Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 388 Ava: Is That Normal?

It feels like an eternity of struggle. Of push and pull, and evil over light. Eventually, Grimoire's cool touch and its guiding force help restrain my magic and pull me back.

The sensation of temptation leaves me ill, but my focus returns to the small patch of ground in front of me.

My hands shake with relief over feeling like myself again, and I pull frigid air in short, panting breaths. "I don't understand how you resist it so easily."

Who said anything about easy? The taint affects everything it touches. The difference lies in how we respond to its call.

He never seems affected. If anything, it's like he's almost removed from the effects.

I refuse to bow to it, that's all. The same way you refuse to bow to those who would control you.

The comparison kind of stings, knowing how easily he can shrug it off and how I was almost sucked in.

Your insecurities feed its power over you. Stop doubting yourself. You know how to purify. You've done it countless times. Focus on that certainty instead of what might go wrong.

I've cleansed corruption before. I know the feel of it, how to draw it in and transform it.

I breathe deep, letting the crisp winter air fill my lungs until they twinge in pain. The taint pulses against my senses, but this time I acknowledge its presence without letting it overwhelm me.

done this before. I

don't need

me with whispers of power, but I let them slide past. I know who I am. I know what I can

now, guided by confidence instead of fear. The small patch of earth beneath my palms begins to warm as the taint

earth I purify. The sensation reminds me of static electricity, making my hair stand

"Something's different."

an edge of concern. But that can wait until

almost as if it's eager to be transformed. Or maybe it's just docile beneath my control. Each time I pull the taint in, more power builds inside me, at

softly. Your scent has changed. The magic is affecting your

anything, I feel stronger than ever. Energy courses through my veins,

slight discomfort, it

a bad thing, in

my

is normal for the amount of magic you're converting. Your efficiency has increased, so there is less loss during

we never wanted me to become, yes, I can

limit. In fact, it's almost too easy to carry this extra energy within me, and purification is happening with very little strain on

extra magic is being recycled, as it were. Because you have a great amount of clean magic within you, it's easier to deal with the small amounts you're pulling in. If you were to lose

if I wasn't gasping just a while ago from the strain of fighting off the

hit the denser taint, it will take more out of you to purify. If you're doing it too quickly, you might not realize the danger until you are overwhelmed. Slow and steady is better than rushing