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

***

Mrs. Elkins doesn't happen. Instead, I'm dragged to a strange building in the middle of White

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

unexpected visitors.

in every corner, making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty crime

couldn't Jericho come with us?" I ask,

the metal and concrete.

Blackwood land while I'm away.

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

frown, unsatisfied. "Who

"You'll see soon enough."

mutter under my breath about the building 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 way down a set of stairs without a single light, except whatever's coming from

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

expecting this," I admit as we approach

nods. "No one

young boy dressed in a suit and tie pops out from beneath the desk, startling me. He can't be more than ten years

it to roll

on the seat and stares at us over

have an appointment?" he

serious.

I'm Kellan Ashbourne, and

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boy cuts him off with a sneer. "I remember you."

a bug under a microscope. "Why is

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

jolts through me. How does he

clears his throat. "Ava

I assume-looks taken aback. He studies me intently, his eyes narrowed, before grunting and waving us forward.

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

Okay. He's not Steve.

hell is this

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

touches my mind, grumpy and petulant. She's still

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

no way around it. This isn't a woman,

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

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 white shirt. A lot of plastic necklaces, in purple