Chapter 443: Ava: Pellonia

Magister Orion looks stunned when he comes into the tent, his swirling eyes landing on the small Fae girl Lucas calls Pip.

"What are you doing here?!" the giant man roars, and the wolves who had followed Lucas on his mission tense. None of them have met the Magister before.

Lucas, to his credit, remains aloof, though his hand tightens on my shoulder. "Do you recognize Pip, Magister?"

Magister Orion's face twists into a scowl. The expression transforms his usually dignified features into something fierce. My heart skips a beat at his thunderous reaction, but he smooths his expression and bows to Lucas with perfect court manners.

"Alpha Westwood. My deepest apologies for my outburst."

Lucas' hand relaxes on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch anchors me as I study Pip's face. Her purple hair seems duller now, less vibrant. Fear and relief war in her expression—but there's something else, easily recognizable. Her jaw is set in what looks an awful lot like defiance.

"This child," Magister Orion says, "is not who she claims to be."

Pip's shoulders hunch. The chains on her clothes jingle as she shifts her weight.

"Her name is Pellonia. She should be safely tucked away in a haven on the other side of the country."

Pip—no, Pellonia—hangs her head.

"So, you know her." Lucas's tone isn't a question.

"Indeed." Magister Orion's eyes swirl faster, betraying his agitation. "And her father will be most displeased to learn she is here."

Pellonia's head snaps up. "You can't tell him!"

"I absolutely can and will, young lady."

to my left shift uneasily. Magister Orion's massive frame seems to grow even larger, his pointed

Pellonia mumbles something unintelligible.

"Speak up, your highness."

tent like a bell, and suddenly I understand why Magister Orion

the girl says, her

the bridge of his nose. "Three weeks. You've been missing for three weeks, and no one thought

she protests.

thoughtful of you, your highness, to leave a note before vanishing from

flex against my shoulder. "Perhaps we

"We should.

doesn't move. Her chains jingle again as she crosses her arms. "I won't

is not a

"I'm helping the rebellion!"

"You are a child."

"I'm thirty-seven years old!"

understand why. For someone who looks to be somewhere between thirteen and fifteen to claim they're thirty-seven years old… But, the lifespan of a Fae is very long. I can see how a thirty-seven year old Fae might still

Magister Orion's voice softens. "Your father

flinch. She looks so young, so vulnerable,

I say, drawing his attention. "Maybe we should let

understand the gravity of this situation. This is the seventeenth daughter of the Fae Crown

ripped jeans and chains, looking

clears his throat. "Can you give us a little more information on this rebellion? The situation we found

forehead. "There are multiple rebellious orders… I wasn't even aware Pellonia was missing." His swirling eyes fix on the purple-haired girl, who

leads a faction against the New Order within our realm,

voice is a shrill knife cutting through the air. Her chains jingle as she steps forward, hands balled into fists. "He'll

Orion's roar makes the tent poles shake. His eyes swirl with dark colors, his pointed ears twitching with barely contained rage. "You have no idea what your father

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