Tangled

Unshift 231

Unshift 231

231 Ava: Water

The rune for water swims before my eyes, its curves and lines blurring as I try to focus. My mind, however, has other plans. It drifts to Vanessa, her soft smile as she spoke of Vester. The ache in her voice. The longing.

I know that feeling all too well now.

Lucas. Where is he? Is he safe? Is the pack safe? Do we have more funeral rites coming? Are people hurting? Are our hospitals inundated?

Your brain is so loud I can't sleep, Selene's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Rolling my eyes at her nonexistent self, knowing she can feel it, I drawl mentally, Let me just turn down the volume on my anxiety for you. Wouldn't want to disturb your beauty rest.

Selene huffs, a sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Worrying about things you can't control is a waste of time. You'd be better off focusing on what's in front of you. The sooner you master this, the sooner we can leave.

She's right, of course. Doesn't make it any easier, but she's right. I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Okay, okay. You're right. Let's do this."

"Is it Selene?" Vanessa asks in amusement. "Whenever you talk to her, your entire face scrunches up.

Damn. Really? I've watched them all go a little vacant-eyed when they're talking to their wolves or pack members, but no one's ever

That's amharging

sghing me pep talk

"You can do this, Ava. Look what you accomplished earlier today? Civing me two thumbs-up that couldn't be more cheesy if she tried. Vanessa grins. "I have faith in you"

Heat flushes in my cheeks. No matter how much care and attention I've been given in my time at Westwood, it still feels

awkward and wrong to have someone so enthusiastic in their

praise of me.

Good, too.

Really good.

That rush of warmth and affection in my heart that's brought about with a few simple words and encouragement is a little scary. It reminds me a little of how I'd begun to feel a little like I should stay with Clayton, all because he was kind to me and gave me a place to live, despite knowing that it was wrong.

Knowing him a little more now-stijl not very much, but enough to recognize that he didn't exactly have any sinister designs to throw me back to my pack or anything-Ican see how he was just an alpha struggling to do the right thing and maybe a little too clouded by the heat-mating that occurred between us.

1 like him. Selene murmurs. But he is not the one who stirs your

heart, is he?

No, he isn't.

231 Ave Water

on him and rely on him? They're the same ones I feel toward Vanessa, who's been in my corner from the first moment we met. Someone who's willing to help me, to talk to me, to listen. To get to know my thoughts and feelings. Someone who cares

to me. And aside from Lisa, who-despite

Mrs. Elkins, who didn't know who I

another half of

I'm weak to that. I see that now, and it only gets clearer by the day. There's nothing wrong in appreciating those who

Selene murmurs.

in the future. Make sure I'm not trusting the wrong people, all because

me well.

ache at the thought that maybe Sister Miriam isn't the best person to trust. Or maybe that Magister Orion isn't the best choice of teacher. Maybe being here in the Fae Ward

too many thoughts again, Selene says, affection

everything you can to avoid

Right.

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3/7

The magic.

my head

to the rune

I reach for it, it's like hitting a wall. I push against it, trying to find a crack, a seam, anything. But there's

managed it before, why not now? Visualizing the magic as a door that I need to open doesn't feel right. I tug at an imaginary handle, knock on its surface, even try to kick it down

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

to keep fighting. My arms and legs shake with exhaustion, just like they

power, no flickering flame.

and the

dancing in my vision. The water rune sits there, mocking me with its stillness. I want to crumple it up and throw it across the room, but I resist the urge. Barely. "This is pointless," I

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4/7.

231 Ava, Water

up too easily, Selene chides. Magic isn't something you

not the one sitting here feeling like

just the one watching you act like one, she retorts, but there's no real bite to her

some of the tension easing from my shoulders

take another deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration. Vanessa is still and silent in her

on me. She's probably looking anywhere except at me, knowing the stress her regard

ever, I'm convinced she's

it again, maybe I'm approaching this all wrong. Fire came to me in a moment of intense emotion, a vivid

I

I've felt most connected to water. The gentle lapping of waves at the lake near the pack house, escaping from

of rain on the windows of Lisa's apartment. The refreshing coolness of a glass of water, after

right. I'm missing something, but I can't put

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