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?

16:03

1/6

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, I had a strange

***

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

yet-follow me into the building, while two stay outside

unexpected visitors.

making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty

with 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

16:03

2/6

200 Ava: Steve (1)

unsatisfied. "Who

"You'll see soon enough."

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

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

human who's been

ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set

a professional office, complete with

as

nods. "No one ever

suit and tie pops out from beneath the desk, startling me. He can't be more than ten years old. As he climbs onto the chair, my heart drops

roll

seat and stares at us over the counter with a stern

have an appointment?" he asks, his

serious.

I'm Kellan Ashbourne, and

16:03

3/6

off with a sneer. "I remember you."

and Heel like a bug under a microscope. "Why

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

me. How does

throat. "Ava

me intently, his eyes

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

Okay. He's not Steve.

hell is

What kind of operation is this? And why would Lucas and Kellan be involved

voice touches my mind, grumpy and petulant. She's still upset about being left behind, but Kellan was very firm

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

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

16:03

200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

looks to be maybe thirteen, with a head that's 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