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 handled tough

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

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 powers is

Pulling out my phone, my

twice, three times. No answer. I try again, my heart rate picking up with each unanswered ring.

Vanessa savs, but I can

17:05

Change of

uncertainty in her voice.

at least be able to give me an update. But his phone goes straight to

my phone onto the bed. I look

"How do you handle

eyes soften, and she reaches out to

been left at the hospital while Vester's out on a mission is not

needs to be done. There's always a patient who needs something, or more wounded coming in. There are things that you

and spending

chest?" I rub mine, where there's an

the

since accepting my

and

17:05

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a (ne of Bat

look. "Always," she says quietly. "When he's not near, it's like... like I'm missing an arm or a leg.

so many times 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 out regular calls

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

been the glue of our relationship, and I've been like a flighty hummingbird, flitting

with our

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

desperate to know he's safe, and

feel

revelation after revelation at me,