Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 220 Ava: The Fae Ward (II)

"Oh. I understand." Glancing toward Sister Miriam, I'm not sure how to feel about being separated from my benefactor.

She inclines her head. "If at any time you wish to speak to me, just let the Fae know."

"I was under the impression you would be with us," Vanessa cuts in, suspicion written all over her face in giant, bold letters. "How are we supposed to trust whoever you're handing us to?"

"You're still under her protection," Layla sighs. "She just can't come into the Fae Ward. For our sakes."

The gnome's gaze flicks to Vanessa and Marcus, and she mutters under her breath, "The paperwork for a bunch of pack wolves to get admitted in such circumstances is going to be a nightmare as it is."

If your teacher is in the Fae Ward, we need to go there, Selene interjects, her tone firm. No matter what. That is why we are here.

Resting my hand on her head, I turn to Layla. "Will our phones still work in the Fae Ward?"

"Phones?" The gnome blinks at me, and for the first time I realize that her pupils are bare pinpricks, making her eyes seem even larger. Then those same eyes widen, and I swear for a moment that something sparkles within them. "Ah, telecommunication devices! Yes! They will still function."

There's an excitement in her words that almost buzzes from her, and Vanessa steps between us in a casual motion. "To send and receive calls from outside the city?"

"Of course, of course. We worked that out aeons ago." Layla scoffs, as though our questions are over the top.

But—aeons?

Marcus frowns, and I grab his arm with a gentle squeeze, shaking my head slightly. From how Layla speaks about phones, calling them telecommunication devices, I don't think she's the one to give us the best information.

Miriam, who nods when I glance

your family and friends even in the

key that glows with a subtle shimmer and

here already has us all feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps forward without a word to

get there, so I can check us in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that

glances toward Vanessa, who gives a quick nod, before passing through. Then it's my

museum-like mansion, there's an abrupt change, and I walk into a

It's green.

stories about knights and maidens. Everything is just so much more; the sky

Fae themselves are a sight to behold, a mix of modern and fantasy that has me gaping. A group of Fae women stroll by, their hair in shades of lavender, turquoise, and bubblegum pink, wearing

Fae in more natural colors—at least to my

Fae realm is another world, in a sense. Like a sister world that mirrors our

Fae men standing guard on either side of Marcus. They're taller than any of us, and dressed in brown leather armor that looks like it's been plucked straight out of a Robin Hood poster. Their hair is long and

that a shiver goes down my back at how unnatural his gaze appears. My brain insists that he has to be blind, but it's very clear

of it all, half-expecting them to vanish in a puff of

tail wags in excitement. This place feels like

to my toes. She takes a deep breath, her nose twitching as she inhales the scents of the

sound of footsteps behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see Vanessa and Layla stepping through the portal, the gnome walking briskly toward the Fae guards despite barely

says, his voice deep and commanding. He eyes us warily, his

tall as her diminutive stature will allow. "They are under the protection of Sister Miriam," she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative for someone so small. "I need to bring

their faces. Silver