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

but anxiety still coils in chest.

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

me. "He's

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

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

+63

halls of the Fae Ward makes my head spin.

I'm smiling. Honestly, everything's a little fuzzy and

a gentle shove that tilts me back into a proper

I'm not

bed looks impossibly inviting, and I barely

us the luxury of showers, but it

against

murmurs, her voice already

are a chaotic swirl 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

I

to walk in it, but something tells me it

and my entire body's screaming at me to run

from crystal clear and blue to murky brown, and there's something moving in its

and a menacing

suddenly, I'm

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

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 out

Oh, wait. It's not.

charged, but

feverish. My entire body hurts, like

214

246 Ava Of-Kitar

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

long was 1 out?" I croak, my

said to let you

hours. It feels like I only slept ten minutes. "Why didn't you wake

"Nothing yet. And before you ask, no, we

I'd pushed aside during sleep comes rushing back. "We need to do