Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 223 Ava: The Fae Ward (V)

Magister Orion storms around, his heavy footsteps shaking the floorboards. Agitation rolls off him in waves as he gesticulates wildly. "Absurd! Your magic is a part of you, girl. It's not some accessory you can cast aside when it's inconvenient!"

Marcus steps forward, pulling me behind him in a protective stance. His eyes narrow as he watches Magister Orion's erratic pacing.

Layla darts between us, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Magister, please calm yourself. We don't want a repeat of the last time you set the library on fire."

Tinker groans, her mechanical wings drooping. "It took a decade to duplicate all those ruined books. Please, Magister. Let's not go through that again."

Magister Orion freezes, a sheepish expression crossing his face. He takes a deep breath, his shoulders slumping as he turns to me. "My apologies, Ava. I let my passion get the better of me." He sighs, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "I must confess, I had an ulterior motive in agreeing to teach you.

I had hoped that once you were introduced to our world, you might choose to stay here as my student. You see, the magic we share is dying out. It's been centuries since I've found someone to teach."

Glancing at the books flying in the air, lazily flapping their pages like wings, a frown tugs at the corners of my lips. "How is that possible? There's magic everywhere here."

He shakes his head, his eyes wrinkling at the corners with sadness and the harsh passage of time. Centuries, he said. Centuries. I can't imagine being alive so long. Just like Sister Miriam, he's lived a life I can't fathom.

"The magic of the Fae and the magic that humans can wield are separate entities. They come from different sources, follow different rules."

"I don't understand. How—"

Magister Orion cuts me off with another shake of his head. "It's a long and complicated history, one we don't have time for now." His gaze shifts to Vanessa and Marcus, his nose wrinkling in disdain. "Are these the pack you speak of?"

He smells like a burning forest when he looks at them, Selene observes. There must be a history there. Fae can be hostile to any non-Fae, but this goes beyond that.

for them, but I wonder at

dirty to hear how he speaks to them. Not wanting it to go on any longer, I wait until his eyes once again meet mine, leaving my

soul cringe from the baggage that comes

demands will cause friction between me and the man I'm

issue that

thick brows wing up in surprise. "An issue? By

and I take two attempts to clear my throat before

been my strong

to this world of Fae and vampires, and I appreciate your generosity in bringing me here under your protection. However, Marcus and Vanessa have been my steadfast

takes a step closer to my side. Their approval of my

Intense eyes glower at the two who've followed me into this strange world, the two tasked to keep me safe even at the cost of their own

grunts, throwing his head back to stare at the endless expanse of this strange

open as wide as they can be. Knowing that she controls them with a remote,

be a hundred years, Selene says thoughtfully. Though, it could even be longer. Time can flow differently in the

can time flow differently? A second is a second. An hour is an hour.

not certain, either. The Fae Realm

Interesting.

Despite dwarfing him in physical size, Marcus' sheer level of iron will has his presence holding its own against the Fae's. Magister Orion leans in to inspect Marcus' face, before

"Marcus," Tinker hisses.

Magister Orion scowls at his tiny winged secretary, before turning to Vanessa. He doesn't move, only inspecting her from afar, before giving another nod. "A

apology. "I promise he's like

Orion scowls at the gnome woman, drawing himself to his full height. "To all a mighty wizard

don't let his personality deter you from his teaching. We all gave up on him centuries ago, and it's only