Page 116 of Tangled Hearts

“You mated with her?!” he snarled.

We were still holding hands, but I wanted to hide behind Max.

“I tried to save you, but you left me no choice,” Taylin said, as a dozen men came in.

He released his magic on us as they surrounded us. Max tried pulling me behind him, but a man wrapped his arms around me.

“No!” Max snarled, fighting the men.

“Taylin, please,” I cried out, struggling against the man who had me in a hold.

One of them injected him with something as they held him down.

“Taylin, stop!” I screamed. “Help!”

The man holding me shoved me against the wall, slapping me.

“That’s all you got you, asshole?” I snarled, moving to Max before he punched me in the face, and I saw literal stars.

There was a big commotion until I felt someone picking me up. I assumed it was Max except Taylin was holding me, bridal style.

“No,” I slurred, trying to push away from him. “Put me down.”

“Take him and I’ll deliver her,” he grunted when I pushed against him, trying to get away.

“Max,” I cried out, when Taylin started walking away. “Please, Taylin, no!”

He didn't stop walking as I tried to look over his shoulder. My heart was pounding too quickly, blood was roaring in my ears; I needed to see Max. In a move I didn’t know I had in me, I went limp throwing him off balance, when he overcorrected, I threw my body back. I wound my leg over his shoulder as we fell to the ground. With my legs around his neck as I pulled on his arm, hearing it pop out of his socket.

Taylin roared in pain as I ran to Max when I saw a gun pointed at his head. Max was on the ground with his hands behind his back with one guy kneeling on his back, another pointing a gun at his head and a third kneeling close, in case he moved. I had a gem that would freeze all of them, but I couldn’t risk Max getting shot.

“Do it and he dies, Oria,” Taylin snarled.

My lip trembled as I resigned myself to losing another mate. The pain was almost enough and when I was hit again, I welcomed the darkness.

I woke up in the back of a car that abruptly stopped, and I rolled forward in between the seats.

“You fucking assholes,” I said, trying to get up, but my hands were tied behind my back.

I felt sluggish as I moved, but what felt too real was the silent bond in my chest. My lip quivered as the reality of my situation hit me. They had caught me.

“Sorry, Ria,” Taylin said, helping me up. Every time he touched me, I wanted to vomit.

“Fuck you, Taylin,” I cried.

He bent down to carry me and all I wanted to do was scream. The moment we stepped into the building, I felt Laima. Bile rose into my throat, and I started to panic.

“Put me down, Taylin.” I cried. “Please.”

I couldn’t breathe. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest.

“Ria!”

Taylin’s face was in my line of vision but he was blurry as I realized I was sobbing.

“Ria,” he said softer. “Breathe.”

“I-I can’t,” I cried. “Not… Not without them.”

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