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.

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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.

were lost to the recklessness of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the pursuit of the power within them. Do not

vigorously, trying to regain some of the warmth that

of course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous,

Ava: Her Identity

volatile.

me from the

Of course.

shifter has a wolf with

thoughtful sound that echoes through my mind. You were born bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non–explaining way, where nothing is

makes no sense. You’re being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they don’t have any ‘separate‘,

and I can almost picture her shaking her head. It’s the nature of

now? And what are we,

Her Identity

am pure, Selene says, her voice filled with a quiet pride. I came to be with you of my own

squint, as if that somehow makes my brain work better. “How is that possible? Doesn’t the

who is matched?”

brisk. For now, it’s more important that you take a

shiver down my spine, and I can feel the first tendrils of heat starting

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

can you just choose to be with me? And what do you mean, we’re separate and one at the same time? I don’t understand any of

Selene says, her voice softening. There is much you don’t understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time.

Her Identity Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ

more later.

feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under control before I become a feral, slutty mess.

is enough.

bathroom, tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want to get control of my

as I can.

can sense the presence of a powerful wolf. I don’t know how far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my chin to sniff,

my nose.

them. One’s a little

Ava!

Right. I slap my nose, which of course does nothing to help but makes me feel better for at least trying, and turn on the water at

huddled under

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Ava: Her Identity

but it seems to help keep my mind clear

extent.

I talk to Selene through my mind again. Why is heat even a thing? This is ridiculous. I’m losing my