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

my corner from

from Lucas, who's bonded to me. And aside from Lisa, who-despite being

than Mrs. Elkins, who didn't know who I was. And

Selene, who's another half of my

to that. I see that now, and it only gets clearer by the day. There's nothing wrong

Selene murmurs.

going to need to be smarter in the future. Make sure

me well.

that Magister Orion isn't the best choice of teacher. Maybe being here

thoughts again, Selene says, affection

you can to avoid what's

Right.

16:24.

3/7

The magic.

purge my head

back to the

magic, but when I reach for it, it's like hitting a wall. I push against it, trying to find a crack,

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

Nothing.

My shoulders slump.

I'm just leaning against this invisible barrier now, too exhausted to keep fighting. My arms and legs shake with exhaustion,

no flickering flame. Just

muscles and the bitter taste of

the spots 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 mutter, more to myself than to Selene. "Maybe I'm just a one-trick pony. Fire and

25.24

4/7.

231 Ava, Water

chides. Magic isn't something you can force. It's about finding the right flow,

you to say," I grumble. "You're not

one, she retorts, but there's no real bite to

of the tension easing from my shoulders as I let

another deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration. Vanessa is still and silent in her corner, and I can't

looking anywhere except at me, knowing the stress her regard

I'm

Fire came to me in a moment

do I associate

times I've felt most connected to water. The gentle lapping of waves at the lake

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

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

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