Tangled

Unshift 255

Unshift 255

255 Ava: The Golden Stranger

Light illuminates the room, and Marcus steps back, hiding me more fully behind his bulk.

"Who are you?" he asks, and I glance at the knife he's holding behind his back.

When I try to step around him to see who's talking, Vanessa steps forward to block the gap.

can't see anything, and yet I know who's talking. I just can't remember who they are.

"Easy, wolves. I am no enemy of yours, and no danger to the witch you shield."

"Give us your name, Vanessa snaps, uncharacteristic hostility in her tone. "Who are you, and why do you know us?"

"Ah, yes. I suppose you wouldn't know. I am known as Acarus, of the Fourth Beginning. You know my mother"

"Mother?" Marcus asks, shifting his weight as he edges a little closer. "And who might that be?"

"And what the hell is the Fourth Beginning?" Vanessa's annoyance is clear. "You can't throw around words and expect them to mean a thing."

"Oh. Yes, I suppose you wouldn't know that, either." A long pause. "Don't look at me so, wolves. My mother is Miriam, of the Fourth Beginning. Or, as you know it, Dakota Sanctuary. There's a lilt in his voice that tells me he's probably smiling. "Does that help?"

"Miriam?"

The talk of a mother dislodged a long-forgotten memory, and I shove past Marcus.

The golden stranger stands before us, his palms raised in a gesture of peace. His ethereal beauty. is just as striking as I remember-inhuman in its perfection. Golden hair catches the light, and those piercing blue eyes seem to shift to a crimson hue as they move. A mild smile plays on his lips, but it does little to ease the tension in the room.

Marcus and Vanessa tug me back, their protective instincts kicking in, but I shake them off as I

exclaim, "It's you!"

I turn to my friends, eager to explain. "He was in the woods during the Blackwood riot. He didn't harm me then."

Acarus nods in my direction, his gaze appraising. "You've become stronger since we last met, Ava

Grey."

A question that's been nagging at me since our first encounter bubbles to the surface.

+

was talking about?"

features. "I'm afraid I don't

thoughts. "There was a vampire on Blackwood lands. Margot came to warn me about it, right before I found you in the woods. It was so long ago, the details blur in my mind. "She was worried

Ava: The

and he tilts his head in thought. "That seems unlikely. I have no

my curiosity, but before I can press further, he changes the

come down for dinner? I'm sure you must be

hesitation, their distrust of this beautiful stranger who seems to know

think we can trust him," I say, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is his mother, then he's probably on our

knows things

is our ally," I

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

"He was near Blackwood before we began

Miriam. That's too convenient to

my privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of

he descends the stairs. His hand never strays

house looks familiar, but it isn't

and eclectic, just like the first place I met Sister Miriam. This one isn't quite the same,

one. And outside the windows is nothing but trees. Wherever we are, it isn't in a

a huge table that can

cheese, and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate

Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

you know

perfect. Melodious and deep, like a

nerves.

Acarus says, taking a seat at the head of the table. "I'll do my best to answer

slide into a chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa. They

Ava: The

themselves on either side of me like

my curiosity any longer. "How is that possible? She never mentioned having children, and vampires aren't usually..."

quirk into a small smile. "Mother can be selective with

she's danced around the subject or promised to answer things later, much like Selene does-yeah, I'd say

biological son," he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits back in his

stoic, not tempted by the

their lead.

has raised me since I was young. In every way that matters,

still suspicious. "How did

I've been preparing a meal every day

keep my mouth shut. More important