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.

before we go downstairs,

***

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

guards-my biggest entourage yet-follow me into the building, while two stay outside

unexpected visitors.

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 crime movie set. I glance at Kellan, his

come with us?" I

the metal and concrete.

Blackwood land while I'm away. Besides, Jericho's a lot less tech

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

"Who

"You'll see soon enough."

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

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been helping us

creaks open with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set of stairs without a single light,

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

expecting this," I admit as we approach the

nods. "No one ever

the desk, startling me. He can't be more than ten years old. As he climbs onto the chair, my heart drops to my feet,

it to roll

and stares at us over the counter

appointment?" he asks,

serious.

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

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with a

bug

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

through me. How does he know who

"Ava is Alpha Lucas

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

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

Okay. He's not Steve.

the hell is this

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

still upset about being left behind, but Kellan was very firm

desk dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls, filled with anything but books. Instead, there are action

This isn't a woman, or even

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

has what looks like a cartoon pony temporary tattoo on her cheek,