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.

keep our ears to the ground," Magister Orion says firmly. "Eight hours of sleep,

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

"Fine," I concede, "but wake me if anything-and I mean anything-happens." Magister Orion nods solemnly. "You have

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

+63

the sudden shift back to the ornate halls of the Fae Ward makes my

everything's a little fuzzy and the world is off its axis. "I'm fine. Just

proper angle to the floor. "I'll

my tongue; I'm not even sure the words came out

step. The bed looks impossibly inviting, and I barely

but it

gross against the clean, cool

voice already fading as I drift

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

but I

it, but something tells me it

like I've been here before, and my entire

step back, and the water darkens. It goes from crystal clear and blue to murky brown, and there's something moving

trees, and a menacing presence that makes

I'm not

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

to remember where I am. The soft bed and ornate furnishings of the Fae Ward come into focus slowly. I blink, disoriented, and reach for

Oh, wait. It's not.

charged, but not

feverish. My entire body hurts, like Jericho's been putting

214

246 Ava Of-Kitar

She's perched in a chair by the window, looking far too

was 1 out?" I croak,

let

feels like I only slept ten minutes. "Why didn't you wake me? Has there

no, we

pushed aside during sleep comes