Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 423: Ava: New Order

These two know each other?

"Indeed it has, Orion." The Grand Sage is dwarfed next to the Magister. He speaks with warmth, though. "Though I wish our reunion came under better circumstances. This isn't the first time I've caught you breaking into one of my ships, is it?"

"Ah. It was yours, then. We were concerned… Well, never mind that." The giant man looks sheepish as he ducks his head. "My apologies, Grand Sage. Though now that I am seeing you both, I must ask—is your friend safe now? The human girl?"

"Lisa?" My heart swells at his concern. Even after all this time, he remembers. "Yes, she's safe."

The Grand Sage nods in confirmation. "We've kept her well protected since her return."

"Good, good." Magister Orion's shoulders relax slightly. "We have feared the worst in these past months. Establishing contact with friends has become impossible with the New Order in place."

"The New Order?" My throat tightens as memories of the press conference flash through my mind. The President's vacant stare. His monotone voice. The way everything felt wrong.

That must be it.

Of course they have some terrible name like the New Order.

"Ah." Magister Orion's face darkens. "You've seen them, then?"

"The President's speech, right?" I shift my weight, and the sole of my boots squeak over packed snow. "It was strange. All the supernaturals there."

a growl. "The New Order seized control months ago. They've

He looks at Magister Orion's party, inspecting them

registered communities live under martial law. Even the unregistered territories have fallen." He spreads his massive hands. "They've taken everything, little

did no

shakes. His words, tight and hard, are also hoarse. "The New Order was thorough. They infiltrated every level of power. By the time anyone realized what was happening, it was too late. That was the first

suspected,

we still don't understand who they are. Or why they're doing

major pack. Every vampire coven. They monitor everything. They're determined to maintain their

my legs feeling a little like jelly. Greg reaches out in silence to grab my elbow again

trembling. Not the kind of happy vibration it was doing earlier, but a morose kind

to process the implications.

me: Magister Orion telling us to escape. The door exploding. Guards invading, yelling for his arrest. "They said you murdered Florice. How did

"That particular misunderstanding was cleared up rather quickly. It was little more than a ruse to begin

too much for something as simple as a misunderstanding. They sent in their equivalent

if they were more interested in me, it seems like overkill to pretend he

for the first time. It's good to see her, too. "It

out of a Fae

"Little witch, they never got me that far. Don't

the faces

a resistance cell in the