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.

times long past, many talented humans were lost to the recklessness of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the

arms vigorously, trying to regain some of the warmth that fled my body

amazing to learn, of course. But–if

Ava: Her Identity

volatile.

question that’s been bothering me

Of course.

separate from me? No shifter has

she explains in that non–explaining way, where nothing is really answered. We are both

being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient

can’t be helped, Selene sighs, and I can almost picture her shaking her head. It’s the nature

what are we, exactly? Are you a Lycan or

Her

her voice filled with a quiet pride.

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

who is matched?”

a story for another time, Selene says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it’s more important

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

frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let

And what do you mean, we’re separate and one at the same time? I don’t understand

one, 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

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

more later.

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

is enough.

hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just

as I can.

presence of a powerful wolf. I don’t know how far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m

my nose.

a

Ava!

slap my nose, which of course does nothing to help but makes me feel better

huddled under

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Ava: Her

help keep my mind clear to

extent.

my mind again. Why is heat even a thing? This is ridiculous.