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.

to trust Sister Miriam, who nods when I glance

contact your family and friends even in the

Ward, child."

Impatient now with our hesitance, Layla produces an archaic bronze key that glows with a subtle shimmer and inserts it into the door, which swings open to reveal a shimmering golden

feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps forward

so I can check us in," Layla says in a

a quick nod, before passing through. Then

portal from Blackwood lands to Sister

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The Fan Ward

change, an walk into a medieval world that belongs

It's green.

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

not 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, turquoise, and bubblegum pink, wearing

sunlight. And their ears? They're pointed. Just a little at the tip for some, and

in more natural colors-at least to my eyes -but it's

realm is another world, in a sense.

in brown leather armor that looks like it's been plucked straight out 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 appears. My brain insists that he has to be blind, but it's

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

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The

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excitement. This place

from my chest

she inhales the scents of the Fae realm. Even the air

a hint of nostalgia in her

her what she means when I hear the sound

shoulder to see Vanessa and Layla stepping through the portal, the gnome walking briskly toward the

and commanding. He eyes us warily,

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 Tower. Ava Grey, Blackwood

on their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with his

into step beside me, her eyes wide as she takes in the sights

Fae children plaving some kind of game involving