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?"

flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid I don't

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 connection

The Golden

brows arch and he tilts his head in thought. "That seems

don't quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further, he changes

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

can feel their hesitation, their distrust of this beautiful

surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam

"He knows things he

his mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before

That's too

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

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

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

and eclectic, just like the first place I met Sister Miriam. This one isn't quite the

windows is nothing but trees. Wherever we are, it isn't

says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen is

looks like a hearty stew steaming in

and Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would be

is perfect. Melodious and deep,

nerves.

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

chair, ignoring the pointed

Ava: The

themselves on either side of me like

I begin, unable to contain my curiosity any longer. "How is that possible? She never mentioned

"Mother can be selective with

subject or promised to answer

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

tempted by the food. Though I'm pretty sure

their lead.

way that matters, she is my mother. Do you

have answers right now," Vanessa says, still suspicious. "How did you

his fingers 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 keep my