Page 105 of Tangled Hearts

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ORIA

My fist pounded on Max’s back as we flew away. Tears were streaming down my face as I looked behind us contemplating whether I should jump.

“Go back,” I screamed. “Don’t do this to me, Max. Go back!”

I pounded my fist on his scales, but I knew he didn't feel anything. The phone and bag Soren had given me were making it hard to continue my tantrum.

I can’t, Sol. We can’t?—

“I don’t care about me, please I need… I need them,” I screamed. “She’s gonna kill them.”

I couldn’t see anything anymore as tears clouded my vision as the worst agony pierced the bond.

“No!” I screamed, feeling the pain again.

Max groaned as I felt another stab in the bond. My lungs seized up. I couldn’t breathe, my vision was tunneling as I grabbed my chest.

Max roared as I felt his anguish. My chest hurt more and more the further we flew away from them until all I felt was numbness.

I laid down, wrapping my arms around myself, keeping the phone and bag safe, closing my eyes hoping that this was all a bad dream. When I opened my eyes, we were back at the pack house in our makeshift bed. I wished for this over and over again until I fell asleep.

Sol.

I jolted awake, sitting straight up as I tried to figure out where I was. Max huffed beneath me, and my throat grew thick.

Tired. Max said softly, tilting his head towards me.

I looked at his dragon’s face and I saw Max’s eye. He lowered his body so I could get off. It was still a far drop from the ground, but I managed to use his scales and legs to get down. My hysteria was just bubbling under the surface.

Max transformed into a man, falling onto his hands and knees. I stepped forward to help him, but my anger stopped me. I crossed my arms and stood back, watching him breathe heavily, exhaustion made his face look years older. My heart hurt for him, but he did this to us. They did this.

It took a while before he sat down on his haunches, looking over at me. Guilt was written all over his face and I had to turn away. It was then that I noticed we were in a forest, with a small clearing. It didn't look familiar, and I wondered how far he had taken us. The sun was setting, so I was thinking it had been a few hours of flying to get us here.

“Sol.” Max sounded so tired, but I couldn’t look at him. “It had to be done. Things were getting out of control. We couldn’t let her get to you.”

I clenched my jaw, wishing he would stop talking.

“Sol, please…” he whispered.

“Please?!” I turned around to look at him and the anger in my veins reached its boiling point. “You’re going to say please!”

I walked up to him, dropping the bag and began pushing him.

“What about when I was asking you please not to leave or please turn around?!” I pushed him again. “Huh, Max, what about then? I need all of you, we were supposed to do this together.” I pushed him again. “We make decisions together! You don’t make decisions for me! Everyone has done that for me my entire life. You broke your promise. Do your promises mean nothing!”

He looked down. “Sol, your life is worth all of ours and more.”

“I hate you. I hate all of you!” I screamed. “You did the one thing I asked you not to do. We are a team, we are mates and now… now they are going to die!”

I pushed him again, falling against him. I cried as the pain grew too much. I covered my eyes, sobbing into my hands, searching for anything from their bonds. Max laid a hand on my back.

“No,” I snarled, moving away from him. “Don’t touch me, don’t try and comfort me when you’re the one who made me feel like this. All of you…”

My breathing grew harsh as my crying grew out of control. My chest felt hollow, their absence was only amplified by feeling Max so close to me. I might never feel them again, this might be all I feel now, like I was missing pieces of me.

My crying intensified and I laid down on the ground, wishing we had stayed, even if that meant I had to die with them.

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