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.

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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

of the driver crumpling

the back of my eyelids, making

self–defense class isn’t enough. It was all false confidence.

don’t know. They were following us. The one who pulled me out of the car…

compose myself. I’d tried so hard to hide. How did they

me like a soothing

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

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

around in the passenger seat to face me, his gaze raking over me, assessing. “Why do you smell like a shifter?” he demands.

<

57 Ava: Stunned

expression carefully neutral. “Probably because I’ve been living with other shifters,” I lie. “The girl in

too.”

“No, it’s different. More than just

knows

does he know?

talking about,” I say evenly, lying through my teeth. He knows damn well I

back around to face the front. I let out a slow, shaky breath and lean back against the couch, cursing everything I can

that damn burner phone.

getting comfortable, expecting to be able to go home at

And now this.

12:36.

57 Ava: Stunned

being punished for having a few

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

onto the interstate.

trick question to see if I’ll lie to him,

he doesn’t

that means Cedarwood is still

misinterpreting his question. “I’m not sure if he comes back today. Do you

“No!”

by the prominent veins in his neck, so I shut

look at me again. “We’ve been worried

Lunar Gala without a trace.”

trying to hide my incredulity. That’s complete bullshit–they’ve made it abundantly clear they don’t give a

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