Tangled

Unshift 240

Unshift 240

240 Ava: Sister Miriam is Angry

Chapter 30Magister Orion doesn't bat an eye when we tell him that we want to get in touch

with Sister Mirlam.

Two hours later, we're back in Sister Miriam's strange mansion, just outside of the Fae Ward.

We all try calling people again, but nothing but voicemails answer us.

Selene rolls against the cool floor, groaning in relief. So much easier to breathe here. Pity. I do like it there.

"Sorry." Watching her writhe around to soothe her itchy skin gives me something to do while we wait for Sister Miriam's arrival.

Layla is back, hunched over a pile of papers she dragged with her, marking through various papers with terrifying efficiency. I'm not even sure if she's reading what's on the pages. Just flip, sign, flip, flip, sign. Every so often she sets one to the side after writing REJECTED in large letters at the top of the

page.

"Their language is fascinating." Vanessa murmurs, also watching the gnome work.

"Language?" Startled, I glance at the healer. "She hasn't said a word."

Our whispers echo through the room. It's impossible for Layla not to hear everything we're saying, yet we continue to whisper.

"Her writing," she corrects me. "Those letters-you called them runes?-are so interesting. She writes them so quickly, but they're so intricate and detailed."

Glancing at the papers again, I squint my eyes.

It takes a while for me to realize that Layla is, in fact, writing in the strange language of theirs, and not in English.

That can't be possible. I'm reading everything she's writing with such case, as though it were already in English. How?

Affinity, Selene explains with a yawn. You've accessed your magic. You've gained an

the language

magic and an entire language just appears

Precisely.

if he was here, but he's not, so I shelve them for now. It's a strange thing, but not nearly

click of heels against the floor announces Sister Miriam's arrival before she even enters the room. Selene, who's been rolling around on the floor, suddenly sits up straight, her posture prim and proper. I can't help but smile at her

Sister Miriam steps

Sister

are the vintage dresses I've grown accustomed to seeing her in. Instead, she's wearing a loose shirt and jeans. It's so... normal. So un-Sister Miriam-like that for a moment, I wonder if

us, her tone cool and polite. Her red eyes lock onto

I reveal? I'm not sure. Glancing at Vanessa and Marcus, whose faces are blank, I launch

the city at war with

eyes widen, and she takes an involuntary step forward, so intense that it steals my breath away for a moment as her eyes darken and her usual composure cracks, showing

sharp with intensity. Then, as if catching herself, she quickly adds, "I've heard nothing about any war, but that doesn't

her eyes dart around the room as

seen

She knows something

strange rogue attacks on my pack, I explain, the words tumbling out in a rush. "And I can't get in touch with

gaze snaps to Layla, who's been watching our exchange instead of working on her papers. "What's going

form quivering. "I don't know of anything,

must decide that she believes her, because she barks out orders. "Find out what's

a snap of Sister Miriam's fingers, Layla vanishes

I blink, startled

back to me, tension radiating from her every movement. She's almost shaking with anger, but it makes

danger.

for me?" she asks, her voice tight. I'm sure

to establish a connection with our pack" he explains, gesturing to my husky. "But she'd

open display of emotion I've ever seen from her. For a long moment, she Just glares at Selene,

Sister Miriam

like that isn't obvious. But it isn't at us. She has murderous intent toward

out a long sigh. "Fine," she says, the word sounding as if it's been dragged out of her. "I'm willing

"Every detail, no matter how small. For attacks to occur without my knowledge means that someone is tampering in my information network. This is not a

cement the foreboding in my heart, but I ask,

sigh breaks the tense silence, her gaze softening slightly as she looks at Selene. The change in her demeanor