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

family and friends

Ward, child."

on." Impatient now with our hesitance, Layla produces an archaic bronze key that glows with a subtle shimmer and inserts

natural around here already has us all feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps forward without a word to go

check us in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that says she's said this

glances toward Vanessa, who gives a quick nod, before passing through. Then it's my

portal from Blackwood lands

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The Fan

an abrupt change, an walk into a

It's green.

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

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

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

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

realm is another world, in a sense. Like

taller than any of us, and dressed 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

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

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place feels like home. Like my

bond, a warm glow that spreads from my chest to my toes. She takes a deep

scents of the Fae realm. Even

muses, a hint

ask her what she means

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

He eyes us warily, his

throat, standing as tall as her diminutive stature will allow. "They are under the protection of Sister Miriam," she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative for someone so small. "I need to

my pack is mirrored by the looks on their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with his partner,

me, her eyes wide as she takes in the sights and sounds of the Fae realm. "This is not what I was expecting," she murmurs, her

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