Tangled

Unshift 230

Unshift 230

230 Ava: Change of Balance

"I'll get the Magister," Marcus offers. "You focus on the those other ones. Try not to flood the room or something"

"I can swim," Vanessa says. "I can probably keep her afloat until you get here."

Their faith in me is so touching. "I'm not going to flood the room,

guys."

"Did you know you were going to set a paper on fire before you

did it?" Marcus looks stern, but there's a slight twinkle in his eyes, and a little quirk to his smile, that tells me he's becoming more comfortable around me.

At least he's not trying to escape the general vicinity of magic, after being in the Fae Ward for a few days. He's getting used to its existence around him, though he admits that it feels itchy. Vanessa doesn't seem to have the same problem.

Selene, on the other hand.....

I'm not sneezing, but all I can smell is refuse. She sounds sour in my head. There's an alley with garbage cans. I guess no one wants to ward their trash.

As Marcus leaves to fetch Magister Orion, my heart clenches in sympathy for my wolf. I wish there was a way to make you more comfortable.

It's fine, Selene replies, though her mental voice sounds strained. I'd rather be here than leave you alone.

17:05 C

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230 Ava: Change of Balance

Vanessa settles on the bed, her fingers tracing the edges of the rune papers scattered across the covers. She looks up at me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you holding up, Ava?" Falling onto my back, I throw my arm over my eyes, blocking out the lights. Every one of my feelings presses down on me, shoving me deeper into the mattress. "Honestly? I feel like I'm missing something huge. Like there's this... I don't know, this looming disaster just waiting to happen, and I can't see it coming."

nods, her expression thoughtful. "Well, we know Lisa's been relocated. That's good

know, I know." I squeeze my arm harder against my face, against the sudden spring of tears in my eyes. "But I can't shake this feeling

the air, tickling my ear as I lower my arm to peer in her direction. "Maybe working on your powers is the

prickling feeling of unease won't leave me alone. Pulling out my

rings, once, twice, three times. No answer. I try again,

probably just busy." Vanessa savs, but

17:05

Ava, Change of

uncertainty in her voice.

to Kellan's number, hoping he'll at least be able to give me an update. But his

I mutter, tossing my phone onto the bed. I look

scared. "How do you handle

eyes soften, and she reaches out to

admits. "There's no easy way to deal with it. The amount of times I've been left at the hospital while Vester's

wounded coming in. There are things that you need to do, and you do

Lucas being unreachable is hard for me-newly mated and spending more time away from him than with him-I can only imagine how hard it is for a couple mated as long as Vanessa and

away from him? Here, in your chest?" I rub mine, where

the

since accepting my mating

and

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a (ne of Bat

taking on a distant look. "Always," she says quietly. "When he's not near, it's like... like I'm missing an arm or a leg. Missing a lung. I can't breathe a full breathe, and I can't walk at full strength. You don't realize how much you rely on someone

to call Lucas. It seems stupid that I ever got that complacent before, when now my entire day revolves

into my life, as my partner, and the responsibilities of the position it brings, I thought

realize I still was complacent, knowing he was there to hold us up. He's always been

with our

call me, distance, I realize how much I relied on him. On his presence to steady us, to keep our

know he's safe, and finally understanding how

doesn't feel good at

me, and I'm drowning in a sea