Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
But his words barely register. My mind is racing, pieces of a puzzle clicking into place. The book Mrs. Elkins gave me, the strange symbols that vanished, the power thrumming beneath my skin…
It’s all very, very magical. It was passed down for a long time. It holds secrets. And it makes Selene sneeze, much like these wards that have her sneezing even now, rubbing her nose with her paws in a desperate attempt at gaining even a little bit of relief.
Can it be?
It has to be.
There’s no other way, right?
“Magister Orion,” I say slowly, my heart pounding, “I’ve come into possession of a magical book. It’s written in odd symbols that disappear, even when I try to copy them.”
He leans forward with such velocity that his chair nearly tips over ‘with his weight. Marcus steps between us once again, and I shove the overprotective wolf to the side as Magister Orions eyes bore into mine. “A book with vanishing symbols? Do they look something like this?”
With a flourish of his index finger, Magister Orion traces symbols in the air. Thin, blazing lines of fire follow his movements, hanging suspended for a moment before fading away. I squint, trying to make sense of the strange script. It takes me a moment to realize they’re written backward, like a mirror image.
Excitement stirs.
“Yes. They look similar, though I can’t read them.”
Magister Orion’s face splits into a wide, beaming grin. His eyes sparkle, and I can feel the enthusiasm radiating off him in waves. It’s almost contagious, and I find myself smiling back-
Ava. Selene’s voice whispers in my mind, cutting through my thoughts like a knife. If Magister Orion didn’t know you had the book, how was there a message in there telling you to come here?
Selene’s question is like a brick wall for my speeding thoughts. I suck in a sharp breath, my heart pounding against my ribcage as I remember the words written in the book: Your teacher awaits
Enter the sanctuary of wizards, Ava Grey.
The words had appeared as if by magic the runes shifting and morphing until they formed a coherent message. A message meant for me.
My voice shakes. “Did you know I had the book?”
Magister Orion’s eyes widen, genuine surprise etched across his features. “No, I had no idea the book was ever found. This is news to me. Realmshattering, in fact. We haven’t even found a trace of it in…” He blows out a breath, looking skyward. “A century. More, perhaps.”
My mind races, trying to make sense of it all. “The runes in the book… they moved around until they wrote a phrase in English. It told me to come here, to the sanctuary of wizards.”
Magister Orion frowns, his brows knitting together in concentration. “The sanctuary of wizards? That’s not a term I would associatewell, I suppose it is, as such, a sanctuary. And of wizards. However, such a technical level of manipulation is beyond anyone I know who would be alive today. Someone able to fight the wards spelled within that book would be powerful beyond measure.”
A chill runs down my spine at his words. If even Magister Orion, with all his knowledge and power, doesn’t know who could have
Ara done this…
“Is it possible there are others in the world who know of this magic?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He sighs, rubbing a finger over his forehead. “It’s always possible. The Fae were not the ones to govern this knowledge in the first place. There could be others out there, hiding in the shadows, keeping the magic alive. It would be a good thing, I suppose.” Yet he sounds doubtful.
Selene sneezes again, her body shaking with the force of it. I reach down to stroke her fur, trying to offer some comfort.
Magister Orion rises from his seat, his robes swishing around him. “I need to pack for my journey to your pack lands. We must unravel this mystery and begin your training as soon as possible.”
Layla steps forward, her face pinched with worry, “Magister Orion, you can’t leave. There are protocols, paperwork that needs to be filed-
“Bureaucracy be damned!” Magister Orion snaps, his voice booming through the room. “This is a matter of utmost importance. I will not be held back by red tape and formalities.”
Raising my hands, I try to calm the situation between them. “Why don’t you figure it out on your end while I talk to my mate about you being able to visit? We can meet in the middle. It isn’t as though we are in an extreme hurry, are we?”
Magister Orion grumbles under his breath, clearly frustrated. “Very well. But we must begin your lessons as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.
mod, rehef waashing ever me. Can we start while we figure
Exem everything out? Ben just the basis
He hesitates for a moment befice agreeing though I can sense his redactance. Selene mufiges my leg, her voice whispering in my mind. I think. Magister Orin secret wishes to leave the The Wart and exprestance our world.
His eyes dart to the windows. There’s a longing in his expression. something yearning. For freedom?Force? I’m not sure. It’s possible Selene’s right. Being croped up in this place, no mar how magical, must get tiring after a while.
Leon looks like she’s about to have a breakdown her hands wringing together. “Vagister Orion promise me you’ll say within the Fae Ward until we can sort this our Please”
He waves her of clearly annoyed Yes yes. I won’t go galivaming off into the sunset just ve
“Thank the Sun” Lava miners Trogt cond of this sization before. Yes lank that would be best. The forms sicuit be…” Her words grow more incoherent as she mumbles, screwing EMEX FROM US Without acknowledging us any further. Her footsteps ezo behind her as she leaves.
Magister Orion signs, turning to me. Lata is one of the good ones. She means well even if she can be a bit… overbearing at times.
THI I do won mean by that lass, curiosity getting the better of
He shakes his head, a way smile on his lips. The politics of the
Dakota Sanctuary never sleep, Ava Grey. There are always those vying for power, trying to gain the upper hand.”
A shiver runs through me at his words. I’m not sure I like the sound of that. “Is it safe for me to be here?”
Magister Orion places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and something warm passes between us at the contact. Something both welcoming and foreign.
Magic, Selene says. He’s sharing with you.
Is that way it feels so soothing, as if smoothing down the frayed edges of my nerves?
“The Fae Ward is somewhat separate from the other wards within Dakota Sanctuary. While we are not truly a part of the realm of the Fae, we are under the protection of the Fae King and the laws of our people. It is why we can restrict its access from other denizens of the city, and the reason you are safe here. You have nothing to fear within this place.”
Marcus steps forward, his face serious. “Then what would happen if the vampires decided to war against the Fae King?”
Magister Orion throws his head back and laughs, the sound echoing through the room. “Impossible. The vampires may be powerful, but they are no match for the might of the Fae. They would be crushed like ants beneath a boot.”
His words do little to reassure me, sounding too much like the ego of Lucas’ pack before the vampires appeared within it, taking so many innocent lives.
My knowledge is too lacking to know how right Magister Orion is, but I push my worries aside for now.
I can’t do much about politics between Fae and vampires. There isn’t even much I can do between them and Lucas. Instead, I need to focus on what I’m here for: learning to control the magic that threatens everyone around me.
Magister Orion personally escorts us up the mysterious spiral staircase to two adjoining rooms, promising to begin my training in the morning. O
The moment the door closes behind him, I pull out my phone, unsurprised to see no new texts or phone calls. Sister Miriam did say only the occasional ones text would come through.
So I call Lucas.
He answers on the first ring.
“Are you okay?”
His question is more of a shouted demand for an answer, and I hold the phone several inches away from my ear, blinking at the force of his volume. “Yes. I’m fine. Did you get Kellan’s messages?”
“Do you need help? When can you come home? Why won’t our phone calls connect? Is everyone treating you okay? Are you in danger? Have you eaten?”
“No. Soon. I don’t know. Yes. No. Not yet.” My lips curve at the way his questions barrage my ear. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Ave. So much.” Lucas’s voice softens, the rough edges smoothing into something tender that wraps around my heart. “I understand why you’re there. I do. But I don’t like it.”
As if sensing the shift in conversation, Vanessa catches my eye, tilting her head toward the adjoining room. Marcus follows, the door clicking shut behind them, leaving me alone with Lucas’s voice in my ear.
Questions pepper through the phone, rapidfire, all with the same ultimate theme: Is the city safe? Can Alpha Renard or my family find me?
“The Fae Ward is different from the rest of the city somehow. Only accessible by portal, I think. They don’t have access here, Lucas. Sister Miriam promised. Even Sister Miriam can’t come here.” I settle onto the edge of the bed, the plush comforter dipping beneath my weight. “Vanessa and Marcus are with me. I’m okay.”
“And the Fae aren’t going to keep you there forever?” The suspicion in his words is both legitimate and something that makes little giggles bubble in the back of my throat.
“No, Actually-“
“Shit. Hold that thought, Ave.” His voice quality changes as he pulls away from the phone to tell someone to enter. I try to listen in, but it’s impossible to clarify the words coming out of whoever he’s talking to. Only Lucas’ side of the conversation is coherent.
Something about the hospital and wounded, which has ice forming into an anxious ball in the pit of my stomach.
“Sorry, Ava. I’m back. There’s been an uproar in the Council.” Exhaustion roughens his tone, grim and heavy. The ball of ice transforms into a lead weight that drops my stomach straight to the floor.