Tangled

Unshift 246

Unshift 246

246 Ava: Off-kilter

Staying in the training room for another week is mental torture.

The training isn't the worst part.

It's the tedium.

Vanessa and Marcus are tense and jumpy, even with nothing happening.

Sometimes, the weird training room turns into a quiet beach. In an unfortunate twist, the room can't emulate scent, so it doesn't help much as a change of venue.

Once I'm able to summon fire with ease, Magister Orion announces that it's a great time to return to the Fae Ward.

The clock on the wall shows eighteen hours have passed since we entered.

"Despite sleeping in here, your mind and body aren't truly rested. You should sleep once we

return."

"No, I need to see if Selene's returned, I protest, swaying on my feet. The idea of sleep is tempting, but the worry gnawing at my gut won't let me rest. "What if something's happened?" Magister Orion's eyes soften. "Ava, I assure you, if any important news arrives, I will wake you immediately. But right now, your mental faculties need replenishing. You've pushed yourself hard. While this room is convenient for fast- tracking your training, it comes with downsides." "Days?" I blink, the concept of time slipping through my fingers like sand. "It's only been eighteen

hours."

"There, yes. And in here, it's been two weeks."

Right. I knew that.

I'm just a little confused.

My body betrays me with a jaw-cracking yawn. Vanessa steps forward, her hand gentle on my arm. "He's right, Ava. You're dead on your feet." Marcus grabs my other arm, holding me upright. It's only then that I realize I was tilting to the

side.

my

warms me, but anxiety still coils in chest. "But what about

will keep our ears to the ground," Magister Orion says firmly. "Eight hours of sleep, minimum. That's

bristle at his tone, ready to snap back, but Vanessa's voice distracts me. "He's right, Ava. You're no

a bone-deep weariness. "Fine," I concede, "but wake me if anything-and I mean anything-happens." Magister

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

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the training room, the sudden shift back to the ornate halls of the Fae Ward makes my head spin. Vanessa steadies me, concern

little

me, with a gentle shove that tilts me back into a proper

it." Exhaustion weighs down my tongue; I'm not even sure the words came out

stumbling with every step. The bed looks impossibly inviting, and I barely kick off my shoes before collapsing onto

room did give us the luxury of showers, but it couldn't give us new clothes. Next time,

gross against

her voice already fading as

of fire and water, faces I can't quite recognize, and a persistent sense of urgency. I'm running, always running, but I can't remember what I'm chasing or what's chasing me. The chase stops abruptly when I reach a clearing, and a small

familiar, but I can't

want to walk in it, but something

like I've been here before, and my entire body's

back, and the water darkens. It goes from crystal clear and blue to murky

of red in the trees, and a menacing presence that

I'm

my toes. A white wolf with clear blue eyes stares at me, the only color in her fur a patch of black at the

am. The soft bed and ornate furnishings of the Fae Ward come into focus slowly. I blink, disoriented, and reach for my phone out of habit. It's dead,

Oh, wait. It's not.

but

My entire body hurts, like Jericho's been putting me

214

246 Ava Of-Kitar

startles me. She's perched in a chair by

1 out?" I croak, my

Magister Orion said to let you sleep as long

slept ten minutes. "Why didn't you

shakes her head. "Nothing yet. And before you ask, no, we haven't been able to reach

aside during sleep comes rushing back. "We need to do