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.

we go downstairs, I had a

***

to a strange building in the middle of White Peak, which looks like an abandoned warehouse more than

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

unexpected visitors.

lit warehouse. Shadows loom in every corner, making me feel like I've stepped into some gritty crime movie set. I

Jericho come with us?" I ask, my voice echoing

the metal and concrete.

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

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200 Ava: Steve (1)

"Who are we meeting

"You'll see soon enough."

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

aesthetic."

"Who's Steve?"

human who's been helping

black metal door that creaks open with an ominous groan. Kellan leads the way down a set of stairs without a single light, except whatever's coming

complete with

as we approach the empty

"No one ever

me. He can't be more than ten years old. As he climbs onto the chair, my

it to roll out from

he stands on the seat and stares at us over the counter with

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

serious.

head. "No. I'm

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off with a

Heel like a bug

Blackwood beta's daughter here?

jolts through me. How does he know who

"Ava is Alpha Lucas Westwood's

his eyes narrowed, before grunting and waving us forward. "Follow

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

Okay. He's not Steve.

hell is this

What kind of operation is this? And

petulant. She's still upset about being left behind,

is an office, with a large wooden desk dominating the space. Bookshelves line the walls, filled with anything but books.

it. This isn't a woman, or

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200 Ava Stove:!!)

woman.

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