Tangled

Unshift 232

Unshift 232

232 Ava: Bursting In

"But I didn't do anything," I protest. "I just sat here."

"It doesn't matter," Vanessa says, just as Selene says the same thing in my head.

I swear I can hear a smile in my wolf's voice. Sometimes doing nothing is the hardest thing of all.

I look down at my hands, half expecting to see water droplets forming on my skin. But they look the same as always. "Did I really do it, though?"

I don't know. I'm not a wizard.

Pausing at that, I scowl at the air, since she's not near me. "Then

what was all that advice about?"

A hunch.

What the hell.

It worked, didn't it?

Can't really argue with that.

The door flies open with a resounding bang, and I nearly leap out of my skin. Before I can even process what's happening, Vanessa's between me and the entrance, her body coiled and ready to strike.

My heart's still racing when Magister Orion bursts in, his massive frame filling the doorway. But it's not his size that catches my attention this time. No, it's the tiny sparks of flame dancing above his head like a bizarre halo. I blink, wondering if I'm hallucinating.

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232 Ava: Bursting In

"Fire!" he roars, his voice booming through the room. "You touched fire!"

mistaking the excitement in his tone. He's practically vibrating with energy as he continues, words tumbling out in

you have any idea how long it usually

Sometimes months!"

room, taking up his usual position in the corner. His face is impassive as ever, but

moves to the opposite corner, still on high alert but recognizing that

this time.

His eyes dart around, taking in the room as if seeing it for the first

from excitement to mortification.

dear. This is a terrible mistake. I'm in your..." His words come out in a stammer, his face flushed as red as the fire dancing above his head. "My sincerest apologies, my lady!" Before I can even form a response, he's out the door, slamming it

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

to process what just happened. Did that really just occur? Or did I fall asleep during meditation

breaks the stunned silence. Vanessa moves to answer it, and I have to

the situation.

says, her voice carefully neutral. "How may

I... ahem. May I please have permission to enter Miss Grey's chambers?" His voice is subdued now, a far cry from the booming enthusiasm of moments ago. Vanessa glances back, catching

to let

beet red, and the dancing flames

I must offer my sincerest apologies for intruding upon your personal chambers without so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and unprofessional of me. I allowed my excitement to override my manners, and for that, I am truly

his earlier behavior that I'm not quite sure how to respond. Part of

St Aubing b

okay. Magister Orion, I manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I understand you were

well, that's no excuse for such behavior. I assure you,

silence falls over the room. I glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for some clue on how to proceed, but they

let me take

a way to break the tension, "about

up, but he visibly restrains himself from launching into another excited tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we could discuss

course," he says, backing towards the door.

him, a hysterical giggle escapes. "Well,

a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I never heard that the Fae have such

mores."

the exact opposite," Marcus muses. "But then again, the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We have very

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi