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.

+

you the vampire Margot was talking about?"

across his perfect features.

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

Ava: The Golden

"That seems unlikely.

words don't quite satisfy my curiosity, but before

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

their hesitation, their distrust of

in my voice. If Sister Miriam is his mother, then

narrow. "He knows things he

is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood

Sister Miriam. That's too convenient to

points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have

stairs. His hand never

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

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

here, for one. And outside the windows is nothing but trees. Wherever we are, it isn't

the modest accommodations," he says, as if a

and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware

Vanessa

Wait a second.

did you know we would be

and even the sound is perfect. Melodious and deep,

nerves.

seat at the head of the table.

a chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus

The

themselves on either side of me

did you know 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

"Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm sure you've noticed

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

says, motioning for us to partake

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

their lead.

every way that matters,

now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you know about our arrival? We didn't plan on

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

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