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.

the recklessness of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives

trying to regain some of the warmth that fled my body

shoving down the odd sense of loss. Magic would have been amazing to learn, of course. But–if Selene says it’s too

Her Identity

volatile.

been bothering me from the beginning. “Selene, you’re

Of course.

me? No 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

groan. “That makes no sense. You’re being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with

Selene sighs, and I can almost picture her

English professor now? And what are we, exactly? Are you

Ava: Her Identity

quiet pride. I came to be with

brain work better. “How is that possible? Doesn’t the curse decide

who is matched?”

says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that you take a

alpha sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel

to be in a frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let this conversation go just yet. I’m

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

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

Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access

more later.

can feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to

humiliation is

on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want to get control of my body as

as I can.

of a powerful wolf. I don’t know how far they are, but

my nose.

One’s a little weaker, but he’ll do

Ava!

nothing to help but makes me feel better for at least trying,

huddled under that

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Ava: Her Identity

help keep my

extent.

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