Page 107 of Tangled Fates

Loki leaned up on my boobs, rubbing his face on my cheek like he knew I needed comfort.

“I love you too, buddy,” I said, kissing his nose.

“I’m glad you had him,” Soren said, looking like he was getting less grumpy.

“I don’t think I would have survived without him.” I gave him another kiss before scratching his ears. “I don’t know what kind of spell mother cast on him, but I hope I never have to lose him.”

The thought of losing him brought tears to my eyes.

“I’m sure we can ask around, but have you thought that it's you that’s keeping him around?” Ryder asked, looking at me in the mirror that was sticking out of the front window.

“I uh… I never thought it was me, I don’t heal him like I do Mother,” I said, wondering if just being near me kept him young.

The car stayed quiet, and I thought about what Ryder said. Would I do the same for my mates? Would they live as long as I did? The sky grew dark when Ryder slowed the car down taking a road that looked hidden. The road was bumpy, but we got closer to what had to be the castle. It was enormous, gothic in detail and ominous.

We stopped not too close to the castle, but also not too far.

“I need you to stay in this car.” Ryder turned around to look at me. “Your life depends on this, and they depend on you.”

My heart dropped when he said they, instead of we. I knew I didn’t do a good job of keeping the disappointment off my face when Gray held my hand, squeezing it.

“I need you to agree,” Ryder said, his gaze too much for me.

I nodded as I looked away. He didn’t need to see my disappointment or how much his words had affected me.

“Ok, we meet back here in thirty minutes and if you aren’t back here when the time is up, we leave and you can meet us at the safehouse in Glenwood. Understood?” Ryder’s voice was commanding, and from what the guys said about him, this was his element.

“Let’s do it,” Gray said.

“The sooner we leave the sooner we can come back,” Soren said, turning my face towards him, giving me a kiss that stole my breath.

“Please stay here. I love you,” he whispered against my lips.

I nodded as I tried to keep my emotions in check. They didn’t need to feel my worry.

“If anything seems suspicious, please call for us, even if you think you can handle it,” Gray said, turning my face towards him.

“I will,” I agreed.

Gray pulled me close, touching our foreheads together.

“Don’t do anything that could tear us apart; I will not survive without you.” He kissed me fiercely.

He didn’t have to tell me he loved me, I felt it all the way down to my toes. He kissed my nose before he opened the door. I looked out the front window to see Ryder staring at me. Was that longing in his gaze?

“Take care of our girl, Catzilla,” Gray said, before closing the door.

Loki looked up at me, exhausted. I kissed his head before holding him against me as we waited for my men to come back.

It had been longer than thirty minutes and that damn clock just kept staring at me, annoying me more and more every minute. Sitting here, waiting, was making me even more anxious as my mind went wild with all the possibilities. None of them were good.

When my body couldn’t take sitting still any longer, I was about to open the door when figures came into view. My body sagged in relief until I realized there were only two of them and a third person was being carried and she was a woman..

They set the girl down as I watched her try to get away. Ryder's face was fierce as he talked to her while one of my twins looked like he was trying to reason with her. Her face was etched in sadness, and I swear I could feel it. She fell onto her knees and I knew I had to do something.

“Blondie, you should stay in the car.” Soren walked towards me.

“Is this the sister of the woman you loved?” I asked, looking at Ryder.

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