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

***

a strange building in the middle of White Peak, which looks like

into the building, while two

unexpected visitors.

dusty air scratches my throat as we walk through the dimly lit warehouse. Shadows loom in every corner, making me feel

Jericho come with us?" I ask, my voice echoing

the metal and concrete.

"Someone needs to stay on Blackwood land while I'm away.

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

unsatisfied. "Who are we

"You'll see soon enough."

building belonging in a movie, and Kellan

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been

a black metal door that creaks open 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 only thing missing is

this," I admit as we approach the empty reception

nods. "No

He can't be more than ten years old. As

to roll out from

stares at us over the

he asks,

serious.

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

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with a sneer. "I remember you." His

bug under a

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

through me. How does he know who I

throat. "Ava is Alpha Lucas Westwood's

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

door at the very end. Pausing with his hand on the knob, he turns to us with a warning look. "Stay quiet. Steve is

Okay. He's not Steve.

the hell

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

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

dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls, filled with anything but books. Instead, there are action figures mixed with strange artifacts. Behind the desk sits a

way around it. This isn't

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

it. She has what looks like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo on her cheek, and Mardi Gras necklaces over a simple white shirt. A lot of plastic