Page 17 of Tangled Hearts

A shiver took over his body.

He clenched his jaw. “My brother.” He confirmed my suspicion from my memory.

“Excuse me?” Soren snarled.

“It’s also why he didn’t want us to take you,” I said, ignoring Soren’s anger in my chest, walking up to Maxton. “Was he also a guard?”

“No, he wasn’t,” he said, looking angry. “Taylin was a spoiled brat given everything, even you.”

“Me?”

He nodded and I wished I had made him tell me everything he knew.

“What the hell is going on?” Soren’s agitated voice made me look at him.

“I had a memory of Maxton and he looked so similar to Taylin,” I said, walking over to Maxton.

“You were supposed to be mine, you were always mine since we were little and he took you away from me.” His voice was full of anger. “I don’t know how he did it.”

My lip trembled as the pain in his voice intensified.

“On our twenty-first birthday our bonds emerged. Since I was a year older than you, when I didn’t have the pull to anyone, I knew it had to be you. Then?—”

“Ok, I found someone to do a locator spell, I’m leaving, and I’ll be back soon,” Ryder said, as he walked into the room interrupting Maxton, grabbing his bag.

“Wait, I want to go with you,” I said, desperate for any information on Gray, but I also wanted to hear more from Maxton.

“Absolutely not,” he snapped, running a hand through his hair. “We can’t risk you being seen or —”

“Please let me go, I can’t stay here when I could be doing something,” I pleaded with Ryder, but glanced at Maxton, feeling torn.

“Oria,” he said, unsure.

“Let her go with you,” Soren said.

“We can talk when you get back, Sol,” Maxton said.

Just hearing those words made me feel at ease with going.

“Ryder, please,” I said, hoping I was wearing him down.

“You will be safer here,” he said, but I could feel his hesitation. “I can work quicker if I’m not worrying about you.”

“I’ll use my charms,” I said quickly. “I’ll listen to everything you say, and I promise I won’t argue with you. I’ll do whatever you say.”

Soren whistled. “Damn, Ryder, you better take her offer, you might never get it again.”

I couldn’t help but blush at his innuendo as Ryder scoffed. Images of us together made me blush even more.

“Soren, not helping.” Ryder's cheeks were also slightly pink, and I found it endearing.

“Ryder, take her with you,” Maxton said. “Let her help you. If she stays here, I can guarantee she will try and leave to help you or go find him herself.”

Ryder and Maxton shared a look that made my heart warm because it seemed their connection had transferred and I loved it. It felt like Maxton belonged with us… belonged with me.

“Fine, but if you don’t listen to me or make things harder, I will bring your ass back here,” he said. “Got it?”

I felt his alpha power; it was strong, but also comforting and I nodded. “I promise.”

---