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!"

the excitement in his tone. He's practically vibrating with energy as

special, Ava Grey! Do you have any idea how

Sometimes months!"

Magister Orion into the room, taking up his

high alert but recognizing that we're safe. I'm grateful for her

this time.

potential and rare talents 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 as his

from excitement to mortification.

as the fire dancing above his head. "My sincerest apologies, my lady!" Before I can even form

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

with Vanessa and Marcus, trying to process what just happened. Did that really just occur?

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

the situation.

voice carefully neutral. "How may we help

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

to let him

seeming smaller than before. His face is beet red, and the dancing

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.

not quite sure how to respond. Part of me wants to

St Aubing b

Magister Orion, I manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady.

well, that's no excuse for

glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for

let me take the

begin, searching for a way to break the tension, "about that

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

he says, backing towards the door.

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

of her mouth. "I never heard that

mores."

"But then again, the knowledge we have is

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi