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

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

would have been amazing to learn, of course. But–if Selene says

Her Identity

volatile.

me from the

Of course.

shifter has a

magic, she explains

with ancient magic, and

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

And what are we, exactly? Are you

Her

pride. I came to be

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

who is matched?”

Selene says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that you take a cold shower before your heat starts back up.

can feel the first tendrils of

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

with me? And what do you mean, we’re separate and one at the same time? I

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

Identity Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access

more later.

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.

ground as I go. Niceties are

as I can.

they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my chin to sniff, trying to get their scent in

my nose.

two of them. One’s a little weaker, but

Ava!

does nothing to help but makes me feel better for at least trying, and turn on the

minutes, huddled

617

Her

seems to help keep my mind clear to

extent.

even a thing? This is ridiculous. I’m losing my mind because I want some dick? Who came up with this stupid