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 talking about?" I blurt

his perfect features. "I'm afraid

"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. "She was worried about something. Worried I'd tell Lucas about

Ava: The Golden

thought. "That seems unlikely. I have no

curiosity, but before I can press further, he changes

dinner? I'm

feel their hesitation, their distrust of this beautiful

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

"He knows

his mother is our

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

Blackwood

Miriam. That's too convenient to be

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

hand never strays far from his weapon. Vanessa follows, positioning

entire house looks familiar, but it isn't until I see the giant table

I met Sister Miriam. This one

here, for one. And outside the windows is

for the modest accommodations," he says, as if a

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 to,

Vanessa

Wait a second.

did you know we would

and even the sound is perfect. Melodious and deep, like a soothing

nerves.

head of the table. "I'll do my

a chair, ignoring the pointed looks

Ava: The Golden

on either

longer. "How is that possible? She never mentioned having children, and vampires aren't usually..."

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

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

says, motioning for us to partake as he sits back in

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

their lead.

me since I was young. In every way

did you

arrive. I've been preparing a meal every day for weeks.

about the pigs, but I keep my mouth