Tangled

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-"

An explosion rocks the building, throwing us all forward.

Three bodies cover me from raining debris.

Feet pound in our direction. I squint past the cloud of smoke obscuring my view, trying to count

the shadows.

Four.

Five?

No, wait-more. How many people did they send?!

"Move, fools!" Magister Orion bellows, and Marcus heaves me over his shoulder in a swift. movement as we bolt down the hall.

"Half Manieter We are the Enforcement Division here under Article Three-Thirty-Two-"

253 Av Enforcement Division

Another explosion. This time it comes from the end of Magister Orion's hand as balls of energy fly toward the intruders.

*-aiding and abetting a traitor-" The man's practically screaming above the noise.

-unauthorized use of witchcraft-" This is a woman, shouting more charges.

"The door's open! Go!" Magister Orion shoves us through. "Ava, call your book to you. Don't let it get into the wrong hands!" "Magister-"

Two minutes. Maybe even less.

In just two minutes, we went from tense to terrified. From safe to running for our lives.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Portal to the 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. "What the fuck just happened? Vanessa breathes, holding the magic ball we used to call Sister

Miriam.

Marcus sets me onto the floor, and I wince, my stomach bruised where his shoulder slammed into it as he ran.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." My body's shaking, belying my words. "He had time to come in. Why didn't he come

in?!"

"Interference," Marcus says grimly. "There were likely more than he expected. He's making sure

we get away."

"But why the hell would 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 entire pack. "I have some magic power, but that's not enough to explain what's going on around me. It isn't enough to set an entire city to war."

It's like having three different books happening at once.

Whatever's happening with Lucas and Whispering Pines probably involves Blackwood; that, at least, makes sense in my head. Renard's quest for power, and even Whispering Pines turning on the Council, are things I can wrap my mind around.

The phone calls reference Westwood, yet seem to come from Dakota Sanctuary.

And now the Dakota Sanctuary is unsafe, with mysterious forces battling over an unknown motive. This should have nothing to do with me.

The only reason I'm even in the city is to receive magical training. Aside from Sister Miriam and Magister Orion, the only person connected with me in the entire city is the Mad Prince.

It can't be....

"The Mad Prince isn't the cause of all this, is he?" I murmur, rubbing my forehead as my brain aches with all the information I'm trying to process.

23

253 Ava: Enforcement Division

"I don't know," Marcus says, his eyes trained on the doors that have disappeared. "But I have no idea how safe this room is. We should find a way out before those Fae get to us in here."

I nod. "Magister Orion gave the room an order. It should change based on that."

But it's still the training room.

Vanessa and Marcus flank me so closely that their breaths tickle my neck.

"Please change into a portal," I beg the room, not sure what else to do. "Like Magister Orion asked.

Nothing happens. The metallic walls remain stubbornly unchanged.

Vanessa's voice is tight with worry. "Are we stuck here?"

I swallow hard, trying to push down the rising panic. "This is our first time in here without Magister Orion," I point out, grasping at any explanation that might offer hope. "Maybe... maybe the room doesn't recognize our authority?"

Marcus's brow furrows, his eyes darting around the space. "But why isn't it following orders? Magister Orion told it to create a portal."

I bite my lip. "What if it's because he wasn't in the room when he gave the order? Maybe it needs. his physical presence to activate?"

The seconds stretch into agonizing minutes as we wait, the sound of our breathing the only thing breaking the stillness. I can feel the heat of Vanessa's palm against my back, Marcus's arm brushing mine. Even here, with no one around, they won't leave my side.