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!"

IS 43

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 we

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

my voice carefully measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me for asking, but how can you handle being on pack

wolves?"

personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters is the greater purpose. If teaching you requires me to endure the presence of wolves,

the word endure when thinking about spending time with a pack

time? Once a week?" The

16:43

206

The Fae Ward

shifts restlessly at my feet, her discomfort

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

daily exercise." He rubs between his eyebrows with a sigh. "If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost

trying to warn me of the importance of

voice resonates through the room, taking on the cadence of a professor in a lecture hall. "They carried great weight on the shoulders of three

words settle in the air, heavy

I've never heard of; as

Goddess. And for humans, it's usually God. Some few in the area even speak of Allah, but my father forbade me from learning more about the

hint of amusement creeping into his tone, "though none of them were mothers, and none of them were old enough to be

sighs. "Magister, you're too boring. Let me explain

to me, her lilac eyes sparkling. "You see, Ava, the Crone was the one to record the teachings and knowledge of the

16:43

3/8

994 as thetsVard (V)

realm when all the gods did, which is considered the beginning of the downfall of magic" The doom resonating

which is absolutely what she's going

leans in closer, 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

cracks like a whip, cutting off her rambling, "Go do something helpful, would

pouts. "But Magister, your lecture are

actually found

her scowl as she scurries