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.

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

regain some of the warmth that fled my body as she spoke.

would have been amazing to learn, of course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous, I believe

Ava: Her

volatile.

bothering me from the beginning. “Selene, you’re my wolf, right?”

Of course.

you separate from me? No shifter has a wolf with a physical body.”

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

are bonded with ancient magic, and they

sighs, and I can almost picture her shaking her head.

you, an English professor now? And what are

Ava: Her

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

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

who is matched?”

more important that you take a cold

sends a shiver down my spine, and I can feel the first tendrils of heat starting to uncurl

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

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

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

on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

more later.

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

is

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

as I can.

I don’t know how far they are, but

my nose.

a little weaker, but

Ava!

me feel better for at least trying, and

minutes, huddled under that

617

Her Identity

seems to help keep my

extent.

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