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.

+

you the vampire Margot was talking about?" I

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

in the

Ava: The

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

don't quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I

you all come down for dinner? I'm

can feel their hesitation, their distrust of this beautiful stranger

trust him," I say, surprising myself with the conviction in

"He knows things he shouldn't,

our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood before we

Sister Miriam. That's too convenient to

from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have dinner waiting for

cautious as he descends the stairs. His hand never strays far from

room. The entire house looks familiar, but it isn't

eccentric and eclectic, just like the first place I met Sister Miriam. This one isn't quite the same, but it definitely has the same

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

the modest accommodations," he says, as if a

of bread, cheese, and what looks like a hearty stew steaming in earthenware bowls. It's far from the claborate Fae meals we've grown accustomed

and Vanessa remain

Wait a second.

know

is perfect. Melodious and deep, like a

nerves.

the head of the table. "I'll

the pointed looks from Marcus

Ava: The Golden

on either side of

contain my curiosity any longer. "How is that possible? She never mentioned having children, and vampires aren't usually..." Well, that's

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

or promised to answer things later, much

son," he says, motioning for us

the food. Though I'm pretty sure it's

their lead.

In every way that matters,

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

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 won't be throwing it out

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