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.

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 power within

my arms vigorously, trying to regain some of the

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

Ava: Her Identity

volatile.

that’s been bothering me from the

Of course.

shifter has

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

“That makes no sense. You’re being cryptic again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and they don’t have any ‘separate‘,

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

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

Her Identity

Selene says, her voice filled with a quiet pride. I came to be

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

who is matched?”

time, Selene says, her tone turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that you

and I can feel the

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

to be with me? And what do you mean, we’re

don’t understand yet. But trust me when I say that everything will be revealed in time.

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

more later.

feel my skin starting to prickle with sweat. I need to

humiliation is enough.

my hospital gown and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are

as I can.

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

my nose.

a little weaker, but he’ll do

Ava!

I slap my nose, which of course does nothing to help but makes me feel better for at least trying, and turn on the water

in minutes, huddled

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Ava: Her Identity

help keep

extent.

I 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?