Tangled

220 Ava: The Fae Ward (II)

"Oh. I understand." Glancing toward Sister Miriam, I'm not sure how to feel about being separated from my benefactor.

She inclines her head. "If at any time you wish to speak to me, just let the Fae know."

"I was under the impression you would be with us," Vanessa cuts in, suspicion written all over her face in giant, bold letters. "How are we supposed to trust whoever you're handing us to?" "You're still under her protection," Layla sighs. "She just can't come into the Fae Ward. For our sakes."

The gnome's gaze flicks to Vanessa and Marcus, and she mutters under her breath, "The paperwork for a bunch of pack wolves to get admitted in such circumstances is going to be a nightmare as it

is."

If your teacher is in the Fae Ward, we need to go there, Selene interjects, her tone firm. No matter what. That is why we are here.

Resting my hand on her head, I turn to Layla. "Will our phones still work in the Fae Ward?"

"Phones?" The gnome blinks at me, and for the first time I realize that her pupils are bare pinpricks, making her eyes seem even larger. Then those same eyes widen, and I swear for a moment that something sparkles within them. "Ah, telecommunication devices! Yes! They will still function."

There's an excitement in her words that almost buzzes from her, and Vanessa steps between us in a casual motion. "To send and

220 Ava: The Fae Ward (1)

receive calls from outside the city?"

"Of course, of course. We worked that out aeons ago." Layla scoffs, as though our questions are over the top.

But-aeons?

Marcus frowns, and I grab his arm with a gentle squeeze, shaking

my head slightly. From how Layla speaks about phones, calling

them telecommunication devices, I don't think she's the one to give us the best information.

We'll have to trust Sister Miriam, who nods when I glance in her direction.

"You'll be able to contact your family and friends even in the Fae

Ward, child."

"See? Now, come on, come on." Impatient now with our hesitance, Layla produces an archaic bronze key that glows with a subtle shimmer and inserts it into the door, which swings open to reveal a shimmering golden portal.

The fact that magic seems so natural around here already has us all feeling out of place and uneasy, and Marcus steps forward without a word to go first.

"Wait when you get there, so I can check us in," Layla says in a monotone spiel that says she's said this same line a hundred times before.

"Understood." He glances toward Vanessa, who gives a quick nod, before passing through. Then it's my turn.

Like the portal from Blackwood lands to Sister Miriam's

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220 Ava: The Fan Ward (II)

mysterious museum-like mansion, there's an abrupt change, an walk into a medieval world that belongs in picture books.

It's green.

I understand, now, the prose in old, rambling stories about knig and maidens. Everything is just so much more, the sky more vas the colors more vibrant, the scents more enticing.

But it's not just the landscape that's breathtaking. The Fae themselves are a sight to behold, a mix of modern and fantasy th has me gaping. A group of Fae women stroll by, their hair in shad of lavender, turquoise, and bubblegum pink, wearing sleek bodyc

esses that shimmer in the sunlight. And their ears? They're pointed. Just a little at the tip for some, and long and sloping for others.

There are plenty of Fae in more natural colors-at least to my eyes -but it's like I've walked into another world.

The Fae realm is another world, in a sense. Like a sister world that mirrors our own.

Selene seems distracted by a pair of Fae men standing guard on either side of Marcus. They're taller than any of us, and dressed in brown leather armor that looks like it's been plucked straight out of a Robin Hood poster. Their hair is long and braided, and comfortingly brown. One has blue eyes that hold the chill of winter, and another has eyes so silver that a shiver goes down my back at how unnatural his gaze appears. My brain insists that he has to be blind, but it's very clear he is not.

My brain struggles to process the sheer absurdity of it all, half-expecting them to vanish in a puff of smoke.

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220 Ava: The Fae Ward (II)

+42

Selene's tail wags in excitement. This place feels like home. Like my old life.

I can feel her joy through our bond, a warm glow that spreads from my chest to my toes. She takes a deep breath, her nose twitching

as she inhales the scents of the Fae realm. Even the air smells the

same, she muses, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

I'm about to ask her what she means when I hear the sound of

footsteps behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see Vanessa and Layla stepping through the portal, the gnome walking briskly toward the Fae guards despite barely reaching their waists.

"Names and affiliations," one of the guards says, his voice deep and commanding. He eyes us warily, his hand resting on the hilt of a sword at his hip.

Layla clears her throat, standing as tall as her diminutive stature will allow. "They are under the protection of Sister Miriam," she says, her voice surprisingly authoritative for someone so small. "I need to bring the to the Wizard's Tower. Ava Grey, Blackwood Pack, and her guards."

The disdain when she declares my pack is mirrored by the looks on their faces. Silver Eyes exchanges a glance with his partner, before giving me a nod. "Very well. Follow me."

He turns on his heel and strides off, leaving us scrambling to keep up. Vanessa falls into step beside me, her eyes wide as she takes in the sights and sounds of the Fae realm. "This is not what I was expecting," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod in agreement, my gaze drawn to a group of Fae children plaving some kind of game involving glowing orbs that hover in

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dat. They're laughing and shouting, their voices carrying on the breere, and I can't help but smile at the pure joy on their faces.

As we walk, I notice that the Fae we pass are just as varied in appearance as the ones I saw earlier. Some are dressed in modern clothing-jeans, t-shirts, even the occasional leather jacket-while others look like they've stepped out of a Renaissance Faire. There are Bae with skin in every shade of the rainbow, from pale lavender to deep emerald green, and their hair ranges from natural colors to hues that don't exist in the human world.

I could get used to this Selene says, her voice dreamy as she trots alongside me.

A pang of envy over her easy acceptance of this strange new world shoots right through my heart. For me, it's all overwhelming-the sights, the sounds, the sheer impossibility of it all. But there's a part of me that's eager to learn more about this place, too.

The guard leads us to a towering gate made of shimmering silver, its surface etched with intricate designs that seem to move and shift before my eyes. He places his hand on the gate, and it swings open with a soft whoosh, revealing a courtyard filled with even more wonders.

There are fountains that spout water in every color of the rainbow, their mist creating a shimmering haze that hangs in the air. Flowers the size of dinner plates bloom in beds along the edges of the courtyard, their petals glowing softly in the sunlight. And in the

center of it all stands a massive tree, its trunk wider than a car and

its branches stretching up to the sky, laden with fruit that glitters like precious gems.

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