Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

The feeling of my magic bounding around like an excited puppy leaves me almost motion sick.

That's interesting, Grimoire says, finally breaking his silence since we started our run.

Interesting is a word for it, but right now my entire body and mind are focused on trying not to vomit. That would be an amazing way to instill confidence in everyone here. Not.

The fizzy, carbonated-soda feeling in my veins persists, which is an odd counterweight to the nausea in my belly.

My magic writhes and rebels against my attempts to contain it, like a squirrel on a heavy dose of Ritalin, but I come out on top eventually. The sensation settles deep in my gut, a constant vibration that makes my teeth ache.

"Stay close," Greg whispers, his hand steady on my elbow. He should look ridiculous with the Grand Sage on his back, but he doesn't. Just rock-solid and comforting, like he won't let anything happen to us.

My magic writhes inside me, refusing to cooperate. It's impossible to send out another search net with it acting this way.

I don't see anything, Selene says, her confusion clear in our mental link. The tracks stop here, but—

There's something, Grimoire says. It's in the air.

The Grand Sage taps Greg's back, before pointing over his shoulder. "The ship is about a hundred yards ahead. It's cloaked, so you won't be able to sense it."

Greg's fingers tighten on my arm as we edge forward, and I realize only then that I keep stumbling without realizing it. Most of my concentration is on not vomiting and keeping my magic contained.

It wants to explode out of me.

Grimoire, what the hell is going on?

It senses something.

Great. That much is kind of obvious. I really need something more to work with.

Wait. Selene's mental voice cuts through my concentration. There's something— A violent sneeze echoes in the clearing. Something familiar. That scent...

My heart pounds as I try to process what this means. The vibration in my gut intensifies, and I press my hand against my stomach, willing it to settle.

"Ava!"

The shout pierces my eardrums. My body jerks so hard I almost lose my footing again, but Greg's steady grip keeps me upright.

"Holy sh—" The curse dies in my throat.

One second there's nothing but pristine snow ahead of us. The next, bodies materialize from nowhere. The group stands like fur-covered specters in the white landscape, and my brain refuses to process what my eyes see.

A mountain of a man towers over the others, his shoulders broad enough to block out the sun. The rest blur together in my snow-blind vision, but that one—that one catches my attention like a spotlight.

My magic surges, no longer contained. The force of it floods my system with pure, electric energy. With joy.

Kellan and his wolves erupt from the snow bank to my right. Their coordinated attack speaks of years of training, their movements fluid and deadly as they charge toward the group.

"No!" The scream rips from my throat before conscious thought kicks in. "Kellan, stop!"

My magic amplifies my voice, carrying it across the field. The sound bounces off the snow, echoing in the crisp air.i

The air crackles with power as Magister Orion turns to the oncoming wolves, raising his hands. Magic pools around him and his companions like a living thing, ready to strike. My magic freaks out again as I panic.

"They're friends!" I shout, yanking out of Greg's grip as I run forward, waving my arms like a madwoman. "Friends! Don't attack!"

Kellan's wolves skid to a stop, snow spraying in their wake. Only Selene keeps moving, her silver form a blur as she races toward the group, but I already know she's not going to attack.

"Are you certain?" Greg follows close behind, his legs in an easy loping rhythm compared to my more frantic one. "It could be a trap, Luna."

The magic in my veins pulses with recognition, with rightness. I should have listened to its frantic, excited energy and realized there was no danger.

"It's not!" Laughing almost hysterically, I run faster. "Friends, Greg! They're my friends!"

"Luna!" Greg's heavy footsteps crunch behind me. "Wait!"

Magister Orion lowers his hands as he turns to look at me again. The oppressive weight of gathered magic dissipates. His eyes lock onto mine across the distance.

"Little witch," he yells, like we're having a casual conversation in a cafe. "You've grown stronger."

Selene reaches them first, prancing around their feet like an overexcited puppy. Her tail wags so hard her entire body wiggles, and I can see Tinker laughing. Hear it, too.

"They're from the Fae Ward!" I shout at Kellan, who's still tense. "They taught me magic!"

The beta signals our wolves to stand down. They remain alert, but their aggressive postures ease.

My magic continues to dance and spark, responding to the familiar signatures around Magister Orion.

His giant, beaming grin warms my heart as I finally slow to a stop in front of them, breathing hard.

"How did you find us?" I ask between panting breaths.

"We didn't." Magister Orion's deep voice holds a note of amusement. "We saw traces of magic and felt it was necessary to explore them. We expected a response after breaching the wards—were those your doing, Ava?"

Greg catches up to me, still carrying the Grand Sage. "Luna, perhaps introductions are in order?"noveldrama

Selene weaves between Magister Orion's legs like she's marking her territory, her tail still wagging with enough force to create mini snow drifts.

I missed them, she says, unashamed of her behavior, even if she looks more like a giant cat right now than a husky-wolf.

The Grand Sage slides off Greg's back with surprising grace for someone his size. He shuffles through the snow to approach Magister Orion.

"Grand Sage!" Magister Orion's voice rumbles through the clearing as he drops to one knee. The gesture strikes me as both foreign and familiar—the way he manages to make himself smaller while losing none of his presence. "It has been too long, old friend."