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

flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid I

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

Ava: The

"That seems unlikely.

quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further, he changes the

come down for dinner? I'm sure you

their distrust of this beautiful stranger who seems to

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

knows

his mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

near Blackwood before we began

Sister Miriam. That's too

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

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

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

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

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

says, as if a huge table that can easily fit

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

Vanessa

Wait a second.

know we would be

even the sound is perfect. Melodious

nerves.

head of the table.

slide into a chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus

The

either

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

a small smile. "Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm sure you've noticed that by

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

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

tempted by the food.

their lead.

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

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

day for weeks. He nods toward the food on the table. "At least this time I won't

but I keep my mouth shut. More important things to worry