Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 424

"Greg." My voice cuts through the tense silence as we approach the debriefing tent. "Have Marcus bring our guest here. I want Magister Orion's opinion."

Greg nods and peels away from our group, his boots crunching in the snow. The sight of Wolf's Landing standing intact on our arrival released a giant knot of tension in my chest. It was hard to shove away intrusive thoughts of the shadow wolf breaking out of all restraints and murdering everyone over my decision.

Thank God, the Goddess, and the freaking moon none of that happened.

"You've captured someone?" Magister Orion's deep voice rumbles behind me.

"A Fae, maybe? I'm not sure. Gray skin. Silver hair. Not the same as anyone I saw in the Ward, but you'd know better than I."

"Gray skin?" Tinker zips ahead, her mechanical wings whirring. "That's not typical Fae coloring."

"Nothing about this situation is typical." Kellan's voice drips with frost as he enters behind us. He's still not thrilled they're here.

I thought he'd be a little more understanding, but I guess it's hard when it all comes up at once without warning.

The debriefing tent feels cramped with so many bodies. Maps and papers cover the central table, weighted down with mugs of cold coffee. I start a fire as Kellan clears the table, clearly uncomfortable with Fae eyes on our information.

We'll get there. I think.

We will. Kellan is a reasonable man. Selene settles near the stove, waiting for it to emanate heat, like she isn't insulated against the cold.

"Most of the pack is in the alpha lodge now, right, Kellan?"

"Yes, Luna. It was safest to bring in everyone from the outer edges, as we were expecting an attack."

"Since we know the danger is passed, we should send them back. Lower the alert level and let people adjust." There's a lot to do. I still have bodies to identify. The hospital is destroyed; I have no idea what we're going to do about that. We don't have another building large enough, except the alpha lodge.

"Your wards were holding strong." Magister Orion strokes his beard, his eyes glittering as he examines me. "You've improved greatly since I've seen you. Like a baby gazelle who's finally learned to run."

The visual is strange, but I know he means well. "Thank you, Magister."

Heavy footsteps approach outside. Marcus enters first, his face grim as he half-carries, half-drags our unconscious captive. The silver-haired figure looks smaller in the tent's warm light.

Magister Orion's breath catches. His massive frame goes still.

"You recognize them?" Hope flares. Maybe we can finally get some answers. Maybe they will lead us to our missing Ivy.

"This is... unexpected." He circles the figure as Marcus sets them down.

"Can you tell what they are?"

"They're not Fae."

Magister Orion drops into a crouch beside our captive, his massive frame making the action look almost comical. He looks even stranger as he sniffs the air, like he's a wolf himself.

Except he's not. He's Fae.

"How did you come across one of these?" His voice holds an edge of disbelief.

"They attacked our hospital." It doesn't take long to explain the events, though my rendition might be a little scattered as I try to intersperse bits of information. Like who Ivy is, and why we thought it was her.

Magister Orion smooths his beard with another harrumph, and Tinker pokes at the dream-eater's face with one foot, looking fascinated.

"They should have been destroyed long ago. They're an abomination. How interesting. I wonder if I can run some tests—"

"Tinker."

Magister Orion stares the gnome down, and she snaps her mouth shut, though she pouts a little. My teacher glances at me and sighs. "She suggests something that has been banned for centuries. The temptation of a dream-eater can be too much for inquisitive souls."

"What do you mean by that?" Kellan asks, still sounding suspicious of every word that comes out of his mouth.

"These dream-eaters were created long ago, by those who wished to become gods." He grimaces. "Or birth them."

My eyes widen. "Are they some sort of genetically engineered Fae?"

"They are creations made with blood of several supernatural species, birthed in the body of a vampire. Abominations. They are not truly alive, but powered by the magic infused within. They're voracious in their desire to survive, but they are not people."

Tinker kicks at the dream-eater's limp hand. She's just like Selene, who watches her at work. "It's probably grown by eating at all this corruption in the area. No wonder it grew so powerful."

"How do you know about the dream-eaters?" the Grand Sage inquires, watching Tinker. "Even I did not know of their existence."

"Who do you think helped the Magister find any book mentioning them?" She grins with pride. "I'm probably the best-read gnome on the continent!"

The Grand Sage blinks at her, a mild expression that probably means nothing, but her face flushes as red as a tomato. "Uh, after you, of course, Grand Sage."

"No need to flatter, child."