Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
“Hm, yes. This bond you have with your wolves is unique, indeed. If I had the time. I’d love to pick it apart. Especially you, Ava Grey, to have a wolf outside of your body, like the Lycans of old.
And vest chefe a mere dog How interesting”
I feel like he’s going to slice me open and look at me under a microscope, Selene says, and I can feel her internal shudder from my end of the bond.
Vanessa must feel uncomfortable with his line of interest, because she interrupts him to ask, “Why do you call her by her full name? You almost always call her ‘Ava Grey, not “Ava.”
“Oh?” Magister Orion ushers us to the dining room as we talk. “It is a bit of a custom among the Fac. We don’t have a first and last name as you humans do, you see. We do have a family name, but it isn’t a part of our identity.”
“If it’s a family name, wouldn’t it be a part of your identity?” I ask with a frown, as Vanessa and Marcus help settle me into a chair. With a wave of his hand, Magister Orion manifests into creation several plates of steaming hot food.
Soup, salad, and a lot of different cuts of meat. I’ve learned since coming here that Fac food doesn’t always have a particular corresponding animal to the ones we are used to in our world; for example, their steaks might be from a giant carnivorous beast that they hunt, or an herbivore similar to a cow. Some of them are even from aquatic mammals.
They’re all delicious andmost importantlyhave no magic in them whatsoever.
Magister Orion seemed horrified at the possibility when I brought it up, but I haven’t told him the entire story of Sister Miriam and the Fac food. I’m still not certain on the allegiances of people in this city, and I’m hesitant to get Sister Miriam in trouble for possibly going outside of some sort of law against tampering with Fae food.
Vanessa fills my plate with food without being asked, and I give her a smile when she catches my eye. Everything on the table is food I’ve had before and enjoyed; I’m not blind to the kindness.
that Magister Orion is showing me.
He realizes how exhausted I am..
As she slides several meat slices and various vegetables onto my plate, Magister Orion finally responds to my question. “Your identity is not defined by your family. Even when one is disowned, they remain true to their own sense of self, do they not?”
A stab of pain shoots through my heart, interrupting its normal rhythm for a moment. There’s no way he’s talking about my family dynamics, but I still feel like I’ve been put on display for a moment, a spotlight aimed right at all my pain and trauma.
But his question makes sense.
“Our sense of self is not tied to our family, I murmur, feeling my heart clench a little.
The memory of my mother as I last saw her flashes through my mind, reminding me that there’s a lot in my head and heart waiting to be processed. I shove it back, far back, and lock that door tightly closed.
I’m not ready for that. Not sure if I ever will be.
“Even serial killers have families, Vanessa points out, sitting next to me with a lot less food on her plate than on mine. Probably about a quarter of what I’m eating. The healer isn’t even a slim eater, she has a hearty appetite, just like anyone else. It’s a testament to how much energy my body’s begging to be replenished. “Imagine being their child. Do their sins become yours, or is your life separate from them?”
It isn’t hard to imagine. My father’s committed plenty of atrocities as Renard’s beta.
But until recently, I never considered my life to be separate from that of my family. It’s the opposite of what we learn growing as pack. The pack is us; we are the pack.
Our identities are forever entwined.
Or maybe that’s only what Blackwood teaches their pups.
Westwood, and even Clayton’s Aspen, are much more progressive packs.
The meat has my stomach growling, savory aromas teasing me with their existence. But I stab into the vegetables first, shoveling them into my mouth with little grace. Vitamins first, and then I’ll fill my belly with what I really want.
But said belly protests, wanting a huge, juicy chunk of mediumrare steak.
“While we are always bound to family by blood, a Fae lives for a very long time. We accomplish many things in our lifetime. Family raises us when we are young, but that is a mere twenty years, when we can live for hundreds. Even thousands, in some cases.”
Shaking his head, Magister Orion concludes, “While family is important, the authority of our parents fade quickly. There are some domains where Fae families are strongly bonded and remain together, but multigenerational homes tend to collapse under sheer numbers with our lifespans.”
“That makes sense. Finished with my vegetablesall crunchy and drowning in garlic, which. seems to be a favorite Fac flavorI attack the first steak on my plate. It looks similar to chicken, and has some sort of thick layer of cheese melted over it.
Once it enters my mouth, I have to bite back a groan.
Delicious.
Everything I eat here is good. I need to ask Magister Orion about learning how to create food. out of nowhere, but I’m too busy shoveling the food in my mouth to ask something so practical. Besides, I’m not able to replicate the magic anyway.
Later.
I’m definitely going to learn it later.
It would really come in handy.
“When we introduce ourselves, we rarely include our family names. It is always our full name and title, if we have one. You humans have both names as your identity, and so we often use them. If it bothers you, I can always call you by your short name.”
“It doesn’t bother me at all, I assure him, stabbing into another bite. “If you use titles, I should probably mention that Vanessa is a Healer in the Westwood Pack.” But I can’t remember her last name.
What’s her last name? Shit, I’m a terrible person. I’m pretty sure she introduced herself with her full name when we first met. Then again, I was pretty out of it.
Still.
I should know this.
Magister Orion turns to Vanessa, his expression softening. “My apologies, Healer Vanessa. I’ve been remiss in my manners. May I ask your full name?”
Vanessa straightens in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. “Vanessa Thorn, Healer of the Westwood Pack”
Right. Thorn. I feel like there was someone else with that name, but I can’t remember who.
Your mate’s delta. Delta Ryder Thorn. You’ve met him a time or two.
Shit. She must be his sister. Maybe a cousin.
I’ve known Vanessa for what feels like ages now, and I didn’t even know she had a brother/ cousin/something who works with Lucas regularly.
Some friend I am. I even made a decision to grow closer to my people and learn more about them, and I failed with someone who’s quickly grown into a great friend.
Wouldn’t be awkward to just run up to a friend and ask them a thousand questions about their family life and histories? Such things come out in time. Vanessa doesn’t even talk that much about her mate; it’s no surprise she doesn’t talk about her family.
Selene’s words soothe the panic spiral in my chest. That’s right. I didn’t even know she was mated to Vester for ages. They don’t show off their mating bond much in public, either.
I can tell she loves him deeply, but their relationship is very different from many mated couples. Then again, as I think has been established several times now, Blackwood is pretty different from the other wolf packs.
Magister Orion nods, his eyes twinkling. “A pleasure to make your proper acquaintance, Healer Vanessa Thorn. And you, sir?” He turns to Marcus, who’s been quietly observing our exchange.
“Marcus Finley,” he says, his voice gruff but respectful. “Just Marcus is fine.”
He’s not one for unnecessary words. Especially when he’s on dutywhich, right now, is literally every hour of every day.
“Well then, Just Marcus,” Magister Orion says with a chuckle, “I believe it’s only fair that I properly introduce myself as well. He stands, his massive frame seeming to fill the entire room. “I am Magister Orion, Grand Sorceror of Human Wizardry.”
The fork I’m holding clatters to my plate. Grand Sorcerer? I knew Magister Orion was important, but this sounds like a lot more than just some old man with an enthusiasm for human magic.
It sounds awfully important and highranking.
“Grand Sorcerer?” Vanessa asks, coming in clutch with the important questions. “I’ve heard of many terms nowmagician, witch, wizards. Now we add sorcerer to it?”
Magister Orion settles back into his chair, way too approachable for someone with an intimidating sounding rank. “Sorcerers are Fae who have also manifested as a wizard. Also known as witches, or magicians. Over thousands of years, many names have come about for humans with magic. Illusionist, arcanist, shaman. While every school of magic focused and taught in different specialties, the core of human magic is always the same. It comes from within, an innate magic that has deep ties to the elements. Not all humans can access the elements, but some can. Like you, Ava Grey”
“What’s the difference in Fae magic and human magic, then?” Vanessa’s forgotten all about her food, leaning over the table as she listens intently to his explanations.
“Fae are tied to their magic from birth. We are attuned to the world around us. To nature. To the air we breathe. We cannot create from nothing, but we can encourage or manipulate what already exists. Fae cannot exist without magic.
“If you can’t create from nothing, then how did you make this food appear?” Marcus interjects, also drawn into the educational seminar.
I shovel more meat into my mouth, grateful for them both for asking the questions my sluggish brain can’t come up with, too overawed by the knowledge tossed in my direction.
Everything he’s saying is interesting, but my eyelids threaten to droop and leave me asleep on my plate.
It’s a struggle to stay awake.
“And that is why I am the Grand Sorcerer,” Magister Orion says with a smile. “I have manifested. human magic. It isn’t impossible for Fae, as we already have a core of magic within us. But it is incredibly rare. There are those who believe that I have human blood within my veins. It’s always. possible, though I have yet to find where in my family tree such an impurity occurred.”
He waves a hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned. “While my magic is not terribly powerful, I’ve spent my entire life trying to gather as much knowledge as possible about the magic taught by humans. And thus I am also a Magister. A teacher of magic. As a Grand Sorcerer, I am the bridge between the human and Fae worlds for magical affairs. As Magister, I am the bridge between humans and their magic.”
Then he laughs, a big, booming sound that startles me so much I jump in my seat.