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."

to a growl. "The New Order seized control months

suspicious despite the clear harmony between us. He looks at Magister Orion's party, inspecting them all one by one, even as he speaks. "What do

martial law. Even the unregistered territories

did no one

beard bristling as he 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

we suspected,

of it together over time, though we still don't understand who they are. Or why they're doing

"They've placed their people in every major pack. Every vampire coven.

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

the kind of happy vibration it was doing earlier,

the implications. It

saw you—" My voice cracks. The memory of that night still haunts me: Magister Orion telling us to escape.

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

a misunderstanding. They sent in their equivalent of a

seems like overkill to pretend

first time. It's good to see her, too. "It was quite

broke out of

"Little witch, they never got me that far.

others?" Immediately, I think of Layla. She's missing. Most of the faces here

a resistance cell