Tangled

Chapter 23

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.

shoot Selene a questioning look, but she merely inclines her

toward the box.

deep breath, I lift the

fabric, is a ring. But

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Paranoia and Secrets

identical to the one I currently have

both,

At all

the ring from its resting place. “But why? What’s so special about

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

finger. An

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

paws. “Whatever you say, princess. I’ll

begins to lead the way back through

we

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and Secrets (V)

you going to explain what all that pain was about? And what did you mean by

one ear in irritation. It means precisely

“Yeah, but becoming

best thing for everyone involved. Selene’s tone is firm

catch up, leaves crunching underfoot. “Well, it’s not the best thing for

back toward the main path. It’s only when we reach the trailhead that

my body that wasn’t there before, a sense of renewed energy thrumming through my veins. The

it

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Ava: Paranoia and Secrets

thoughts in a

shooting her a perplexed look. “Think

want the attention it will bring.

you talking about? How would me

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