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

***

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

entourage yet-follow me into the building, while two stay outside to make sure we don't

unexpected visitors.

dusty air scratches my throat as we walk through the dimly lit warehouse. Shadows loom in every corner, making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty

us?" I ask, my voice echoing

the metal and concrete.

break stride. "Someone needs to stay on Blackwood land while I'm away. Besides, Jericho's a lot less tech

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

unsatisfied. "Who are we meeting

"You'll see soon enough."

mutter under my breath about the building belonging in a

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

been helping

Kellan leads the way down a set of stairs without a single light,

that greets us. It looks like a professional office, complete with fake plants, paintings on the walls, and several cubicles. The only thing missing is

this," I admit as we approach the empty reception

"No one ever

tie pops out from beneath the desk, startling me. He can't be

roll out from beneath

stares at us over the counter with

you have an appointment?" he asks, his voice

serious.

head. "No. I'm Kellan Ashbourne, and

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

like a bug

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

through me. How does

his throat. "Ava

his eyes narrowed, before grunting and

hallway to a door at the very end. Pausing with his hand on the knob, he turns to

Okay. He's not Steve.

who the hell is this

step into the room. What kind of operation is this? And why would Lucas and Kellan

still upset about being

sure 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

way around it. This isn't a

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

has what looks like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo on her cheek, and Mardi Gras necklaces over