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.

go downstairs, I

***

dragged to a strange building in the middle of White Peak,

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

unexpected visitors.

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

us?" I ask, my

the metal and concrete.

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 meeting

"You'll see soon enough."

belonging in a movie, and Kellan actually cracks

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been

reach a black metal door that creaks open with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set

brightly lit basement that greets us. It looks like a professional office, complete with fake plants, paintings on the walls, and several cubicles. The only thing

as we approach the empty

nods. "No one

pops out from beneath the desk, startling me. He can't be more than ten years

roll out from beneath

stands on the seat and stares at us over the counter with a stern

have an appointment?" he asks, his voice high-pitched

serious.

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

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boy cuts him off with a sneer.

a bug under a microscope. "Why

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

me. How does

throat. "Ava

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

end. Pausing with his hand on the knob,

Okay. He's not Steve.

the hell is this

step into the room. What kind of operation is this? And

touches my mind, grumpy and petulant. She's still upset about being left behind, but

an office, with a large wooden desk dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls,

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

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

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