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."

That's good news, right? And Lucas is an experienced alpha. He's handled tough situations

my arm harder against my face, against the sudden spring of tears in my eyes. "But I can't shake this feeling that I should be doing more. It feels like I'm hiding while everyone else is out there facing real

up one of the rune papers. It crinkles in the air, tickling my ear as I lower my arm to peer in her direction. "Maybe working on your

with her. I really do. But that prickling feeling of unease won't leave me alone. Pulling out my phone, my fingers hover over Lucas's number. I've left him twelve messages since yesterday. "I should call

twice, three times. No answer. I try again, my heart rate

probably just busy." Vanessa savs, but I can hear the

17:05

Change of

uncertainty in her voice.

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

tossing my phone

and very scared. "How do you

soften, and she reaches out to squeeze my

way to deal with it. The amount of times I've been left at the hospital while Vester's out on a mission is

There are things that

If Lucas being unreachable is hard for me-newly mated and spending more time away from

be away from him? Here, in your chest?" I rub mine, where there's an ache I've become familiar with.

moment I ran from the

accepting my mating bond with

back now, and driving me

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a (ne of Bat

spreads across her face, her eyes 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

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

only I can reach him. It's been an eye-opening experience. Once I accepted him into my life, as my partner, and the responsibilities of the position it

knowing he was there to hold us up. He's always been

with our

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

safe, and finally understanding how

doesn't feel

keeps throwing revelation after revelation at me, and I'm drowning in a sea of knowledge