Tangled

190

190

190 Ava: Mom's Legacy (III)

"What the hell?" I mutter, turning the necklace over. There's some dried blood on the chain, and it's broken.

The blood, I'm sure, is mine.

Selene pads over, her ears perke h. This is...

"My necklace. Yeah. How the fuck did it end up in my suitcase? And even that was packed all the way in Westwood territory, yet I lost this during the fight with Todd."

Her nose flares as she sniffs at it. It's a message.

"A message? From who?"

That cagey feeling again, as Selene avoids a direct answer. One who can teach you.

"Selene-we're not doing this cryptic bullshit again. Who is this a message from, and how? In fact, how did it ever show up in my apartment the first time?"

Her huff irritates me like nothing else, and I snap, "Selene, this isn't funny. I'm sick of the secrets. You're always waiting until too late to tell me things, and it isn't fair."

It isn't always a choice to hide things from you, she mutters. I'm bound by too many things.

"I swear to the Moon Goddess, if this is one of those things you said about the natural order of the world..." My threatening tone has nothing behind it, but she flinches anyway. No. This is a vow given to the Moon Goddess, in exchange for your

10:26 C

1/5

100 Ava: Mom's Legacy (1)

security. In fact, you can consider the Moon Goddess the messenger in this instance. Her scent is all over that necklace.

I drop the necklace as though it's on fire. "What do you mean, her

scent?"

The thought of touching something with a divine scent on it is abhorrent. Like I'm defiling a precious artifact.

around for

snorts. Her presence won't be erased by your touch. You can hold it. You can

Why would I do something

at it on the ground. The magic within is gone. Depleted. Holding it won't

Maybe it's less about defiling the divine after all, and more that it feels kind

to say, but you

do

isn't aggressive, but more of a wolfish grumble as she snaps at the air. I told you a long time ago, I

Did she?

that she mentions it, there's a

conversation like that.

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Ava: Mom's

I'd placed all my hopes on Sister Miriam, and now I feel terrible for forgetting my own wolf was supposed to find a teacher. But then again, how was I supposed to know she

"What about Lucas' wolf?"

No.

you have a

tells me I'm on the right path, but I reel in my curiosity for

soon. You should prepare

have my stomach

What now?"

you might be upset with us,

eyes, even when I walk around her to force it. She just moves her head in

about it until

are firm, even as she slinks

1. it.

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Avi Mom's

be angry

brings frustrated

won't be angry with you. Just come out here and

me."

coax her out from beneath the bed, when the guard knocks again and pecks his head in. "Ma'am, it's been

"Oka-ouch."