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."

we know Lisa's been relocated. That's good news, right? And Lucas is

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 that I should be doing more. It feels like I'm hiding while everyone

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 one else

want 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

No answer. I try again, my heart rate picking up with each unanswered

just busy." Vanessa savs, but I

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 straight to

mutter, tossing my phone

suddenly feeling very small and very scared. "How do you handle this? The stress, the not

eyes soften, and she reaches out to squeeze my

of times I've been left at

what needs to be done. There's always a patient who needs something, or more wounded coming in. There are things that you need to do, and you do them. Worrying yourself into an anxiety spiral won't

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

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

moment I ran from the Lunar Gala, and only

my mating bond with

back now, and driving me

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a (ne of Bat

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

I just got busy, too distracted thinking and doing to even remember to call Lucas. It seems stupid that I ever got that complacent before, when now my entire day revolves around my phone, sending

reach him. It's been an eye-opening experience. Once I accepted him into my life, as my partner, and the

now I realize I still was complacent, knowing he was there to hold us up. He's always been the glue of our relationship, and I've

with our

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

desperate to know he's safe,

feel

feels like the entire world keeps throwing revelation after revelation at me, and I'm