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

still coils in chest. "But what

says firmly. "Eight hours of sleep, minimum. That's an order from your

distracts me. "He's right,

me, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness. "Fine," I concede, "but wake me if anything-and I mean anything-happens." Magister Orion nods solemnly. "You have

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

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shift back to the ornate halls of the Fae Ward makes my head spin.

think I'm smiling. Honestly, everything's a little fuzzy and the world is off its axis.

into step beside me, with a gentle shove that tilts me back into a proper angle to the floor. "I'll

weighs down my tongue; I'm not even

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

the luxury of showers, but it

feel gross against

Vanessa murmurs, her voice already fading as I drift

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

but I

but something tells me it

like I've been here before, and my entire body's screaming at me to run

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

flash of red in the trees, and a menacing presence that makes it

suddenly, I'm

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

ornate furnishings of

Oh, wait. It's not.

but not powered

hot and sticky, and feel feverish. My entire body hurts, like Jericho's been

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246 Ava Of-Kitar

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

1 out?" I croak,

Orion said to let you sleep as long as you

slept ten minutes. "Why didn't you

you ask, no, we haven't been

aside during sleep comes rushing