Tangled

Unshift 200

Unshift 200

200 Ava: Steve (1)

The phone rings.

And rings.

All I get is voicemail, three different times.

Knowing that Lucas is busy with the Council, I just send a quick

text for him to call me back when he can.

A knock on my door interrupts us, and Jericho pokes his head in with his typical scowling face. "All good in here?"

"Good," I confirm, as Selene rubs her nose against the ground.

The older shifter watches her as he closes the door behind him.

"What's wrong with that?"

The way he emphasizes the 'that'has Selene freezing

mid-movement, her lip curling above her teeth in a silent snarl.

Did he just call me-?!

"She is fine. Just sniffed the book and got a little too much magic in

her nose."

That grizzly head nods, like it's a normal occurrence. "Every pup has to learn sometime, I guess." After seeing the blank stare on.my face, he says, "It isn't unusual to run into the occasional magical artifact. Witches magicked just about everything they put their hands on. One fellow even found a pair of magic underwear."

I stare at Jericho, my mouth hanging open. Magic underwear? Seriously?

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

He just shrugs, completely unfazed. "Witches are an odd breed."

Shaking his head, he changes the subject. "Your Mrs. Elkins is having breakfast downstairs. Care to join her?"

My heart leaps. "Yes, absolutely! Eager to talk to her, to ask her more about this book, about magic, about everything, I almost fall back into an old routine.

Secrets.

Tell him, Selene murmurs.

Jericho, before we go downstairs, I had a

***

Mrs. Elkins doesn't happen. Instead, I'm dragged to a strange building in the middle of White

while two stay outside

unexpected visitors.

making me feel like I've

couldn't Jericho come with us?" I ask, my voice

the metal and concrete.

to stay on Blackwood land while I'm away. Besides, Jericho's a

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

frown, unsatisfied. "Who are we meeting

"You'll see soon enough."

mutter under my breath about the building belonging in a movie, and Kellan actually cracks a smile. "It's

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been helping

with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set of stairs without a single light, except whatever's

a professional office, complete with fake plants, paintings on the walls, and several cubicles. The

expecting this," I admit as we

nods. "No one

desk, startling me. He can't be more than ten years old. As he climbs

roll out from beneath

stands on the seat and stares at us over the counter with a

have an appointment?" he asks, his voice high-pitched

serious.

head. "No. I'm Kellan

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boy cuts him off with a sneer. "I remember you." His

bug

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

How does

"Ava

He studies me intently, his eyes narrowed, before grunting and waving us forward.

Pausing with his hand on the knob, he turns to us with a warning

Okay. He's not Steve.

the hell is

than ever as we step into the room. What kind of operation is this? And why would Lucas and Kellan be involved with a

grumpy and petulant. She's still upset about being left behind,

yet. The room is an office, with a large wooden desk dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls, filled with anything but books. Instead, there are action figures mixed with strange artifacts. Behind

isn't a woman, or

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo