Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 253 Ava: Enforcement Division

A banging on the door interrupts the moment. Magister Orion glances toward it before his face suddenly shutters. "We need to go," he says, his voice lower than normal.

"What? Go where?"

"Out of here," he says, his words still soft and terse. The banging comes again. "Go to the training room. Now."

Vanessa and Marcus are already on guard, flanking me as they lead me in that direction, not quite running, but not far off.

It's hard to be quiet when running.

Thankfully, the windows are spelled to keep anyone from seeing inside.

"What's happening, Magister?" Marcus asks, his face grim.

Magister Orion shakes his head. "I had hoped… But hope is for the naive, I suppose. I should have prepared all of you for this possibility. They will prosecute me for Florice's murder." His eyes flicker in my direction. "That would leave her vulnerable in the Fae Ward."

My entire back goes cold. "Why would they go after you for her murder?" I hiss, trying to keep quiet through my outrage. "That makes no sense. You were with us the entire time."

"It doesn't matter. I can be found innocent later, and by then they've already gotten what they want. The only thing precious here is you." He rushes us with hand movements. "Tinker and Layla can contact me at any time, but for now, we must leave the city. My protection is no longer viable for you."

"How do you know this?" Vanessa cuts in. "There's no reason to believe—"

"Why else would the Enforcement Division be at my doorstep?" He shakes his head. "They only deal with the blackest of criminals. If they are here, it is for me."

"You didn't even look to see who was at the door. How do you know?" I protest. "It could be someone who works with Florice, or Layla, or—"

rocks the building,

bodies cover me

pound in our direction. I squint past the cloud of smoke obscuring my view,

Four.

Five?

wait—more. How many people did

Marcus heaves me over his shoulder in a swift movement as we bolt down

Magister! We are the Enforcement Division, here

the end of Magister

abetting a traitor—" The

use of witchcraft—" This is a woman,

through. "Ava, call your book to you. Don't let it get into the

"Magister—"

minutes. Maybe

two minutes, we went from tense to terrified. From

the doors close between us, leaving us alone

the magic

onto the floor, and I wince, my stomach bruised where his shoulder slammed into it as he

"You okay?"

body's shaking, belying my words. "He had time

Marcus says grimly. "There were likely more than he

how mortified I was just minutes ago when I realized I hadn't questioned someone wanting me to save an entire pack. "I have some magic power, but that's not enough to explain what's going on around me. It isn't enough to set

having three different books happening

sense in my head. Renard's quest for power, and

Westwood, yet seem to come from