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.

have to trust Sister Miriam, who

family and friends

Ward, child."

Impatient now with our hesitance, Layla produces an archaic bronze key that glows

feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps forward without a word to go

in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that says she's

toward Vanessa, who gives a quick nod, before passing

the portal from Blackwood lands

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Ava: The Fan Ward

mansion, there's an abrupt change, an walk into

It's green.

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

The Fae themselves are a sight to behold, a mix of modern and fantasy th has me gaping.

a little at the tip for

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

in a sense. Like a sister world that mirrors

of a Robin Hood poster. Their 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 at how unnatural his gaze

absurdity of it all, half-expecting them to vanish in

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The Fae Ward

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place feels like

from my chest to my toes. She takes a deep breath, her

inhales the scents of the

hint of

what she means when I hear the

I glance over my shoulder to see Vanessa and Layla stepping through the portal, the gnome walking briskly toward the Fae guards despite barely reaching their

of the guards says, his voice deep and commanding. He eyes us warily, his hand resting

she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative for someone so small. "I need to bring the to

their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with his partner, before giving me a nod.

step beside me, her eyes wide as she

drawn to a group of Fae children plaving some kind of game involving glowing