Page 40 of Tangled Fates

“When those men don’t report back to Tay, he’s going to either come himself or Mother will return,” she said, with a hint of fear in her voice.

I didn’t know if that was a threat. or she was warning us of what was to come.

16

ORIA

When Demitri showed up in my room, I immediately thought Tay had betrayed me. When they mentioned Mother, I didn’t know what to believe. Why would Mother send them? Was it because she knew there was a breach in our defenses?

Why then would Demitri put his hands on me and tell me I owed him for having to come back. I shivered from the awful slimy feeling that lingered as I stared at him on the floor.

“What does that mean, Sunshine?” Gray asked.

All this uncertainty was making me very anxious. I had no idea of who I could trust, even the obvious person would be my mother, but why would she send Demitri out of all people? She would have sent Tay unless… she knew what we had been doing.

My breath quickened as I feared the decision I had to make. So many possibilities raced through my mind that all of them sounded plausible, but then they all sounded wrong.

“Ria? Ria! Ria!?”

One of the twins yelled, but I couldn’t get out of my head. Fear was holding me captive as any decision just made me feel even more trapped. I was useless, naive, and weak. Everything Mother had told me was true. I was not made for the outside world. I would never be enough. I needed her.

“Sunshine.”

I was enveloped in warmth, easing my chaotic mind.

“Breathe, Blondie.”

I took a shuddering breath.

“Give me another one.”

I listened again until I was breathing normally, and two bodies were pressed up against me. Gray and Soren. Two vampires. One who hated me and one who was sweet to me. Two sides of a coin. Men who could kill me in an instant, but chose to comfort me instead. I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I was grateful for their kindness.

“Thank you.” I mumbled against someone's chest.

My hands were splayed against a very firm chest as another was pressed up against my back. It should have been awkward, but I found myself wanting to be closer to them.

“Are you ok?” I didn’t know which twin had asked.

“I think so,” I said sheepishly.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” I said truthfully, wondering what their intentions were and that I didn’t need to be showing my cards just yet… even though they felt safe.

One of them sighed harshly, getting up and leaving the room, immediately making me miss his warmth and the sense of security I had felt.

“I’m sorry,” I said, pushing him away, but he held on tight.

“Don’t be, I know I’m the last person you can trust, but I promise I won’t hurt you or let anyone hurt you.” His voice was full of conviction and I knew for sure it was Gray.

“That’s what everyone says,” I whispered.

A pang of sadness hit me, it was so strong and came out of nowhere that I don’t know if it was mine or possibly Gray’s. I pulled away slightly looking up at him. The twins were so gorgeous. It made me extremely self-conscious especially when he was so close to me, holding me like I was someone who mattered to him.

“Don’t be sad for me,” I said, testing my theory.

“Have those men hurt you before?”

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