Tangled

57 Ava: Stunned

I scream, my voice raw with terror as the door beside me is wrenched open. Before I even look, I throw a punch in their direction.

But it’s not one of the armed assailants–it’s Phoenix.

My brother’s face is set in grim lines, his mouth a tight slash of determination. My fist is held by his hand as though I’m a child throwing a tantrum–with the ease of someone far more powerful than me.

He lets go and cuts my seatbelt with a knife before grabbing me in an almost painful grip.

Ivy is still slumped in the backseat beside me, a trickle of blood oozing from the gash on her forehead. She’s completely still, her head lolling at an unnatural angle.

My stomach roils violently, and I have to swallow back a surge of nausea. Is she…?

“She’s alive,” Phoenix says gruffly, as if reading my mind. “For now.”

“Come on, we have to move,” he growls, already tugging me out of the wrecked sedan.

12:36

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57 Ava: Stunned

I stumble after him in a daze, my mind whirling. Phoenix? Here? How-?

What’s happening, Ava? Selene’s voice, taut with concern, rings in my head.

I shake my head mutely, too shaken to articulate a response. Phoenix is already hustling me towards one of the blue sedans idling in front of Ivy’s car. The driver, a tall, powerfully–built shifter I don’t recognize, jumps out and rushes to open the rear door.

“Get in,” Phoenix barks at me, giving me a firm shove towards the open door.

I scramble inside without protest, my entire body quivering with a bone–deep chill. The rear door slams shut, and Phoenix is already circling around to the passenger side. “Airport,” he snaps at the driver as he clambers inside. “And step on it.”

We peel away from the curb with a violent squeal of tires, the force slamming me back against the seat.

Ava, talk to me, Selene urges, her mental voice tinged with a rare edge of panic. What’s going on? Who are those men?

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12:36

57 Ava: Stunned

The image of

is seared into the back of my

enough. It was all false confidence.

pulled me out of the car… is Phoenix. My brother.

to swallow hard, struggling to compose myself. I’d tried

presence wrapping around me like a

it in time. We’re heading for the airport. That means they’re going to fly me

people. They have cars. They have guns. Ones that can

the passenger seat to face me, his gaze raking

<

57 Ava: Stunned

stare, keeping my expression carefully neutral. “Probably because I’ve been

too.”

his mouth tightening into a grim line. “No, it’s

knows about Clayton.

does he know?

say evenly, lying through my teeth. He knows damn well I don’t have a wolf of my

let out a slow,

just got that damn burner phone.

just started getting comfortable, expecting to be

And now this.

12:36.

57 Ava: Stunned

being punished for having a few months of peace in Cedarwood.

Shadowpine this whole time?” Phoenix asks, breaking the silence again as

onto the interstate.

tell if he’s asking me a trick question to see if I’ll lie to

he doesn’t

doesn’t, that means Cedarwood is still

sure if he comes back today. Do you

“No!”

can see how tense he is by the prominent veins

to look at me again. “We’ve been worried sick about you, Ava.

the Lunar Gala without

complete bullshit–they’ve made it abundantly clear they don’t give a damn

12:36

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