Page 106 of Tangled Hearts

The sound of movement startled me awake. My eyes adjusted to the night as I lifted my head off the black bag.

I looked around to see Max sitting near me, looking around. My ears strained to hear something, but it seemed my ears weren’t sensitive enough for what he was hearing. My gaze fell back to Max and how I just wanted to crawl into his lap, find comfort in his arms. I was just so mad that they had made decisions for me, they treated me like everyone else had.

Tears blurred my vision as I closed my eyes. I needed a plan; I couldn’t just go back to hiding. I needed to try my plan and pray it worked before she ended up killing them.

Goddess, please don’t let them die.

Tears fell down my cheeks when I heard another sound. My body stilled as I looked around, getting ready to run if I needed to.

“It’s an animal,” he whispered, scanning the area.

I sat up, feeling dizzy, and like I had too much wine. My neck hurt and I winced when I moved it side to side.

“We need to get going,” he said, standing up, still on alert. “We’ve been out in the open for too long.”

Max looked exhausted. There were dark circles underneath his eyes and I’m sure he hadn’t slept. He held out his hand for me, but I ignored it. I dusted myself off, feeling his eyes on me when all I wanted to do was have him hold me.

“It’s night. What is the plan?” I snapped. “Or do you have everything figured out and I’m just supposed to follow you, no questions asked?”

“Sol,” he said softly. “I don’t know what to do. We didn’t plan this. If I didn’t get you out when I did, you would be with her, doing goddess knows what.”

“Am I supposed to say, ‘Thank you’!” I yelled. “Thanks, at least I’m alive, but there’s also this gaping hole in my chest.”

A rustling in the trees had me backing towards Max.

“You can finish yelling at me somewhere else. It’s almost morning anyway,” he said, taking a deep breath, transforming into his dragon.

Max was gorgeous. He was gold, orange and a little bit of red. He was enormous and I wished he could have set Laima’s men on fire along with everyone else, but I knew that was too risky. We could have killed wolves; he could have killed one of the guys and I know I wouldn’t have been able to live with that.

They were dying anyway.

My lip trembled again, feeling so guilty. Max lowered his body, lying down as close to the ground as possible. It took me a few tries to get up on his body and on my last attempt his head helped me. He had a perfect spot on his back for me that had a few spikes I could lean against and a few to keep me from sliding off the sides.

Ready? He asked.

Ready. I said.

He barely fit in the space and I worried how he would get us out of here, but I should have known better. He got us out of there with ease, climbing higher and higher. I grabbed my last invisibility charm. I could see daylight in the distance, and I activated it before I pressed it against Max. The magic hummed over us, and I hoped no one had seen us yesterday.

I argued with myself for a minute before I decided to heal Max, giving him a little boost. I whispered my words, letting my healing power travel through his body.

Thank you. I’m sorry, Oria. Our decision wasn’t malicious, and we didn’t do it to control you. His voice was soft and calm. I know you think it was the wrong thing to do, but if we saved you then we still have a chance. They suggested I hide you, but I’m thinking we need to find Addie so we can use her workshop and make the potion you wanted to make.

I pursed my lips. Damn him, for being logical and doing the opposite of what I thought he was doing. I felt awful for the way I had treated him, but I was still mad, the emptiness I felt didn’t help either.

“Addie, where are you,” I whispered, wondering how we were going to find her when we had no idea where we were.

I don’t know where to find Addie. I finally said. Maybe we can head to that castle and possibly find Katarina. She might know where she is.

I don’t feel comfortable going back, but that’s a logical place to look. He grumbled. If at any point I don’t like what I see, we won’t land, or we will leave immediately.

Ok. I said, not wanting to deter him

Where are we going? He asked, and I had no clue.

I racked my brain trying to remember if they had said anything in particular.

Maybe we should fly until we see mountains? I said unsure, but that was the only thing I could remember.

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