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.

no respect for them, but I wonder

them. Not wanting it to go on any longer, I wait until his eyes once again meet mine, leaving my face blank, trying

to mind is my mother's face, a vision that makes my soul cringe from the baggage that comes with it, even as I can feel my face settle into the expression that I think mirrors her personality

at the possibility that my demands will cause friction between me and the man I'm hoping can keep me safe from my own power,

Orion, we have an issue that

surprise. "An issue? By all means, tell me,

two attempts to clear my

never been my

bringing me here under your protection. However, Marcus and Vanessa have been my steadfast protectors. Your attitude toward them and my pack is concerning. Regardless of any history

and Vanessa takes a step closer to my side. Their approval of my words

face, followed by a grimace. Intense eyes glower at the two who've followed me into this strange world, the two tasked to keep me safe even at the

stare at the endless expanse of this strange cottage-tower above

me, her mouth open in surprise and those mechanical wings of hers open as wide as they can be. Knowing that she controls them with a remote, it makes me wonder how long she's had them, that she's expressing her emotions through them so fluidly. I wonder if she even notices when she does

says thoughtfully. Though, it could even be longer. Time can flow differently in the Fae Realm,

can time flow differently? A second is a second. An hour is an hour. Except, I guess, when it's

certain, either. The Fae Realm has

Interesting.

the Fae's. Magister Orion leans in to inspect Marcus' face, before finally giving a slow, approving nod. "Yes, I can see why they would choose one such as you. Welcome to the

"Marcus," Tinker hisses.

Vanessa. He doesn't move, only inspecting her from afar, before giving another nod. "A strong she-wolf. Rare to see these days.

Layla, who looks at us with apology. "I promise he's

Orion scowls at the gnome woman, drawing himself to

desperation. "Please don't let his personality deter you from his teaching. We all gave up on him