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

1/7

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?

I 2011287A mu ouer chut fighting to rothar mu

12:36

57 Ava: Stunned

thoughts. The image of the driver

back of

class isn’t enough. It was all false confidence.

They were following us. The one who pulled me out of the car… is Phoenix.

have to swallow hard, struggling to compose myself. I’d tried so hard to hide. How

like a soothing balm. It’s okay, Ava. I’m

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

people. They have cars. They

gaze raking over me, assessing.

<

57 Ava: Stunned

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

too.”

into a grim line. “No, it’s different. More than just proximity to the

knows

else does he know?

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

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

that damn burner

be able to go home at

And now this.

12:36.

57 Ava: Stunned

having a few months

Shadowpine this whole time?” Phoenix asks, breaking the

onto the interstate.

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

he

doesn’t, that means Cedarwood

say, deliberately misinterpreting his question. “I’m not sure if he comes back today. Do you want me

“No!”

tense he is by the prominent veins in his neck, so

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

the Lunar Gala

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

12:36

5/7