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 many lives were lost in the pursuit of the power within them. Do not open that door, Ava.

regain some of the

odd sense of loss. Magic would have been amazing to learn, of course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous, I believe her. It isn’t worth my life to try and grasp something so

Her Identity

volatile.

me from the beginning. “Selene,

Of course.

shifter

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

cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they don’t have any

can almost picture her shaking her

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

Her Identity

with a quiet pride.

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

who is matched?”

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

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

in a frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let this conversation go

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

one, Selene says, her voice softening. There is much you don’t understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be

Gøøglᴇ

more later.

my skin starting to prickle with sweat.

is

head for the bathroom, tearing off my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want to get control of my

as I can.

far they are, but they’re close enough that I’m lifting my chin to

my nose.

One’s a

Ava!

to help but makes me feel better for at least trying, and turn on the water at its coldest

huddled

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Ava: Her

seems to help keep my

extent.

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