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 at the history behind his dissatisfaction

them. Not wanting it to go

my soul cringe from the baggage that comes with it, even as I can feel my face settle into the

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

we have an issue that needs

brows wing up in surprise. "An issue? By

two attempts to clear my

has never been my

appreciate your generosity in 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 between shifter and Fae, mutual respect is crucial if we're

beside me relaxes, and Vanessa takes a step closer to my side. Their approval of

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

at the endless expanse of this strange cottage-tower above

at 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 be longer. Time can flow differently in the Fae Realm, though

second. An hour is an hour. Except, I guess,

Fae Realm has always

Interesting.

will has his presence holding its own against the Fae's. Magister Orion leans in to inspect Marcus' face, before finally giving a slow, approving nod. "Yes, I can see

"Marcus," Tinker hisses.

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

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

the gnome woman, drawing himself to his

an edge of desperation. "Please don't let his personality deter you from his teaching. We all gave up on him centuries ago,