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 a

***

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

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

unexpected visitors.

corner, making me feel like I've stepped into

with us?"

the metal and concrete.

Blackwood land

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

frown, unsatisfied. "Who are

"You'll see soon enough."

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

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

who's been helping

creaks open with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set of stairs

basement that greets us. It looks like a professional office, complete with fake

expecting this," I admit as we approach the empty reception

nods. "No one ever

from beneath the desk, startling me. He can't be more

it to roll out from beneath

on the seat and stares at us over the counter

appointment?" he asks, his voice high-pitched

serious.

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

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

Heel like a bug under a microscope.

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

does he know who I

his throat. "Ava is Alpha Lucas

me intently, his eyes narrowed,

carpeted hallway to a door at the very end. Pausing with his hand on the knob, he turns to us with a warning look.

Okay. He's not Steve.

hell is this

of operation

grumpy and petulant. She's still upset about being left

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

it. This isn't a woman,

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

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