Tangled

39 Ava: Her Identity

39 Ava: Her Identity

You have the potential, Selene says, her voice a cautious whisper in my mind. The arcane flows through your veins. But…

My breath escapes me in a giddy rush. Magic. Real magic. Human magic. It’s something out of a fairy tale, not something that should exist in my life. Then again, supernaturals exist–and we’re pretty nonstandard,

ourselves.

It’s not that simple, Selene continues, her tone growing more serious. Magic is not a toy, little one. It’s a force of nature, raw and untamed. To wield it requires knowledge, discipline, and control.

I swallow hard, feeling the warning in her words. “But how do I learn? I don’t even know where to start.”

You would need a teacher, Selene explains, her voice tinged with hesitation. Someone well–versed in the arcane arts, who could guide you, show you how to harness and control your power. But magic is a lost art. Magicians were lost to the curse and became shifters.

14:55

177

39 Ava: Her Identity

Talk about a letdown.

O

“So, I won’t be able to do magic.” Is that how you say it? Do magic? Cast magic? Spell magic? Cast spells? It all feels weird in my mouth.

It is unlikely, Selene says, but she still has that cautious

sound to her voice.

“If I tried, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Death.

A simple word, bluntly given, with all the truth in the world behind it. I shudder at the matter–of–fact tone.

magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the pursuit of the power within them. Do

my arms vigorously, trying to regain some of

course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous, I believe her. It isn’t worth my life

Her

volatile.

me from the

Of course.

me? No shifter has a wolf with a

with the ancient magic, she explains in that

cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they don’t

Selene sighs, and I can almost picture her shaking her head. It’s the nature

are we, exactly?

Her Identity

pure, Selene says, her voice filled with a quiet pride. I came to

makes my brain work

who is matched?”

turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that you take a cold shower before your heat starts back up. Clayton is

shiver down my spine, and I can feel

want to be in a frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let this

how can you just choose to be with me? And what do you mean,

understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time. For now, focus on getting through your heat. We

Her Identity Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

more later.

but the heat is building faster now, and I can feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under control

is enough.

the bathroom, tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone;

as I can.

don’t know how far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my

my nose.

two of them. One’s a

Ava!

but makes me feel better for at least trying, and turn on the water

huddled under

617

Ava: Her

but it seems to help keep my

extent.

again. Why is heat even a thing? This is ridiculous. I’m losing my