints at its magical properties. Not even a buzz against my skin. It's just a rock as far as I can tell.

stardust bright, silence

stone tickles my palm, magical energy seeping

Fascinating.

I've heard Magister Orion use. They're usually one or two words. Not a poem. "I'm going to have to write that

it?" Vanessa asks curiously, reaching out to touch the stone. She doesn't

the requirements are met. To deactivate it, the incantation is, 'By dawn's first light and morning's cheer, break the hush; let

disappears at

one knew about any plans

his bushy eyebrows shooting up. "That is

in my hand, I'm

brain hurts. My heart hurts. The bond inside me

few hours and get a little rest?" I'd

are up to date, and Dr. Blackwell

did he call me that? I guess it's to

an arm at the general outside. "Have we learned anything

for you. I'm the one who has a lot to process." His lips quirk, even as his eyes travel toward Lisa. "Sounds like we're up shit

"Yeah. Pretty much."

with the bracelet, I nod. "I'm going to see what I can figure out, magic-wise, while we wait for

the hospital is to avoid any challenges; they can't challenge

can be challenged, especially if they abandon their

worry, Luna. I've got this under

* * *

Lisa whispers, "is the coolest

us, looping in a

what I've learned." My wry tone catches her attention, and she shakes

what you've learned just because

flame out of existence, fiddling with the new bracelet on my wrist. It doesn't seem to affect my magic in any