Tangled

Unshift 253

Unshift 253

253 Ava: Enforcement Division.

A banging on the door interrupts the moment. Magister Orion glances toward it before his face suddenly shutters. "We need to go," he says, his voice lower than normal. "What? Go where?*

"Out of here," he says, his words still soft and terse. The banging comes again. "Go to the training

room. Now."

Vanessa and Marcus are already on guard, flanking me as they lead me in that direction, not. quite running, but not far off.

It's hard to be quiet when running.

Thankfully, the windows are spelled to keep anyone from seeing inside.

"What's happening, Magister?" Marcus asks, his face grim.

Magister Orion shakes his head. "I had hoped... But hope is for the naive, I suppose. I should have prepared all of you for this possibility. They will prosecute me for Florice's murder. His eyes flicker in my direction. "That would leave her vulnerable in the Fae Ward."

My entire back goes cold. "Why would they go after you for her murder?" I hiss, trying to keep quiet through my outrage. "That makes no sense. You were with us the entire time."

"It doesn't matter. I can be found innocent later, and by then they've already gotten what they want. The only thing precious here is you." He rushes us with hand movements. Tinker and Layla can contact me at any time, but for now, we must leave the city. My protection is no longer viable for you."

"How do you know this?" Vanessa cuts in. "There's no reason to believe

"Why else would the Enforcement Division be at my doorstep?" He shakes his head. "They only deal with the blackest of criminals. If they are here, it is for me!"

HT

"You didn't even look to see who was at the door. How do you know?" I protest. "It could be someone who works with Florice, or Layla, or-"

explosion rocks the building,

cover me from

in our direction. I squint past the cloud of smoke obscuring my view,

the shadows.

Four.

Five?

wait-more. How many people did

Orion bellows, and Marcus heaves me over his shoulder in a swift. movement as we

Enforcement Division

253 Av Enforcement Division

end of Magister Orion's hand as balls of

traitor-" The

of witchcraft-" This is a woman, shouting more

Orion shoves us through. "Ava, call your book to you. Don't let

Maybe

from tense to terrified. From safe to running for

human realm!" Magister Orion shouts into the room as the doors close between us, leaving us alone in the familiar metal box that housed us all for a long week.

Miriam.

onto the floor, and I wince, my stomach bruised where his shoulder slammed into it

"You okay?"

My body's shaking, belying my words. "He had time to

in?!"

grimly. "There were likely more than he expected.

we get away."

they want me? I shake my head, remembering how mortified I was just minutes ago when I realized I hadn't questioned someone wanting me to save an

like having three different books happening

that, at least, makes sense in my head. Renard's quest for power, and even Whispering Pines turning on

calls reference Westwood, yet seem to come from