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!"

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

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

Sometimes months!"

Orion into the room, taking up his usual position in the corner. His

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

this time.

mid-sentence. His eyes dart around, taking in the room

from excitement to mortification.

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

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

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

the situation.

says, her voice carefully neutral. "How may we help

the booming enthusiasm of moments ago. Vanessa glances back,

let

his massive frame somehow seeming smaller than before. His face is beet red, and the dancing

must offer my sincerest apologies for intruding upon your personal chambers without so much as a by-your-leave. It was

a 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

no excuse for such behavior. I

the room. I glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for some

let me take the

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

course. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more... appropriate setting? The library, perhaps?" I nod, relieved to have a direction. "That

of course," he says, backing towards

as the door closes behind him, a hysterical giggle escapes. "Well, I say, looking

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

mores."

again, the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We have very little contact with anyone associated

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi