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?" I blurt

flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid

vampire on Blackwood lands. Margot came to warn me about it, right before I found you in the woods.

The

thought. "That seems unlikely. I have no contact with others. Especially

before I can press further, he changes

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

their distrust of this beautiful stranger who seems

myself with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is

narrow. "He knows things he shouldn't,

mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

was near Blackwood

too

points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have

as he descends the stairs. His hand never strays far from his weapon. Vanessa follows, positioning

into a giant dining room. The entire house looks familiar, but

place I met Sister Miriam. This one isn't quite the same, but it definitely has the

And outside the windows is

a huge table

in earthenware

Vanessa

Wait a second.

did you know

is perfect. Melodious and deep,

nerves.

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

pointed looks

The Golden

on either side of me like

you said Sister Miriam is your mother, I begin, unable to contain my curiosity any longer. "How is that possible? She never mentioned having children, and vampires aren't usually..." Well, that's kind of silly. She's the product

smile. "Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm sure you've noticed

to answer things later, much like Selene does-yeah,

he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits back

stoic, not tempted by the food. Though I'm pretty sure it's

their lead.

every way that matters, she

now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you know about

together, he sighs. "Truth be told, I didn't know exactly when you would arrive. I've been preparing a meal every day for weeks. He

ask about the pigs, but I keep my mouth shut. More important things to worry about