Tangled

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.

+

"Are you the vampire Margot was talking about?" I blurt out.

Confusion flickers across his perfect features. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

I take a deep breath, trying to organize 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. "She was worried about something. Worried I'd tell Lucas about their connection with vampires, I think"

255 Ava: The Golden Stranger

His brows arch and he tilts his head in thought. "That seems unlikely. I have no contact with others. Especially wolves."

His words don't quite satisfy my curiosity, but before I can press further, he changes the subject.

"Why don't you all come down for dinner? I'm sure you must be hungry after your ordeal."

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

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

Vanessa's eyes narrow. "He knows things he shouldn't, Ava."

"Because his mother is our ally," I point out.

Marcus shakes his head,

his pot out.

tense. "He was near Blackwood before we began working

with Sister Miriam. That's too convenient to be coincidence"

"You're the ones who intruded on my privacy," Acarus points out from the bottom of the stairs. "Come along. I made sure to have dinner waiting for you."

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

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

It's 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 feeling.

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

"I apologize for the modest accommodations," he says, as if a huge table that can easily fit sixteen is not good enough.

The 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 grown accustomed to, but my stomach growls appreciatively at the sight.

Marcus and Vanessa remain tense.

Wait a second.

"How did you know we would be here?"

He chuckles, and even the sound is perfect. Melodious and deep, like a soothing balm to frayedProperty of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

nerves.

"Please, sit, Acarus says, taking a seat at the head of the table. "I'll do my best to answer your questions."

I slide into a chair, ignoring the pointed looks from Marcus and Vanessa. They reluctantly joint

255 Ava: The Golden Stranger

us, positioning themselves on either side of me like sentinels.

"First, how 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 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... babies?"

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

With all the times she's danced around the subject or promised to answer things later, much like Selene does-yeah, I'd say I've noticed that.

"I am not her biological son," he says, motioning for us to partake as he sits back in his chair.

Marcus and Vanessa sit stoic, not tempted by the food. Though I'm pretty sure it's safe, I follow

their lead.

"She has raised me since I was young. In every way that matters, she is my mother. Do you not like stew?"

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

Lacing 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 for the pigs."

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

"How did you know we were coming?" Marcus asks again, each word like a hammer.

I think I know the answer.

"My mother told me to expect you." He shrugs. "Not everything comes to pass, but I've learned. to listen when she speaks."

Bingo.

Feeling a little triumphant at finally understanding something, I grab a chunk of bread. It's soft and squishy, fluffing back to shape after being squeezed, with a hard crust.

Would probably go great with the stew.

Ignoring Marcus and Vanessa's double side-eye, I pull a bowl closer to me, dipping the bread in

1. it.

It's delicious. Amazing. A simple fare, clevated by whatever spices are in it.

I groan in appreciation, and Acarus grins. “I'm happy to see you enjoying the food, Ava. "

"Why were you at Blackwood during the riot?" Marcus asks, still not warming to the newcomer.

*Spying" he admits, with an unrepentant smile. "Mother likes to keep an eye on things." "So you know a lot of

of what's going on at any given time?" I ask around a mouthful of bread

255 Ava: The Golden Stranger

Vanessa elbows me. She might not trust Acarus, but she's not okay with bad manners.

"Of course"

"Then, what's going on with the packs? I can't reach my mate." Though, now that we aren't in the city, I should try again. Digging into my pocket, I pull out my phone with eager fingers.

No signal.

Of course there's no signal here.

Holding my phone up high, I move it from side to side, trying to see if I can even get a single bar.

No such luck.

Acarus watches me, waiting until I set my phone down with a long sigh to finally answer.

"The packs..." For the first time, Acarus' golden light grows dim, his face taut and lips pressed together in a tight line. Sighing, he rubs one blond eyebrow with a perfectly manicured finger. "Much has happened. My mother is searching for information as we speak."

My stomach drops to the floor. The food, the pigs, and any other questions we may have are shoved to the side as I jump out of my seat, slamming my hands against the table as I lean toward him. "What happened? Where's Lucas?"