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 strange phone

***

Instead, I'm dragged to a strange building in the middle of White Peak, which looks like an abandoned warehouse more than anything

building, while two stay outside to make sure we

unexpected visitors.

as we walk through the dimly lit warehouse. Shadows loom in every corner, making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty crime movie

couldn't Jericho come with us?"

the metal and concrete.

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

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

unsatisfied. "Who are we

"You'll see soon enough."

belonging in a movie, and Kellan actually cracks a smile. "It's Steve's

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been

with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the

that greets us. It looks like a professional office, complete with fake plants, paintings on the

admit as

"No one ever

can't be more than ten years old.

to roll

stands on the seat and stares at us over the

have an appointment?" he asks, his voice

serious.

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

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a sneer. "I

me, and Heel like a bug under a microscope. "Why is

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

me. How does he

clears his throat. "Ava is

I assume-looks taken aback. He studies me intently, his eyes narrowed, before

Pausing with his hand on the

Okay. He's not Steve.

the hell is this

of operation is this? And why

still upset about

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 the desk

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

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

what looks like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo on her cheek, and Mardi Gras necklaces over a simple white shirt.