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.

+

Margot was talking about?"

flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid

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

The Golden

he tilts his head in thought. "That

curiosity, but before I can press

I'm sure you must be

feel their hesitation, their distrust of this

I say, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice.

narrow. "He knows things

his mother is our ally," I

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before we

Sister Miriam. That's too convenient

bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have dinner waiting for

moves first, his movements cautious as he descends the stairs. His hand never strays far from

house looks familiar, but it

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

And outside the windows is nothing but trees. Wherever we are,

he says, as if a huge table that can easily

stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's

Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would

is perfect. Melodious and deep, like a soothing balm to

nerves.

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

the pointed looks from Marcus

The

positioning themselves on either

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,

selective with

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

he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits

the

their lead.

every way that matters, she is my mother. Do

rather have answers right now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you know about

his fingers 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 nods toward the food on the table. "At least this

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