Page 130 of Tangled Hearts

How could I forget such a vital thing?

“We’ve been dosing on Oria every day,” Gray said, cupping my face. “It’s a short term solution, but the gods might have told us to try a few things.”

I looked over at Max, then back at Gray like I could spot the sickness in them. I knew Ryder and Soren had been infected too, but they hadn’t seemed as bad as Gray. They looked perfectly fine, but when I searched for it in Gray, it was there, but not as aggressive as when I first found them.

“We are fine,” Gray assured me. “Once things settle down, we can try out a few things.”

“I think I can heal you,” I said.

“That was a suggestion from the gods,” Max said. “A few rounds of intense healing might work.”

“Ok, we can start now,” I said, ready to head back upstairs.

“Let’s eat first and then we can revisit this,” Ryder said, grabbing my hand and walking the rest of the way down the stairs.

Katarina was in the kitchen helping a man set out plates on the big table that Taylin was sitting at. I wasn’t prepared to see him, and my steps faltered as we walked to the table.

“Ria,” Taylin said, getting up quickly.

“What are you doing here?” I wanted to be mad at him, but something held me back.

“I… I was waiting for you to wake up,” he said, looking anxious.

“He’s been nervous this whole time, I don’t think he’s slept at all,” Katarina said, putting pancakes on the table. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Katarina pulled me in for a hug.

“Thank you,” I said, getting emotional. “Thank you for coming for me.”

“This is bigger than you and I, but I feel like us girls need to stick together,” she said, pulling away. “And honestly I need someone to complain to about life with multiple mates.”

I laughed. “I think I’d like that. I’ve never had a girl who was a friend before.”

“Oh, Oria, we will be as thick as thieves,” she smiled, squeezing my hand. “Go sit and eat before the men get to the food.”

“Can we give her a couple of days?” Gray snapped at Taylin, as I rounded the table.

“A couple of days for what?” I asked, sitting in between Gray and Max.

“Nothing.”

“To free your family.”

I quickly looked at Taylin. “Merrick said something about Laima keeping them as prisoners. Do you know where they are being held?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Have you known this whole time?” I grew angry.

“No, I found out where she was hiding them right before I went to rescue you at the tower,” he said, looking down.

“You knew all this turmoil could have been avoided if you had just told anyone of us the damn truth, Taylin,” I snapped.

“He was under a blood oath,” Max said.

I glanced at him, seeing no anger coming from him.

Can we trust him? I asked.

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