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

anxiety still coils in chest. "But what

our ears to the ground," Magister Orion says firmly.

me. "He's right, Ava. You're no good to anyone if you collapse from

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

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

+63

room, the sudden shift back to the ornate halls of the Fae

I think I'm smiling. Honestly, everything's a little

me back into a proper angle to the floor. "I'll take first watch. Vanessa

it." Exhaustion weighs down my tongue; I'm not

I'm stumbling with every step. The bed looks impossibly inviting,

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

gross against the

murmurs, her voice already fading as I drift

and a persistent sense of urgency. I'm running, always running, but I can't

familiar, but I can't imagine

it, but something tells me

been here before, and my entire body's screaming at me

darkens. It goes from crystal clear and blue to murky brown, and

flash of red in the trees, and a menacing presence

suddenly, I'm not there

only a beach, with water lapping at my toes. A white wolf with clear blue eyes stares at me, the only color in

takes me a moment 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 my phone

Oh, wait. It's not.

charged, but

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

214

246 Ava Of-Kitar

Vanessa's voice startles me. She's perched in a chair by the window,

was 1 out?"

hours. Magister Orion said to let

ten minutes. "Why didn't you wake me?

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

aside during sleep comes rushing back.