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.

of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too

trying to regain some of the warmth that fled

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

Her

volatile.

I focus on a question that’s been bothering me from the beginning. “Selene,

Of course.

you separate from me? No shifter

thoughtful sound that echoes through my mind. You were born bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non–explaining way, where

are bonded with ancient magic, and they don’t have

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

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

Her Identity

filled with a quiet pride. I came to be with you of

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

who is matched?”

now, it’s more important that you take a

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

frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let this

be with me? And what do you mean,

I say that everything will be revealed in time. For now, focus on getting through your

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more later.

is building faster now, and I can feel my skin

is enough.

tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go.

as I can.

powerful wolf. I don’t know how far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my

my nose.

of them. One’s a little weaker, but

Ava!

but makes me feel better for

huddled under

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Ava: Her Identity

it seems to help keep my mind clear to

extent.

even a thing? This is ridiculous. I’m losing my mind