Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 452 - 452: Ava: Not Just Witchy

Eleanor's face pales. "It's a compliment! A compliment. You aren't old. You're beautiful."

I narrow my eyes at Eleanor, scrutinizing her nervous expression. She looks sincere enough. No matter how hard I stare at her, she just looks like a weak little rabbit who's wandered into a den of wolves.

Could be wrong, though. Lucas will probably have something to say about this.

Is she saying beautiful people can't be old? Grimoire sounds positively affronted, his voice ringing with indignation. I've existed for ages, and I'm gorgeous.

His ego shouldn't surprise me anymore, but sometimes it does. Like right now.

You can't be beautiful. You're a book most of the time.

I ignore their bickering, focusing instead on the woman's journal in my hands. My fingers tap against its worn cover. "Why do you think I'm the Crone? Of all people, why me?"

Eleanor's eyes brighten, her enthusiasm practically tangible. "Because you're so powerful! Every person I've ever met has only the faintest hold on their magic—most have almost none. But you—" She gestures at me with both hands, like I'm some sort of miracle. "You can do all sorts of things! I can feel it radiating off you."

I frown, not entirely comfortable with her assessment.

Grimoire, why isn't she in danger without formal training? Everyone kept saying I was like a bomb waiting to go off and I'm a danger to everyone around me.

He hesitates before answering. She has a different type of talent compared to yours. Her abilities seem more... analytical than creative.

Hmm. I frown. How does it make a difference?

I can't be fully certain until I evaluate her magical signature more closely. From what I can tell, she doesn't create magic so much as perceive and catalog it.

Still, it doesn't leave me very reassured. For someone Grimoire claims to have massive talent to come here without any training whatsoever, after everyone claimed I'd die without help…

Well, it's not like I'm going to just let her go. We'll keep an eye on her.

him, "we need to bring

her practical hiking clothes. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Thank you!" She clutches her

Coven. Me as some wise old

more when we get there," I say

witch to found a coven, you know, Grimoire chimes in, clearly delighted with his awful

but then makes a good point. Ava's knowledge is too

She's more of a jack-of-all-spells,

my chest. "Does

you

insecurities shining through

a silly assumption, Grimoire scoffs. The ability to pick up many things doesn't mean you can't have extra

that overpowered, Selene says

Overpowered? Yeah, right. I've gotten so much stronger than I was before, but I'm still the same Ava who

sparkles in her eyes have increased, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil. "Are you… are you conversing

force a

little. "Wolf? Oh, I see. You must have tamed one." Her face

explain it

informed Alpha

We're all set

practically vibrating with excitement. "This is incredible. I've been searching for someone like you for so long. The signs kept pointing to

I ask, instantly on alert

waves her hands frantically. "Just energy patterns. Magic leaves traces, you know. Like footprints. I've been tracking yours for

exactly do you hope to gain from

Vester nudges her forward.

us longer to get home than it did to get here. She doesn't look capable of sustaining

a slight crease between her eyebrows. She looks… worried. "Knowledge, mostly. I'm not looking to steal your power or anything. I just want to understand." She gestures at the journal Selene retrieved. "That's my life's work—studying magical energy patterns and their effects. There's

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