Page 4 of Tangled Fates

“Yeah, but no one in over a century has even gotten close to finding the source of Oria. What makes you think we are equipped to do it?” Gray snapped at me.

“Because we have no other choice,” I growled, standing quickly as the chair fell back.

The twins looked at me with a mixture of concern and sadness. The mission we needed to complete wasn’t like any others before it. This wasn’t for some random paying client, this was for a dear friend—ok she was my ex Serena—and her sister Katarina.

“Are we too close to the situation?” Gray asked, like it hurt him to say those words.

“Of course we are, but if we don’t do it, who will?” I snapped. “We can’t fail Serena and Katarina; their lives depend on this.”

My throat grew tight with emotion.

“There are a few people I could think of, like Merrick,” Soren suggested.

“Merrick?” I scoffed. “Merrick never leaves the sea and you know he won’t handle this with importance.”

We stared at each other in silence while they tried to find something more to argue with me about. They knew I was right, it had to be us to complete this task.

“We will leave tomorrow morning, go to steal slate from the Laima’s magic shop and then go look for the tower,” I said, looking at both of them expecting to hear a rebuttal.

“I’ll go see Addie for some supplies and see if she’s heard anything.” Soren stood up quickly, leaving the room with his vampire speed.

Gray sighed audibly.

“Look, we all care for them, but I’m worried that it is going to hinder our ability to think with a clear head,” he whispered.

I looked away before my emotions could get the best of me.

“It won’t,” I said, with all the conviction I could muster, but I knew it wasn’t enough to fool Gray.

I walked out of the room, and headed to my room to finish packing supplies I knew we were going to need. Being inside wasn’t what I needed or wanted. Heading out the front door, I stripped quickly or as quick as I could manage to get my jeans off. Once I was free of my clothing, I jumped off the porch, shifting mid-air into my wolf. I ran into the forest that was close to our home.

The weather was still cold, but not enough to deter me from running for a few hours. My fur was thick, but after a while the cold seeped into my bones. I made my way back to our home seeing a car parked outside. The car excited me and caused dread to pool in my abdomen.

Slowing down, I walked up to the porch to see Serena, sitting on the steps, fidgeting with something in her hands. She was gorgeous, making my heart twinge with longing for a different past and present.

She looked up at me immediately with a hurricane of emotions shining through her eyes.

Instead of shifting, I gave myself a few moments to lick her face, pulling a giggle from her pouty lips. I missed that sound, it always made my heart swell with pride at making her happy.

“Ok, ok, ok.” She tried pushing me away.

I gave her one long lick on the side of her face before she screamed getting up.

“Ryder! Don’t be gross!” she yelled, trying to get away from me.

I shifted as she opened the door to the house, slipping my jeans on before I followed her.

“You shouldn’t be out in the cold,” I said, closing the door.

Serena turned to glare at me. She glanced at my bare chest for a moment making me want to puff out my chest for her, to give her an even better look. Her cheeks reddened before looking up at my face. I couldn’t help the smirk that had formed.

“Ugh, you’re insufferable.” She tried to look mad, but I could see the softness in her eyes.

“Always,” I chuckled.

We looked at each other for a moment, so many words left unspoken between us, but it was better this way. I was in love with her, she was in love with me, but she was a Belladonna. She was a part of a powerful coven of witches that had strict rules on who they married. Not rules but they were auctioned off to the highest bidder and the most powerful witches.

I was surprised when her father allowed her to date me when I asked her out on a whim, assuming I would get shot down. Two nights later, I took her to dinner. We were inseparable for two years. Seven hundred and thirty days together full of memories, fights, love and the worst heartache. She ended it after I asked her to marry me, telling me we were never going to get married; her family would never allow it.

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