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.

chew the inside of my cheek, unsure how to process any of this. Kellan watches me, clearly expecting more

a vampire around here?" The

can stop it.

widen, his mouth

216

i5 Ava Margot's society

a vampire make

that it just happened a few days ago in

meets my gaze

at Westwood, there's

senses. The assumption is that

Kellan feels

voice a soft whisper in my mind. Something's not

I've changed my mind.

thought you were

Lisa."

I trail off, not quite sure how to explain my sudden change of heart. "I just think I should stay a bit longer. See if I can find out anything else that might help us find

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. "And thanks for handling... that." I

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if debating whether to say more,

he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with Selene and my racing thoughts. I sink down

to like this,

can already picture his

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

into my side, offering her silent support. We'll figure it out

my mind still spinning with questions. What secret

secret alliance between vampires and

that seems a

to be

have. Whatever the secret is, am I supposed to hide it from Lucas and the others? Or am I supposed to hide sampiric secre other Blackwood

she said was

M's

key, but being informed only

which its lock

am I supposed to do

eyes, the desperate edge to her

I pull out my phone and send Lucas a quick text, letting him know about my change of

immediate and terse.

do you

up. I can't explain over text.