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."

"Well, we know Lisa's been relocated. That's good news, right? And Lucas is an experienced alpha. He's

in my eyes. "But I can't

in the air, tickling my ear as I lower my arm to peer in her direction. "Maybe working on your powers is the best help you can be right now. Think about it-if you can master this, you'll be able to protect the pack in ways no

to agree 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 him, just

phone rings, once, twice, three times. No answer. I try again, my heart rate picking

savs,

17:05

Change of

uncertainty in her voice.

able to

I mutter, tossing my phone onto

very scared. "How do you

soften, and she reaches out to

been left at the hospital while

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

unreachable is hard for me-newly mated and spending

Here, in your chest?" I rub mine, where there's an ache I've become familiar

the Lunar

since accepting my mating

back now, and driving

17:05

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a (ne of Bat

near, it's like... like I'm missing an arm or a leg.

seems stupid that I ever got that complacent before, when now my entire day revolves around my phone, sending

eye-opening experience. Once I accepted him into my life, as my partner, and the responsibilities of the position it brings, I thought I was finally ready. Finally

was complacent, knowing he was there to hold us up. He's always been the glue of our relationship, and I've been like a flighty hummingbird, flitting from one

with our

text me, to call me, distance, I realize how much

safe, and

doesn't feel good at

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