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

were special, Ava Grey! Do you have any idea how long it usually

Sometimes months!"

up his usual position in the corner. His face is impassive as ever, but there's a hint of amusement in

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

this time.

when he suddenly stops mid-sentence. His eyes dart around, taking in the room as if seeing it for the first time. The realization dawns on his face, and I watch

from excitement to mortification.

as red as the fire dancing above his head. "My

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

and Marcus, trying to process what just happened. Did that

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

the situation.

Orion," Vanessa says, her voice carefully neutral. "How may

cry from the booming enthusiasm of moments ago. Vanessa glances back, catching my eye, and I can see she's struggling to keep a

let him

and the dancing flames above his head have disappeared.

offer my sincerest apologies for intruding upon 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. Part of

St Aubing b

it's okay. Magister Orion, I manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I understand you were excited about the magic

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

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

to let me take the

for a way to break the

himself from launching into another excited tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we

backing towards the door. "I'll

closes behind him, a hysterical giggle escapes. "Well, I say, looking at Vanessa and Marcus,

of her mouth. "I never heard that the Fae have

mores."

again, the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We have very little

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi