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

flickers across 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

Ava: The Golden

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

quite satisfy my curiosity, but before

don't you all come down for dinner? I'm sure you must be hungry after your

I can feel their hesitation, their distrust of this

think we can trust him," I say, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is his mother, then

knows

our ally," I

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before

Miriam. That's too convenient to be

privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to

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

into a giant dining room. The entire house looks familiar, but it isn't until I see

first place I met Sister Miriam. This

here, for one. And outside the windows is nothing

for the modest accommodations," he says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen

is set for four, a simple spread of bread, cheese, and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate Fae meals we've

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

you know we would be

and even the sound is perfect. Melodious and deep, like a soothing

nerves.

a seat at the head of the table. "I'll

a chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa.

Ava: The

themselves on either

we would be here? 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 the product of a vampire and something else herself. "Well, do dhampirs

with the information she divulges. I'm sure you've noticed that by

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

her biological son," he says, motioning for us to partake

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

their lead.

In every way

did you know about

every day for weeks. He nods toward the food on the table. "At least this

ask about the pigs, but I keep my