Tangled

Unshift 248

Unshift 248

248 Ava: Fever Dreams

"How would he know?"

Vanessa shrugs. "They've been around for a long time. I guess the Fae go into heat, too."

Flopping onto my back, I groan at her words. "Fae aren't shifters"

"From what he says, the biological heat is the same, and the suppressants will work. All we can do is try. She checks my temperature, clicking her tongue. "It's down, but you still have a fever." With all the sweat trickling down just about every part of my body, I'm surprised. I thought the fever already broke. "When will Magister Orion be back?"

"Soon, I hope."

"So am I sick, or just going into heat?" I squint at Vanessa, the dim light of the room enough to burn my eyes. "Because let me tell you, if I'm going to be miserable every time, I think I might just want my uterus taken out."

She laughs softly. "You might be sick. Magister Orion thinks it might be from your increase in power. Something about backlash overwhelming the body." Selene mentioned that I go into heat in order to gain power, or something like that before. I still don't know the exact details, but it makes sense, I suppose.

"How long do I have before I go into heat?" No matter how hard I try to think back, I can't remember how long it was between meeting Selene and wearing the necklace.

She sighs. "I have no idea. You're an unusual case in every possible way. The sooner we get the suppressants, the better it will be. For it to be already affecting Marcus when you have no other signs of heat is almost unheard of."

This blasted heat is the stupidest thing I've ever had to endure.

"Do me a favor and knock me unconscious if you can't suppress it. I don't want to repeat past

mistakes.

Leaning forward, Vanessa flicks my forehead. "Don't borrow trouble before it comes, Ava. Get

some rest."

Snow glistens, but isn't cold against my bare feet. Despite being the dead of winter, the temperature is comfortable. A dream. It has to be a dream, because I'm

turning skeletal trees into ominous shadows against

forest so lifeless. Even in the depths of winter, there should be evergreens. But here, there's

harshest climates.

runs down my spine, but it's not from fear. This place,

13

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248 Ava Fever Dreams

more like walking through a

by the crunch of my footsteps and the

drawn forward by some inexplicable pull. The moonlight plays tricks on my eyes, casting shadows that seem to move and dance at the edge of my vision. But when I

more bare trees

into its heart. I lose track of time, my

have passed, but

to wonder if this forest goes on forever, I see a break in the endless sea of lifeless

My pace quickens.

step into a

catches in my throat.

defying all logic and reason,

petals are gorgeous in color-deep purples fading to brilliant blues, edged with a shimmer of gold. It seems to glow from within, the only beacon of life in this dead world. The flower sways gently, though there's no breeze

the sight. After the monotony of the forest, this burst of color and life is almost painful, a reminder

feet

droplets of dew

be magic. Nothing like this exists in

it's some fantastical

reach out, wanting to touch it, driven by a need

"Ava."

I'd know that