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?" I

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

Margot came to 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

The Golden

he tilts his head in thought. "That seems unlikely. I have no contact with

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

dinner? I'm sure you

their distrust of this beautiful stranger who seems to know so much

the conviction in my voice. If Sister Miriam is

"He knows

our ally," I point

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

was near Blackwood before

Miriam. That's too

my privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along.

moves first, his movements cautious as he descends the stairs. His hand

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

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

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

four, a simple spread of bread, cheese, and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

did you know we would

perfect. Melodious and deep, like a soothing balm to

nerves.

a seat at the head of the table. "I'll do my best to answer your

the pointed

The

on either side

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

small smile. "Mother can be selective with the

times she's danced around the subject or promised to answer things later,

biological son," he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits

the

their lead.

every way that matters, she is

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

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

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