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!"

in his tone. He's practically vibrating with energy

I knew you were special, Ava Grey! Do you have any idea how

Sometimes months!"

Magister Orion into the room, taking up his usual position in the corner. His face is impassive as ever, but

her defensive stance and moves to the 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.

in the room as if seeing it for the first time. The

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

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

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

Vanessa moves to answer it, and I have to stifle a laugh at the

the situation.

voice carefully neutral.

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

let him

smaller than before. His face is beet red, and the dancing flames above his head have disappeared. He clears his throat, looking everywhere

so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and unprofessional of me. I allowed my excitement

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

St Aubing b

to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I

well, that's no excuse for

at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for some clue on how to

content to let me take

way to

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

course, of course," he says, backing towards

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

at the corners of her mouth. "I never

mores."

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

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi