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.

+

Margot was talking about?" I

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

Ava: The Golden

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

my curiosity, but before I can press further, he

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

distrust of this

with the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam

eyes narrow. "He knows things he

his mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

near Blackwood

Miriam. That's too

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

descends the stairs. His hand never strays

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

I met Sister Miriam. This one isn't quite the same,

one. And outside the windows is nothing but trees.

modest accommodations," he says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen is not good

steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate Fae meals we've grown accustomed to, but my stomach

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

know we

the sound is perfect. Melodious

nerves.

says, taking a seat at the head of the

chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa. They reluctantly

Ava: The Golden

either side of me like

possible? She never mentioned having children, and vampires aren't usually..." Well, that's kind of silly. She's the product

quirk into a small smile. "Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm

or promised to

he says, motioning for us to partake as

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

their lead.

raised me since I was young. In every way that matters, she is my mother. Do you not

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

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 won't be throwing it out for

keep