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

regain some of the warmth that fled

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

Ava: Her Identity

volatile.

on a question that’s been bothering me

Of course.

separate from me? No shifter has a wolf with a

bonded with the ancient magic, she explains in that non–explaining way, where nothing is

again. All shifters are bonded with ancient magic, and

I can almost picture her shaking her

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

Ava: Her

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

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

who is matched?”

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 up. Clayton

my spine, and I can feel

right; I don’t want to be in a frantic state like yesterday. But I can’t let this

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

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

on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

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 control

is

as I go. Niceties are foregone; I just want to get control of my body as soon

as I can.

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 their

my nose.

two of them. One’s a little

Ava!

Right. 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 at its

huddled under that freezing

617

Ava: Her

it seems to help keep

extent.

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