Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 285 Ava: Who Are You?

My eyes fly open, and I gasp. Where my hand touches the ground, a faint golden glow spreads outward. It's barely visible, like sunlight filtering through murky water, but it's there.

Heart pounding, I press my palm more firmly against the forest floor. The glow intensifies slightly, spreading further. I can feel it now, a warmth seeping up through my skin, traveling along my arm.

It's the magic from the pond. Somehow, it's not confined to the water. It's here, in the very earth beneath my feet.

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, half disbelief and half triumph. "Well, would you look at that?"

Encouraged, I place my other hand on the ground as well. The glow spreads further, creating a small circle of light around me. It's beautiful, a stark contrast to the gloomy forest surrounding me.

I close my eyes, focusing on the sensation. The magic feels... different from what I've experienced before. It's not the raw, primal power of the Moon Goddess, nor is it the structured, disciplined energy I've been trying to work with in my training.

This magic feels wild. Untamed. Like a force of nature that can't be reasoned with. It reminds me of the feeling I get when I'm running through the forest, wind in my hair, heart pounding with the thrill of freedom.

The glow continues to spread, pushing back the darkness of the forest. With each passing moment, I feel stronger, more alive. It's intoxicating.

It isn't under my control; it spreads without my thought or push. I'm little more than a conduit.

The dark water slowly changes, from black to navy. Then, slowly, into a glossy blue that reflects the sun.

And hints of green.

Green, from the leaves sprouting on once-dead branches. From the unfurling trees once again reaching high to the sky.

It's limited to the area surrounding me, but there's life here, where there was once nothing at all.

A comfortable buzz against my wrist catches my attention, and I glance down at the silver bracelet Dr. Blackwell gave me.

with the faintest hint

tap into the magic of

the door

feet, heart pounding. "Who's there?" My eyes dart around the

Nothing but

of—" The voice cuts through the air again, dripping with sarcasm. "Why are you acting like I'm some sort of attacker? You're the one who barged

it's coming from. The voice is... odd. Not quite feminine, not quite

it matter if I'm male or female?" The voice sounds annoyed now. "Honestly, you humans

as I

ripples, then bulges upward. My breath catches as a figure begins to rise from the

emerges—first a head, then shoulders, torso, legs. Water cascades off its form as it steps onto the shore. I take an involuntary step back,

figure before me is... ethereal. Androgynous. Its skin shimmers with an otherworldly iridescence, like moonlight on water. Hair the color of seafoam falls in waves past its shoulders. Its eyes are the deep blue-green of the ocean, with flecks of gold that seem to dance

the side, regarding me with a mixture of curiosity and irritation. "Well? Are you satisfied now that

to process what I'm seeing. "What...

their eyes. "I'm the spirit of this place. Or I was, before it started dying." They gesture at the small patch of greenery surrounding us. "Though I suppose I should thank you for the little bit of life

sense of this. A

nothing in this world capable of surprising me, yet here I

now. "I was just trying

been a long time since anyone's been able to

"What happened here?

passes over their face. "The magic is fading. Has been for

why?" I ask, my curiosity overriding my

of magic are

glance down at the silver bracelet

head cocked. "You carry the legacy of

I point at myself. "What am

way they stare at me leaves me feeling about two inches small. "Yes,