Tangled

24 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (V)

I stare at Selene in utter confusion. “Dig? What do you mean, dig?”

Precisely what I said, she replies, her tone brooking no argument. Dig.

I glance around the small clearing, taking in the soft carpet of moss and fallen leaves. “With what? My hands?” The mere thought of digging into the earth with my bare fingers fills me with a strange revulsion.

Selene lets out a huff of annoyance. Yes, with your hands. I would do it myself, but… She pauses, eyeing the ground with distaste. I don’t like to get mud between my claws.

I can’t help but snort at that. “Are you sure you’re not just a husky after all? Because that’s a very husky–like attitude.”

In response, Selene snaps at the air, her jaws closing with an audible click. Enough stalling, she growls. Dig.

With a sigh, I sink to my knees and begin to dig, scooping handfuls of damp earth aside. Selene

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24 Ava Paranoia and Secrets (V)

watches me intently, her tail swishing back and forth.

Deeper, she urges after a few moments.

I grimace as my fingers sink into the cool, loamy soil. “This is so gross. You owe me a manicure after this.”

Selene merely flicks an ear, unimpressed by my complaints.

As I continue to dig, my arms quickly grow tired from the exertion. Sweat beads on my brow, and I can feel the grime caking beneath my nails. Ugh.

Finally, my fingers scrape against something hard and unyielding. I pause, brushing away the remaining soil to reveal…a box?

Selene prompts.

I shoot Selene a questioning look, but she merely inclines her head sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

toward the box.

deep breath, I

is a ring. But not

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Paranoia and

almost identical to the one I

them both, Selene says,

thoughts. At

place. “But why? What’s so

yet time for you to know that. For now, you must simply trust me.

mutter, but I obediently slip the ring onto my finger. An odd tingle dances across

out of here before I have to groom myself for days to get all

her disdainful expression as she eyes the mud clinging to her paws. “Whatever you say, princess. I’ll make sure to

way back through the trees, leaving

Selene warily as we walk, the empty box

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Ava: Paranoia and

to explain what all that pain

in irritation. It means precisely what I said.

“Yeah, but becoming

for everyone involved. Selene’s tone is firm as

eyes, I hurry to catch up, leaves crunching underfoot. “Well, it’s not the best thing for me.

we retrace our steps back toward the main path. It’s only when we reach the trailhead that I realize something feels… different.

renewed energy thrumming through my veins. The

it

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Paranoia and Secrets (V)

a

shooting her a perplexed look. “Think about

Unless you want the attention it will

I echo, baffled. “What are you talking about? How would me running bring any