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

concern warms me, but anxiety still coils in

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

but Vanessa's voice distracts me. "He's right,

"Fine," I concede, "but wake

(C) 240 Ava: Off-kilter

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shift back to the ornate halls of the Fae Ward makes

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

tilts me back into a proper angle to the floor. "I'll take first watch. Vanessa will check in with

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

my room, I'm stumbling with every step. The bed looks impossibly inviting, and I barely kick off my shoes

but it couldn't give us new clothes.

gross against

well," Vanessa murmurs, her voice already fading

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

but I can't

it, but something tells me it

been here before, and my

darkens. It goes from crystal clear and

the trees, and a

suddenly, I'm not there

no water, only a beach, with water lapping at my toes. A white wolf with clear blue eyes stares at me, the only color

takes me a moment to remember where I am. The soft bed and ornate furnishings of the Fae Ward come into

Oh, wait. It's not.

charged, but not

sticky, and feel feverish. My entire

214

246 Ava Of-Kitar

She's perched in a chair by the window,

was 1 out?" I croak,

let you

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

you ask, no, we haven't been able to

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