Tangled

Unshift 224

Unshift 224

224 Ava The Fae Ward (V

224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

"Magister Orion." A little concerned at how the strange man who claims to be my teacher will respond to my next words, I brace myself once more for the flood of emo..ons that might roll off him. *I understand your wish for me to stay here and learn from you, but it is impossible for me to stay here for as long as you wish. And with my wolf unable to tolerate your wards, it makes it even more impractical."

Wiw be fwine.

"No, it won't be."-

Magister Orion's brow furrows as he scrutinizes Selene, his gaze sharp and assessing. The air thickens with tension.

Finally, he turns to me, his expression unreadable.

"If you cannot remain here in the Fae Ward, Ava Grey, then it is my duty as your mentor to go where you go."

Layla and Tinker erupt into a chorus of protests, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of disbelief.

"Magister Orion, you can't be serious!" Layla exclaims, her eyes wide with shock. "Leaving the Fae Ward? Impossible. Your request would be rejected on the spot!"

Tinker nods vigorously, her mechanical wings fluttering in

agitation. "She's right, Magister. The Fae Ward is your domain. To leave its sanctuary is little better than," and her voice lowers to a whisper, "suicide!"

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224 Ava: The Fae Ward (VI)

But Magister Orion is unmoved by their objections. He rises to his full, imposing height, his voice booming like thunder. "Enough! This goes beyond convention. I will not leave my chance at a student behind." Watching the argument unfold, my stomach twists with unease. The idea of Magister Orion accompanying me back to the pack

lands fills me with dread.

toward the wolves. If an incident were to occur, would

and Marcus exchange worried glances, their postures tense and alert. I can feel their

carefully measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me for asking, but how can you

wolves?"

I can't quite decipher-anger? Resentment? Something else entirely? "My personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters is the greater purpose. If teaching you requires

Having to use the word endure when thinking about spending time with a pack doesn't sound like

Once a week?" The horror on his

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Ava: The

feet, her

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

so easily taught, child. It's a daily exercise." He rubs between his eyebrows with a sigh. "If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost to us." "Crone's?" This is a new

if trying to warn me

the blessing of the gods. The witches of old." His voice resonates through the room, taking on the cadence of a professor in a

the air, heavy with the weight

I've never heard of; as wolves,

it's usually God. Some few in the area even speak of

each priestess," Magister Orion continues, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone, "though none of them were mothers, and none of them were old

you're too boring. Let

sparkling. "You see, Ava, the Crone was the one to

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all the gods did, which is

which is absolutely

her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Some say the Crone's book is still out there, hidden away, waiting for the right person to find it. Others believe it was destroyed, lost forever. And then there are those who

cutting off her rambling, "Go do something helpful,

lecture are so dry! Nobody wants

actually found it quite

her scowl as she scurries away,