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.

+

vampire Margot was talking about?"

his perfect features.

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 about something. Worried I'd

Ava: The

in thought. "That

quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further, he

don't you all come down for dinner? I'm

and Vanessa exchange wary glances. I can feel their hesitation, their distrust of this

surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is his mother, then he's probably on our

"He knows

our ally," I

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before

Sister Miriam. That's too convenient to

Acarus points out from the bottom of

descends the stairs. His hand never strays far from his

leads us 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

windows here, for one. And outside the windows is

the modest accommodations," he says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen is not good

like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate Fae meals we've grown accustomed to, but my stomach

and Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would be

Melodious and deep, like a soothing balm to

nerves.

taking a seat at the head of the table.

chair, ignoring the pointed

Ava: The

positioning themselves on either side

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 of a vampire and something else herself. "Well, do dhampirs

a small smile. "Mother can be selective with

to answer things later, much like Selene

for us to partake as he sits

the food.

their lead.

way that matters, she is

did you know about our

meal every day for weeks. He nods toward the food on

keep my mouth shut. More important things to worry about than