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!"

but there's no mistaking the excitement in his tone. He's practically vibrating with energy

special, Ava Grey! Do you have any idea how long it usually takes trainees to

Sometimes months!"

from the sudden intrusion. Marcus follows Magister Orion into the room, taking up his usual position in

and moves to the opposite corner, still on high alert but

this time.

and rare talents when he suddenly stops mid-sentence. His eyes dart around, taking in the room as if seeing it

from excitement to mortification.

His words come out in a stammer, his face flushed as red as the fire dancing above his head. "My

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

happened. Did that really just occur? Or

moves to answer it, and

the situation.

carefully neutral. "How may

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 let him

face is beet red, and the dancing flames above his head

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

sure how to respond. Part of me wants to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but another part recognizes the genuine remorse in his

St Aubing b

to keep my voice steady. "I understand you

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

glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for some clue

let

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

another excited tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more... appropriate setting?

he says, backing towards the

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

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.

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi