Tangled

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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!"

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

Grey! Do you have any idea

Sometimes months!"

is almost infectious, but I'm still reeling from the sudden intrusion. Marcus follows Magister Orion into the room, taking up his usual position in the corner. His

opposite 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.

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

from excitement to mortification.

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 out the door, slamming it behind him with as

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

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

breaks the stunned silence. Vanessa moves to

the situation.

Vanessa says, her voice carefully neutral. "How

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," she says,

let him

before. His face is beet red, and the dancing flames above

without so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and unprofessional of me. I allowed my excitement to override my manners, and for that, I

his earlier behavior that I'm not quite sure how to respond. Part of me wants to laugh at

St Aubing b

to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I understand you were excited about the

"Yes, well, that's no excuse for such behavior. I assure you, it won't

the room. I glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping

content to let me take

a way to break the tension, "about that fire

tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more...

course," he says, backing

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

at the corners of her

mores."

the exact opposite," Marcus muses. "But then again, the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We have very little contact with anyone

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi