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.

the recklessness of their magical talent. Until magicians began to teach each other, too many lives were lost in the

trying to regain some of the warmth that fled my body as she spoke.

learn, of course. But–if Selene says it’s too dangerous, I believe her. It isn’t worth my life to try and

Ava: Her

volatile.

bothering me

Of course.

separate from me? No shifter has a wolf with a physical body.”

with the ancient magic, she explains in that non–explaining way, where nothing is really answered. We are both separate and one at the

are bonded with ancient magic,

sighs, and I can almost picture her shaking her head.

And what are we,

Her Identity

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

work better. “How is that

who is matched?”

turning brisk. For now, it’s more important that

I can feel the first tendrils of heat starting to uncurl in

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

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

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

Her 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, slutty mess.

is enough.

and tossing it on the ground as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want

as I can.

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

my nose.

two of them. One’s a little

Ava!

but makes me

minutes, huddled

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Her Identity

keep

extent.

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