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?

reels, leaving me dizzy. "Does

over 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

now," Marcus says, surprising me. I didn't realize

Magister Orion echoes with a sigh. "Too many people are missing. The

then?" Vanessa asks. "Why aren't they keeping

his

in the city, including

wondering how all this ties into our

way

What aren't we seeing?

like I've woken up in a different world; this feeling is getting too familiar. How many more times will the rug get

who might have answers," Magister Orion adds. "Do you remember the

my mother. Her cold demeanor is hard to

a hint of grudging respect in his tone. "But she's also a wealth

information might

not sure, but she seems agitated by the situation. That alone is cause for

to you?" Marcus asks suspiciously. "Do you think

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

trusts you because you don't

Orion nods. "I've never aligned myself with any faction. My only interest is in magic and its

shifts beside me, his posture tense. "But how can we be sure she's not using that

territory; he's here

is many things, but not duplicitous. She's rigid, inflexible, and often infuriating, but she's also honest to

like Florice to seek help from

* * *

fall asleep not long after,