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.

magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives

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

course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous,

Ava: Her

volatile.

that’s been bothering me from the

Of course.

why are you separate from me? No shifter has a wolf with a physical

echoes through my mind. You were born bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non–explaining way, where nothing is

no sense. You’re being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and

and I can almost picture her shaking her head.

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

Her Identity

pride. I came to be with you of

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

who is matched?”

tone turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that you take a cold shower before your heat

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

like yesterday. But

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

don’t understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time. For now, focus on

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

more later.

to argue, to demand answers, but the heat is building faster now, and I can feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to get this under

is

for the bathroom, tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I

as I can.

the presence of a powerful wolf. I don’t know how far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my chin to sniff, trying to get

my nose.

a little weaker, but he’ll

Ava!

which of course does nothing to help but makes me feel better for at least

minutes, huddled

617

Her Identity

it seems to help keep my mind clear to

extent.

talk to Selene through my mind again. Why is heat even a thing? This is ridiculous. I’m losing my mind because I want some dick? Who came up with this stupid idea?