Tangled

165

165

165 Ava: Margot's Secrets

A soft knock on the door pulls me out of my hazy morning thoughts as I finish packing my small suitcase. Vanessa must be early to escort me back to the airport, That's not Vanessa. Selene's hackles rise, a low growl rumbling in her throat. Something's wrong.

I freeze, my hand hovering over the zipper. "What is it?"

Not sure. Her nose twitches. But it doesn't smell right.

Uneasy, I debate ignoring the knock, pretending I'm not here. It's a stupid thought. Any wolf can scent me in here.

I crack open the door, surprised to find Margot Mitchell standing there, her face pinched and pale.

"Ava, thank the Moon." She pushes into the room without invitation, her eyes darting around as if searching for hidden threats. "We

need to talk."

"Margot, what-" My words come out in a shout over the audacity of her intrusion.

"The vampire. He's here." She grips my shoulders, her fingers. digging in. "You have to keep him safe. You have to be loyal. You can't break the code."

"What secret? What vampire? What are you talking about?" Yanking out of her grip, I take a few steps back. "Why are you

here?"

"You have to keep the secret," she hisses, as loud footsteps come

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105 Ava Margot's increts

Aw

thudding, like people are running. Don't sell your loyalty, defect. Only Renard's promise keeps us safe. Without it, we're all doomed. "What promi-"

"If you tell them, we all dic, Ava. You don't want our lives on your hands, do you?"

My bodyguards burst into the room, their faces hard and unreadable. In a dizzying burst of movement and noise, they seize Margot by the arms, yanking her away from me. She yelps, thrashing against their iro I gape after them, my mind reeling. What the hell just happened?

"Ava, I'm so sorry about that." Kellan's voice snaps me back to the present. He stands in the doorway, his brow furrowed with concern. "Margot is one of the housekeepers for the lodge. She was here for maid c

it."

"It's fine." The words feel hollow, even to my own ears. Margot's frantic warnings echo in my head, refusing to be dismissed. You can't spill the secret. You have to be loyal.

how to process any of this. Kellan

there a vampire around here?" The question

can stop it.

eyes widen, his mouth falling open slightly.

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i5 Ava Margot's society

would a vampire make

at me, obviously remembering that it

meets my gaze with a

breach at Westwood, there's still

their senses. The assumption is

Kellan feels that

should stay, she suggests, her voice a soft

"Actually, Kellan, I've changed my mind. I won't be going

sure? I thought you

Lisa."

longer. See if I can find out anything else that might help us

and closing a few times. But then he simply nods, accepting my decision with a sigh. "Alright. I'll let Vanessa know." "Thanks." I offer him a small smile, grateful that he's not pushing the issue.

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course. He hesitates, as if debating whether to say more, then shakes his head.

my racing thoughts. I sink down onto the bed, rubbing

this, Selene remarks, hopping

I can already

the barely restrained frustration. "But something's going on here, Selene. We can't just leave. Margot was talking about vampires and Renard. There's definitely a link. As if Sister Miriam wasn't proof enough of his working with vampires-but she wasn't involved in the attack. "It might help

into my side, offering her silent support.

mind still spinning with

alliance between vampires and wolves,

a

to be more to

the more I think over her words and try to break them down, the more questions I have. Whatever the secret is, am I supposed to hide it from Lucas and the others?

said was clear

M's

handed a key, but being

which its

supposed

in her eyes, the desperate edge to her voice. Whatever it is, it's big enough to rattle

out my phone and send Lucas a quick text, letting him know about

immediate and terse.

you mean you're

up. I can't explain over text. I