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

his perfect features. "I'm afraid I

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 tell Lucas about their

The Golden

thought. "That seems unlikely.

satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further,

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

their distrust of this beautiful stranger who

conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is his

eyes narrow. "He knows things he

is our ally," I

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before we

too convenient

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

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

house looks familiar, but it isn't until I see the

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

are more windows here, for one. And outside the windows is nothing

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

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.

did you know

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

nerves.

of the table. "I'll

into a chair, ignoring the pointed looks

Ava: The

on either side of

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

be selective with

to answer things later, much

for us to partake as he sits back

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

their lead.

I was young. In every way that matters, she

says, still suspicious. "How did you know

I've been preparing a meal every day for weeks. He nods toward the food on the table. "At least this

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