Page 18 of Tangled Hearts

“Don’t make me regret it,” he said, grabbing his bag.

I searched for my necklace and looked in my bag for a few artifacts I thought we might need. I stood up, seeing Soren going through his bag too.

“Take this,” he said, handing me an artifact that was powerful. “Add this to one of your gems and it will amplify it.”

I looked over the object, feeling the intricate design of magic.

“This is an interesting amplifier, it’s not just objects, but it can enhance a person too,” I said, loving the feel of it in my hand.

“A person?” he asked, confused. “I was told it was just an object. How could you tell that from just holding it?”

“I’ve always been able to feel magic,” I said feeling sheepish. “That's why I’m so good at replicating things and figuring out artifacts. It's how I made the potions and the other things we sold along with the Oria.”

“Wow, you are fucking amazing,” he said, before he brought me in for a kiss that took my breath away. “I’m in awe of you, Oria.”

The guys cleared their throats, reminding us that they were still in the room.

“Go find my brother and your mate,” Soren said, kissing my nose, then resting his head against my own. “But please be careful.”

“I will,” I said, pulling away, feeling conflicting emotions about wanting to leave and stay.

I looked over to Maxton. He gave me a nod, but that didn’t seem like enough. I hugged him, his body went rigid, but he relaxed, wrapping me in his big arms, triggering a memory.

I miss you, Sol.

I miss you too.

Can we please talk?

It won’t change anything, Max.

It can change everything.

I leaned back, looking into his captivating eyes.

“We need to have a long conversation,” I said, as a surge of emotions hit me.

“We do,” he said, pushing a stray hair behind my ear.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, go get your mate back.” He kissed my forehead as a rush of butterflies danced in my abdomen. “Be careful, watch your surroundings and trust yourself. You are extraordinary, a princess who was going to be our queen. You are more than what Laima said you were. Don’t forget that.”

I nodded, not trusting my emotions from spilling out.

“We’ll be back,” Ryder said, opening the door.

I took one last glance at them before walking out of the door. Ryder closed the door behind him, and it felt like a metaphor for my life. My life was closing the door on my naivety and helplessness. I wasn’t going to be that girl anymore. No one was ever going to control me, and I wasn’t going to rely on someone else to take care of me. I couldn’t rely on anyone, not even my mates.

I was a fucking princess, and it was time I started acting like a queen.

7

RYDER

This was going to be torture, not only was she going to slow me down, but being so close to her without a buffer? She was going to test my willpower, and I didn’t know how much fight I had left in me.

We left Duckleberry Fin in the car I stole earlier. The radio played as we drove, but her scent was getting to me. She smelled so good. The longer I was near her, the more I wondered why I was staying away in the first place. Our bond was settling and the longer I went without mating her, the more annoyed with the world I got. The harder it was to resist her, the more I forgot about Serena, and I hated myself for it.

---