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

his perfect features. "I'm afraid

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

The

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

don't quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further,

dinner? I'm sure you must be

hesitation, their distrust of this

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

eyes narrow. "He knows things he shouldn't,

our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

"He was near Blackwood before

too convenient to be

who intruded on my privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have

as he descends the stairs. His hand never strays

looks familiar, but

first place I met Sister Miriam. This

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

he says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen

a simple spread of bread, cheese, and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware

Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would

the sound is perfect. Melodious and

nerves.

of the table.

ignoring the pointed looks from

Ava: The

positioning themselves on either side of me like

Second, 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

quirk into a small smile. "Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm sure you've noticed that by

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

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

sit stoic, not tempted by the food.

their lead.

since I was young. In every way that matters, she is my mother.

still suspicious. "How did

arrive. I've been preparing a meal every day for weeks. He nods toward the food on the table.

I keep my mouth