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

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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.

look around

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

Why would I do something like

you could. She noses at it on the ground. The magic within is gone. Depleted.

How did it return to me?" Maybe it's less about defiling the divine after all, and more that

say, but

"What do you mean, a

growl that comes out of Selene isn't aggressive, but more of a wolfish grumble as she snaps at the air. I told you a long time ago, I have my

Did she?

she mentions it, there's

conversation like that.

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Ava: Mom's Legacy

supposed to find a teacher. But then again, how was I supposed to know she could do that, when she ca I can talk to

"What about Lucas' wolf?"

No.

my head. "Do you have a problem with him?

path, but I reel in

Probably soon. You should

my stomach sinking

What now?"

you might be upset with us, even when you understand why it had to be

misery coming off her in waves. She won't even meet my eyes, even when I walk around her to force it. She

can't talk about it until she's

are firm, even as she slinks

1. it.

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Avi Mom's

angry

whisper brings frustrated tears to

I won't be angry with you.

me."

the bed, when the guard

"Oka-ouch."