Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 352 Ava: Purify

"What do you mean?"

You'll need to draw the energy into yourself, he explains, and then overpower it with your own magic.

This is not what I expected. "Draw it in? Like... absorb it?"

He nods. Exactly. The resulting friction between your magic and the taint creates a sort of burning purification. It neutralizes the harmful energy and can even bolster your own reserves.

The idea of pulling this dark, ominous energy into my body makes my skin crawl. "And what if there's too much? What if I can't handle it all at once?"

Grimoire's ears twitch. In those cases, you'd need to purify in stages or enlist help from other magic users. The stronger you are and the more magical capacity you have, the more efficiently you can handle these situations. This amount should be easy for you, especially with your recent expenditures at the wards.

I grunt, still uneasy about the whole concept. The thought of willingly drawing this taint into myself feels wrong on a visceral level.

It's relatively easy magic, Grimoire assures me. It just requires fine control, which you've been improving lately.

His words are meant to be comforting, but they don't quite hit the mark. Maybe because it feels kind of like he just told me to eat evil. It's just wrong. "Does it hurt?"

Grimoire pauses, and that hesitation speaks volumes. It can cause fevers as your body fights against the toxic nature of the taint, he admits. But it doesn't necessarily hurt in and of itself.

"Fevers," I repeat, my voice flat. "Great. For how long?"

As long as it's required.

taint—which really doesn't sound right—around. It's invisible. None of our wolves would be able to avoid it, even if they knew its

and reach out with my magic. It surges to my command immediately,

slick on water, but light and fluffy, like clouds.

encourages. Now, imagine drawing that energy towards you. Like you're

eyes snap open. "Wait, literally inhale it?" My

he says quickly. It's just a visualization technique.

as I can, even as I let

some sort of magical siphon as it

magical core, I gasp. It burns, a cold fire that spreads through my veins. My teeth clench

Grimoire urges.

I'm trying to drink an ocean through a straw. Just when I

with your

gather my strength, feeling my magic surge within me. It crashes against the taint like a wave, and for a moment, I'm afraid it won't be enough. It's like being too full after drinking way

feel something give way, and suddenly I'm flooded

my forehead despite the cold. My whole body feels like it's on fire, and my magic slowly consumes the toxic energy I've drawn

my eyes, gasping for breath. The world spins around me, and I stumble, nearly

Only there's no snow.

grass in a wide

steadying me with a strong hand

asks, concern etched on

a fever setting in. It's