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 blurt

his perfect features. "I'm afraid I

found you in the woods. It was so long ago, the details blur in

Ava: The

his head in thought. "That seems

my curiosity, but before I can press further,

down for dinner? I'm

wary glances. I can feel their hesitation, their distrust of this beautiful stranger who seems to know so

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

"He knows things

is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

was near Blackwood before we began

too convenient to

ones who intruded on my privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of

stairs. His hand never

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

met Sister Miriam.

one. And outside the windows is nothing but trees. Wherever we are,

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 grown accustomed to, but my

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

know we would

and even the sound is perfect. Melodious and

nerves.

at the head of the table. "I'll do my

the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa. They

Ava: The Golden

positioning themselves on either side of me like

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

quirk into a small smile. "Mother can be selective with the information

around the subject or promised to answer things later, much like

am not her biological son," he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits back in

stoic, not tempted by the food. Though

their lead.

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

rather have answers right now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you know about our arrival? We didn't

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

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