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!"

of his words has me flinching, but there's no mistaking the excitement in his tone. He's practically

Do you have any idea how long

Sometimes months!"

Marcus follows Magister Orion into the room, taking up his usual position in the corner. His face is impassive as

corner, still on high alert but recognizing that we're safe. I'm grateful for her protective instincts, even if they weren't

this time.

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

from excitement to mortification.

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

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

trying to process what just happened. Did that really just occur? Or did I fall asleep during meditation and dream the whole

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

the situation.

Vanessa says, her voice carefully neutral. "How

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 my eye, and I can see she's struggling to keep a straight face. "Of course,"

to let him

and the

your personal chambers without so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and unprofessional

stark contrast to his earlier behavior that I'm not quite sure how to respond.

St Aubing b

manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I understand

still looking uncomfortable. "Yes, well, that's no excuse for such behavior. I assure

silence falls over the room. I glance at Vanessa and

to let me take the

searching for a way to break the

up, but he visibly restrains himself from launching into another excited tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more... appropriate setting? The library, perhaps?" I nod, relieved

says, backing towards the door. "I'll await you

him, a hysterical giggle escapes. "Well, I say,

Vanessa supplies, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I never heard

mores."

the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi