Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 443: Ava: Pellonia Magister Orion looks stunned when he comes into the tent, his swirling eyes landing on the small Fae girl Lucas calls Pip.

"What are you doing here?!" the giant man roars, and the wolves who had followed Lucas on his mission tense. None of them have met the Magister before.

Lucas, to his credit, remains aloof, though his hand tightens on my shoulder. "Do you recognize Pip, Magister?" Magister Orion's face twists into a scowl. The expression transforms his usually dignified features into something fierce. My heart skips a beat at his thunderous reaction, but he smooths his expression and bows to Lucas with perfect court manners.

"Alpha Westwood. My deepest apologies for my outburst." Lucas' hand relaxes on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch anchorsas I study Pip's face. Her purple hair seems duller now, less vibrant. Fear and relief war in her expression-but there's something else, easily recognizable. Her jaw is set in what looks an awful lot like defiance.

"This child," Magister Orion says, "is not who she claims to be." Pip's shoulders hunch. The chains on her clothes jingle as she shifts her weight.

"Her nis Pellonia. She should be safely tucked away in a haven on the other side of the country." Pip-no, Pellonia-hangs her head.

"So, you know her." Lucas's tone isn't a question.

"Indeed." Magister Orion's eyes swirl faster, betraying his agitation. "And her father will be most displeased to learn she is here." Pellonia's head snaps up. "You can't tell him!" "I absolutely can and will, young lady." The shifters to my left shift uneasily. Magister Orion's massive frseems to grow even larger, his pointed ears twitching with suppressed emotion. "How long?" he asks.

Pellonia mumbles something unintelligible.

"Speak up, your highness." My breath catches. Highness? The title rings through the tent like a bell, and suddenly I understand why Magister Orion looks ready to explode.

"Three weeks," the girl says, her voice small but clear.

"Three-" Magister Orion cuts himself off. He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Three weeks. You've been missing for three weeks, and no one thought to inform me?" "I wasn't missing," she protests. "I left a note!" "A note." The words drip with sarcasm. "Of course. How thoughtful of you, your highness, to leave a note before vanishing from your safe haven. I'm sure that brought great comfort to your guards when they discovered your absence." Lucas's fingers flex against my shoulder. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private." "Yes," Magister Orion agrees. "We should. Pellonia, chere." Pellonia doesn't move. Her chains jingle again as she crosses her arms. "I won't go back." "This is not a negotiation." "I'm helping the rebellion!" "You are a child." "I'm thirty-seven years old!" Everyone freezes, and I can understand why. For someone who looks to be somewhere between thirteen and fifteen to claim they're thirty-seven years old... But, the lifespan of a Fae is very long. I can see how a thirty- seven year old Fae might still be a child.

"Exactly my point." Magister Orion's voice softens. "Your father entrustedwith your safety." The mention of her father makes Pellonia flinch. She looks so young, so vulnerable, that my heart aches. "Magister," I say, drawing his attention. "Maybe we should let her explain?" His swirling eyes lock onto mine. "With respect, Luna, you don't understand the gravity of this situation. This is the seventeenth daughter of the Fae Crown Prince himself." An actual Fae princess is in our tent, wearing ripped jeans and chains, looking like she raided Hot Topic's clearance rack.

Lucas clears his throat. "Can you give us a little more information on this rebellion? The situation we found her in was... unusual." Magister Orion's massive hand rubs at his forehead. "There are multiple rebellious orders... I wasn't even aware Pellonia was missing." His swirling eyes fix on the purple-haired girl, who stares back with defiance written across her features.

"The Fae Crown Prince leads a faction against the New Order within our realm, but—" "My father is weak." Pellonia's voice is a shrill knife cutting through the air. Her chains jingle as she steps forward, hands balled into fists. "He'll end up bowing to their demands, just like he bows to everyone else's." "Keep your mouth shut!" Magister Orion's roar makes the tent poles shake. His eyes swirl with dark colors, his pointed ears twitching with barely contained rage. "You have no idea what your father has sacrificed." Lucas' hand tightens on my shoulder. A quick glance at his face and I'm certain he has the sthought I'm having this conversation needs to end before it escalates further.

"Maybe we should get Pellonia sfood and rest before we continue this discussion." My voice sounds steady despite the tension crackling through the air. "She's been through a lot today." Ava. Selene's voice cuts through my mind, sharp and urgent. Something's wrong with Lisa.

My heart skips. Where have you been? You missed Lucas coming home.

Hurry up. The urgency in her tone sends a chill down my spine. And bring Kellan.

"Yes. Food and rest..." Magister Orion steps back with a sigh, before giving Pellonia a courteous bow. "My sincerest apologies for raising my voice, your—" "Don't." Her voice shakes, but her chin lifts. "I abandoned my title. My nis Pip."

The swirling in Magister Orion's eyes speeds up, but his expression remains neutral. He turns to Lucas, his massive frcasting long shadows in the tent. "Alpha Westwood, might I request sof your men escort her to a room? Away from the other Fae. I need to warn them of this... development." "Of course." Lucas inclines his head, as if this melo is just another day in the life of an alpha. Maybe it is. We've had enough of our own.

"Perhaps we could discuss this further over dinner?" Magister Orion's formal tone doesn't match the storm in his eyes.

"I'll reach out as soon as I can," I say quickly, not sure how long the issue with Lisa is going to take. I just want everyone out of here.

Lucas' questioning look burns into the side of my face, but Magister Orion simply nods his acceptance.

The tent empties slowly. Wolves escort Pip-or Pellonia, whatever her nis toward the cabins.

Others drift away to their posts or duties.

When only Lucas and Kellan remain, I grab both their arms. "We need to check on Lisa. Selene says something's wrong." "What?" Kellan's casual stance vanishes. "What's wrong with her?" "I don't know. Selene just toldto hurry and bring you."