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.

earth, falling backward into the snow. My chest heaves as I gasp for air.

her dog-breath in my face as she licks me desperately. Just

glowing. The light beneath my skin pulses erratically,

out raw. "It was so easy,

corruption, as I warned might happen. It will seem effortless until you're lacking energy, and

they were both there for

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

cool fingers press against my wrist, her frown deepening. "Your

Despite trying to project a strong front, I yawn

her hand to my forehead. "And pale

I didn't drink a

the

Lucas is worried sick. You've been at this

be right. But I glance around, taking in the deep purple shadows stretching across the snow. Twilight bathes everything in muted colors, the sun nothing more than a memory on

didn't realize it would

of the taint is left? How many more times

"About two-thirds."

the wolves around me. Greg mutters

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

purification trip; they've seen how much I've done in the past. It must be a

It was

into my hands. "Your body temperature is all wrong. We need to get you warmed up. I

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