Tangled

Unshift 220

Unshift 220

220 Ava: The Fae Ward (II)

"Oh. I understand." Glancing toward Sister Miriam, I'm not sure how to feel about being separated from my benefactor.

She inclines her head. "If at any time you wish to speak to me, just let the Fae know."

"I was under the impression you would be with us," Vanessa cuts in, suspicion written all over her face in giant, bold letters. "How are we supposed to trust whoever you're handing us to?" "You're still under her protection," Layla sighs. "She just can't come into the Fae Ward. For our sakes."

The gnome's gaze flicks to Vanessa and Marcus, and she mutters under her breath, "The paperwork for a bunch of pack wolves to get admitted in such circumstances is going to be a nightmare as it

is."

If your teacher is in the Fae Ward, we need to go there, Selene interjects, her tone firm. No matter what. That is why we are here.

Resting my hand on her head, I turn to Layla. "Will our phones still work in the Fae Ward?"

"Phones?" The gnome blinks at me, and for the first time I realize that her pupils are bare pinpricks, making her eyes seem even larger. Then those same eyes widen, and I swear for a moment that something sparkles within them. "Ah, telecommunication devices! Yes! They will still function."

There's an excitement in her words that almost buzzes from her, and Vanessa steps between us in a casual motion. "To send and

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220 Ava: The Fae Ward (1)

receive calls from outside the city?"

"Of course, of course. We worked that out aeons ago." Layla scoffs, as though our questions are over the top.

But-aeons?

Marcus frowns, and I grab his arm with a gentle squeeze, shaking

my head slightly. From how Layla speaks about phones, calling

them telecommunication devices, I don't think she's the one to give us the best information.

Sister Miriam, who nods when I glance in

able to contact your family and

Ward, child."

glows with a subtle shimmer and inserts it into the door, which swings open to

that magic seems so natural around here already has us all feeling out of place and uneasy, and

so I can check us in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that says she's said

who gives a quick nod, before passing

the portal from Blackwood lands

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The Fan Ward

walk into a

It's green.

now, the prose in old, rambling stories about knig and maidens. Everything is just so much more,

of modern and fantasy th has me gaping. A group of Fae women stroll

that shimmer in the sunlight. And their ears? They're pointed. Just a little

plenty of Fae in more natural colors-at least to my eyes -but

realm is another world, in a sense. Like a sister world that

hair is long and braided, and comfortingly brown. One has blue eyes that hold the chill of winter, and another has eyes so silver that a shiver goes down my back

sheer absurdity of it all, half-expecting them

37:20

The Fae Ward

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This place feels

a warm glow that spreads from

the scents of the Fae realm. Even the air

muses, a hint of

her what she means

Layla stepping through the portal, the gnome walking briskly toward the Fae guards despite barely reaching their

He eyes us warily, his hand resting on the hilt of a

allow. "They are under the protection of Sister Miriam," she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative for someone so small. "I need to bring the to the Wizard's

mirrored by the looks on their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with

keep up. Vanessa falls into step beside me, her eyes wide as she takes in the sights and sounds of the Fae realm. "This is not what I

gaze drawn to a group of Fae children plaving some kind of