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.

+

vampire Margot was

across his perfect features.

my thoughts. "There was a vampire on Blackwood lands. 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.

Ava: The

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

before I can

for dinner? I'm sure

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

we can trust him," I say, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice.

"He knows things

our ally,"

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before we began

too

from the bottom of

moves first, his movements cautious as he descends the stairs. His hand never strays far from his weapon. Vanessa follows, positioning herself

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

met Sister Miriam. This

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

a huge table that can easily

table is set for four, a 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

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

know we would

is perfect. Melodious and deep, like

nerves.

of the table. "I'll do my best to

pointed looks from Marcus

Ava: The Golden

positioning themselves on either side of

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 and something else herself. "Well, do dhampirs have...

"Mother can be selective with the information she divulges. I'm sure

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

her biological son," he says, motioning for

the food. Though I'm pretty

their lead.

raised me since I was young. In every way that matters, she is my mother. Do

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

arrive. I've been preparing a meal every day for weeks. He nods toward the food on the table. "At least this time I

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