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.

who

able to contact your family and

Ward, child."

hesitance, Layla produces an archaic bronze key that glows with a subtle shimmer and inserts it into

so natural around here already has us all feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps

so I can check us in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that

He glances toward Vanessa, who gives a quick nod, before passing through. Then

portal from Blackwood

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The Fan

abrupt change, an walk into a medieval world that belongs

It's green.

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

just the landscape that's breathtaking. The Fae themselves are a sight to behold, a mix of modern and fantasy th has me gaping. A group of Fae women stroll by, their hair in shad of lavender,

a little

least to

is another world, in a sense. Like a sister world that mirrors our

armor that looks like it's been plucked straight out of a Robin Hood poster. Their hair is long and braided, and comfortingly

to process the sheer absurdity of it all, half-expecting them to vanish in a puff

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wags in excitement. This place feels like home.

can feel her joy through our bond, a warm glow that spreads from my chest to my toes. She

inhales the scents of the Fae realm. Even

hint of

about to ask her what she

through the portal,

affiliations," one of the guards says, his voice deep and commanding. He eyes us

Sister Miriam," she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative

she declares my pack is mirrored by the looks on their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with

on his heel and strides off, leaving us scrambling to 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

Fae children plaving some kind of game involving glowing