Page 13 of Tangled Hearts

“Look, I’ve seen how brutal she can be and even though you fucked us over,” I said glaring at him. “I know you did it for your family and I know what it's like to want to do everything you can for them.”

“I've been wanting to get out, but every time, I get pulled back in,” he said, looking back at his home.

“This is your time to leave and don’t come back,” I said, standing up. “Don’t make me regret letting you off easy, because I swear to the gods and goddesses, I will make them watch as I dismember your body.”

“I’ll leave tonight, I have a plan,” he said, getting up too.

“I’m serious, Joseph, don't make me regret this,” I said, walking away.

“I think you should think about leaving the country too,” he shouted. “If she gets what she wants, this god war might just be the end of all of us.”

I nodded walking away as fear clawed at me.

There is no way we would survive another god war; the last one nearly killed all of us. My family had talked about it before and there was so much destruction. Gods had been missing for over a century and if their father wanted to get rid of us, I don’t think even his children could save us. We were all doomed.

5

SOREN

The sun peeked through the curtains of our room. Oria was laying on my chest, her arm and leg thrown over me as she slept. The bond was quiet, but her emotions had been so powerful lately. I felt like I was being a bad mate. She was worried about Gray, but no matter what I did or said, I knew she wouldn’t be satisfied until she actually saw him.

I saw movement on the floor, and I felt a little guilty that Maxton and Ryder had to take the floor, but it was an argument that both of them were willing to die for. I shouldn't have been surprised. They were a man who didn’t want Oria as a mate and a man who was so in love with her he didn’t know what to do.

When I opened the door to the truck yesterday. I was pissed he had made her cry, but before she went to sleep, she told me she had become overwhelmed and broke down. She was also trying to come to terms with Maxton.

I still didn’t trust him, but I knew she did, and I would have to rein in my need to steamroll all of her decisions. I didn’t want her to feel like she didn’t have any say in what we did, but all I wanted was to keep her safe.

Maxton and Ryder were starting to stir, it was late morning and I think everyone had been asleep for almost ten hours. I knew the guys had to be hungry and Oria needed to eat too. Last night she just moved her food around her plate before giving her food to Maxton who was more than happy to eat it.

Ryder shifted, but Maxton went into the restroom before he shifted. I didn’t know if it was because he was shy or he didn’t want to make Oria uncomfortable. My guess was the latter because he was so damn sweet with her, but I had heard him the other day. He was in love with her. I couldn’t imagine loving a woman and having to sit on the sidelines.

Maxton came out of the restroom in sweats and a tight-as-hell shirt as Oria stirred, nuzzling her face into my chest.

“We are going to go find some food,” Ryder said, nodding at Max to follow him out.

“Bring her some tea if you find some,” I said, as he closed the door.

“Tea sounds good,” she mumbled, holding me closer.

“You need to eat too,” I said, kissing her forehead.

She looked up to pout at me, making me smile.

“What about you? Aren’t you hungry?” She straddled my lap.

She pushed her blonde hair to the side giving me the perfect view of her long slender neck. My mouth watered, remembering her taste when we mated, but it wasn’t enough, and I had thought about it more times than I’d like to admit.

“I’m ok,” I said, trying to keep my hunger in check.

I wasn’t actually very hungry. I had eaten at the safe house, but she was tempting me again.

“Are you?” She leaned forward. “I think you look hungry.”

“I will always be hungry for you,” I smirked, loving that she was trying to tease me.

“Then take a little taste,” she said, showing me more of her neck.

I chuckled that she thought she was in charge. I flipped her onto her back, setting into her open legs, kissing her jugular that was begging me to take a bite. She inhaled a quick breath, waiting for my fangs to pierce her neck. I kissed her neck again only for her to growl her frustration.

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