Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 389 Ava: Pulling Away

My hands tremble against the frozen earth. The corruption no longer yields so easily to my touch. Each pull of taint feels like dragging a boulder through mud; I'm exhausted.

Stop. Selene's command rings sharp in my mind. You're exhausted.

She's right. You need to pull back now.

The corruption fights my attempts to draw it in, thick and viscous. My earlier confidence crumbles as my magic strains to pull in more corruption. It's hungry.

Sweat trickles down my spine despite the bitter cold.

I try to pull away, but the corruption clings like tar. My arms shake with the effort to break free. The magic inside me churns, no longer the smooth current it was before.

Get up. Selene's teeth close gently on my coat sleeve. I've cleared a lot of space, and it's no longer unsafe for her to be by my side. Let go.

"I'm trying." Panic edges into my voice. The corruption wraps tendrils around my magic, and my magic grabs onto it like a starving child. "It won't let go."

Focus. Grimoire's presence wraps around my mind. Your magic belongs to you. It is under your power. You are in command.

The corruption pulls harder. My vision blurs at the edges. The buzzing under my skin turns to needles of ice.

Fight it, little witch.

I close my eyes, concentrating on Grimoire's voice. On Selene's steady presence. On Lucas waiting for me back at Wolf's Landing. On Lisa who needs me strong and whole.

On all of Westwood, who have come to accept me as their Luna.

The corruption's hold wavers.

my hands back from the earth, falling backward into the snow. My chest heaves as I gasp for air. The magic inside me whirls

against my side, her dog-breath in my face as she licks

stare at my trembling hands. Selene's right; I am glowing. The light beneath my skin pulses erratically, matching the

comes out raw. "It was so easy, and

you're lacking energy, and then it's like walking through knee-deep mud. You did well, but your control still needs

were both

you've experienced it, things will be easier the next time. You've never encountered an amount of corruption you can't cleanse on your own. It's understandable to falter in the face of its power. Grimoire's words are a soothing balm in my tired head. Now, we should return. You

frown deepening. "Your pulse is

trying to project a strong front,

back of her hand to my forehead. "And

Water. I didn't drink a single sip

blurs together after the first

is worried sick. You've been at this for

hours? That can't be right. But I glance around, taking in the deep purple shadows stretching across the snow. Twilight bathes everything

didn't realize it

snow. "How much of the taint is left?

"About two-thirds."

me. Greg mutters a curse under

voice rises, her eyes wide. "You've been working for eight hours straight

been there for every purification trip; they've seen how much I've done in the past.

was

head, already digging through her pack. "Here. Small sips." She presses a water bottle into my hands. "Your body temperature is all