Tangled

Chapter 261

Unshift 261

Unshift 261

261 Ava: Yanking At Her

It's almost like a presence saying hello.

Thinking of that little string, I tug back. Twice.

An answering jerk. One. Two. Three

The words I just spoke drift into my head: It's like the book is alive.

it crazy to talk into this void in my head, in the general direction I hope the book is in?

Sure. But at least no one can see or hear me doing it.

Hello? I call out, trying to

there?

Use the same mental channel I use to speak with Selene. Are you

Another tug on that string.

I really, really need you to come to where I am. It's safer here. Or something. How do you explain. to a book that the world has gone to shit and you want to keep it from being used to create further catastrophe?

Please.

Being polite never hurts.

This time, that string-y feeling yanks, and it feels like my heart is constricted, interfering in its ability to beat.

I can't breathe. Pain explodes in my chest, radiating outward like a supernova. My lungs burn, desperate for air that won't come. The world around me blurs, sounds fading into a high-pitched buzz that fills my

cars.

second passes. An eternity compressed

darken, reality slipping away like sand

suddenly as it began, the pain recedes. The world snaps back into focus, colors sharpening and sounds returning. I gasp, drawing in a ragged breath that

to orient myself. We're still in the truck. Marcus is at the

mirror.

a croak. Swallowing hard, I

like my heart was being squeezed in a vise, like something was trying to pull it right out of my chest. And that string, that connection to the book-it's still there, only it's stronger

Ava Yanking

thrumming in my

face went white as a sheet and your groaned like you were dying. I'm pretty

seconds without air sends a shiver down my spine. "I think I made contact

in the mirror. "What

said. And then..." I trail off, unsure how to describe the sensation. "It was like it grabbed hold of me. I feel like I was somewhere

shaking her head. "Stupid question. How would

and so few

Marcus's

to be careful with this. Magic books that try to yank

point, but something in me rebels against the idea. "No, it wasn't malicious. Just desperate." I pause, surprised by my own certainty. How can I be so sure about the intentions of an

again, and I swear it's a

way, we can't risk you getting hurt. Maybe we should wait until we reach Lucas

like my body is vibrating from the inside out, a constant reminder

Vanessa. "We should wait until we're somewhere safe before I try contacting the book again. Too many weird things keep happening to me. I'd rather not risk dying before

I have a sense of self-preservation

desperately want to try

thought of Lucas sends a

in my chest, fragile and desperate. Vanessa shakes her head, a worried frown creasing her brow. "No, nothing yet. Vester should be able to reach me by now. It's strange." "How long has it been since you could sense him?" Surprised, I peer out the window, but there's nothing to see in the darkness. Vanessa's frown deepens. "Well, you've been

mere minutes had passed. The realization is chilling. How much

24

Yanking At

away into that strange,

his eyes glued to the road. "I felt a pack presence once," he admits.

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