Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 249 Ava: Unrest

Magister Orion's booming voice wakes me from the unsettling dream, though it's too much work to open my eyes. I'm exhausted. My body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.

My ears tune in before I'm fully awake.

"—in an uproar. Every portal is guarded, and the death tolls keep rising. The militia's working on the riots, but they might not be enough. It makes no sense at all. There's no rhyme or reason to it."

"How safe are we here?"

"It's impossible to tell. The High Fae have already taken one family into custody for insurrection, but it's possible there are more. It's as though everyone's lost their minds."

That doesn't sound good.

My eyes snap open and I struggle to sit up, pleasantly surprised my body's aches are gone, even if I still feel heavy.

"What's going on?"

Magister Orion's face swims into view, his contorted features smoothing over. The sight jolts me fully awake, my heart rate picking up.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, his voice gruff.

I wave off his concern. My health isn't as important as this conversation. "I'm fine. What's going on?"

Magister Orion exchanges a loaded glance with Vanessa. My stomach tightens.

"The city is in an uproar," Magister Orion says, his words heavy. "In the First, Second, and Third Wards, there are riots and uprisings. There's no rhyme or reason. Vampire against vampire, Fae against Fae; it's unclear who is ally or foe."

The timing is suspect. We can't contact anyone outside this place, and now there's civil unrest?

mind reels, leaving me dizzy. "Does this happen

his face in frustration. "There have always been struggles of power, but they never involve the city. Assassinations, maybe. Financial destruction. Things of that nature. Too many powerful families have allied to keep peace in this sanctuary;

me. I didn't

a sigh. "Too many

these powerful families, then?" Vanessa asks. "Why aren't they keeping the

spreads his

the city, including the rogues who have lived

how all this

no way this

What aren't we seeing?

up in a different world; this

is coming who might have answers," Magister Orion adds.

stern woman who resembled my mother. Her cold demeanor

sticks to protocols," Magister Orion says, a hint of grudging respect

"What information might she have

head. "I'm not sure, but she seems agitated by the situation. That alone is cause for concern. Florice

she come to you?" Marcus asks suspiciously. "Do you think this

head, his salt-and-pepper hair catching the light. "Florice may dislike me because I refuse to play

she trusts you because you don't have a stake

Magister Orion nods. "I've never aligned myself with any faction. My only

tense. "But how can we be sure

territory; he's here

into a wry smile. "Florice is many things, but not duplicitous. She's rigid, inflexible, and often infuriating, but she's also honest to a fault. If she's coming to me, it's because

like Florice to seek help

* * *

healed; I fall asleep not long after, despite the