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.

+

the vampire Margot was talking about?" I

flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid

on Blackwood lands. Margot came to warn me about it, right before I found you in the woods. It was so long ago,

The Golden

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

before I can press

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

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

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

his mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

was near Blackwood before we

That's too

out from the bottom of the stairs.

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

looks familiar, but it isn't until I see

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

the windows is nothing but trees.

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

what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate Fae meals we've grown accustomed

Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would be

sound is perfect. Melodious and deep,

nerves.

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

the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa. They

The

on either side of

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

be selective with the information

subject or promised to answer things later, much like Selene does-yeah, I'd say I've

am not her biological son," he says, motioning for us

the food. Though I'm pretty sure it's

their lead.

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

right now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you know about our arrival?

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 time I won't be throwing it

keep my mouth shut. More important things