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!"

there's no mistaking the excitement in his tone.

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

Sometimes months!"

room, taking up

opposite corner, still on high alert but recognizing

this time.

suddenly stops mid-sentence. His eyes dart around, taking in the room as if seeing it for the first time. The realization dawns on his face, and

from excitement to mortification.

red as the fire dancing above his head. "My sincerest apologies, my lady!" Before I can even form a response,

that follows is deafening.

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232 Ava: Burstant in

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

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

the situation.

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

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,"

let him

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

your personal chambers without so much as a by-your-leave. It was terribly rude and

quite sure how to respond. Part of me wants to laugh at the absurdity of

St Aubing b

to say, trying to keep my

nods, still looking uncomfortable. "Yes, well, that's no excuse for such

and Marcus, hoping

to let me take the

a way to break the tension, "about that fire

restrains himself from launching into another excited tirade. "Yes, of course. Perhaps we could discuss it in a more... appropriate setting? The library, perhaps?"

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

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

tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I never heard that the

mores."

the knowledge we have is contained in storybooks. We

Communities"

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27 Ava Thesi