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.

downstairs, I had a

***

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

the building, while two stay outside to make sure we

unexpected visitors.

we walk through the dimly lit warehouse. Shadows loom in every corner, making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty crime movie set. I glance at Kellan, his face an

Jericho come with us?" I

the metal and concrete.

doesn't break stride. "Someone needs to stay on Blackwood land while I'm away. Besides, Jericho's a

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

unsatisfied. "Who are

"You'll see soon enough."

my breath about the building belonging in a movie, and Kellan

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been

Kellan leads the

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

nods. "No one

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

to roll out

seat and stares at us over the counter

he asks,

serious.

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

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

Heel like a bug under a microscope. "Why

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

through me. How does

clears his throat. "Ava is Alpha Lucas

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

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

Okay. He's not Steve.

hell

curious than ever as we step into the room. What kind of operation is this? And why

and petulant. She's still upset about being left behind, but Kellan was very firm about

dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls,

around it. This isn't a woman, or even a

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

half-shaved and long, bright pink hair on the other side of it. She has what looks like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo on her cheek, and Mardi Gras necklaces over a simple white