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.

proven animosity toward the wolves. If an incident were to occur, would we be able to handle

I can feel their apprehension radiating off them in waves, mingling with my own growing

deep breath, I turn to Magister Orion, my voice carefully measured. "Magister Orion, forgive me for asking, but how can you handle being on pack lands when you

wolves?"

quite decipher-anger? Resentment? Something else entirely? "My personal feelings are irrelevant," he says, his tone clipped. "What matters

endure when thinking about spending time with a pack doesn't sound

time? Once a week?" The

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The Fae Ward

shifts restlessly at my feet, her

sneezes once more.

"Three times?"

"If only the Crone's teachings weren't lost to us." "Crone's?" This

warn me of the importance

professor in a lecture hall. "They carried great weight on the shoulders of three

Orion's words settle in the air, heavy with the weight of lost

of Life is someone I've never heard of;

few in the area even

given to 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

too boring. Let me explain

Ava, the Crone

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994 as thetsVard (V)

the ages to their human successors. But the Crone disappeared from the earthly realm when all the gods

which is

away, waiting for the right person to find

a whip, cutting off her

your lecture are so

actually found it quite

of us enjoy the pursuit of knowledge." Waving her off with one massive hand, he ignores her scowl as she scurries away, her wings