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 this

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

Marcus says, surprising me. I didn't

sigh. "Too many people are missing.

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

spreads his hands.

other shifters in the city, including the rogues who have lived

wondering how all this ties

way this

What aren't we seeing?

other. It feels like I've woken up in a different world; this feeling is getting too familiar. How many more times will

have answers," Magister Orion adds. "Do you remember the strange Fae named

my mother. Her cold demeanor is hard to

respect in his tone. "But she's also a wealth of information. She goes through almost every document a Fae ever puts

"What information might she

shakes his head. "I'm not sure, but she seems agitated by the situation. That alone is cause for concern. Florice never involves herself in

Marcus asks suspiciously. "Do you think

the light. "Florice may dislike me because I refuse to play by the rules,

trusts you because you don't have a stake

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

how can we be sure she's not using

with the territory; he's here to keep me safe, not fight someone else's

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.

for someone like Florice to seek help

* * *

awake doesn't mean I'm healed; I fall asleep not long