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!"

in his

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

Sometimes months!"

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

relaxes her defensive stance and moves to the opposite corner, still on high alert but recognizing that we're safe. I'm grateful for

this time.

stops mid-sentence. His eyes dart around, taking in the room as if seeing it for the

from excitement to mortification.

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 out the door, slamming it behind him with as much force as when he entered.

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

Vanessa and Marcus, trying to process what just happened. Did that really just occur? Or did I fall

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

the situation.

voice carefully neutral. "How may

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

let him

smaller than before. His face is beet red, and the dancing flames above his head have

sincerest apologies for intruding upon your personal chambers without so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and unprofessional of me.

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 all, but another part recognizes the genuine remorse in his

St Aubing b

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

that's no excuse for such behavior.

glance at Vanessa and Marcus, hoping for some clue

to let me take the

to

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 to

says, backing towards the door. "I'll await

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

of her mouth. "I never heard that

mores."

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

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi