Page 26 of Tangled Hearts

“I can’t believe you and Taylin are brothers.” Soren studied me.

I clenched my jaw hating my brother. “We used to be very close. We were only born a year apart and we used to do everything together.”

“Oria and I were also inseparable when we were younger.” I took a deep breath. “We stayed like that until… we were teenagers. I started training for the guard and her father took her under his wing so she could rule one day. Her mother always hoped we would end up together, that one day our bond would surface, and we would find out. I didn’t believe it when it happened. One day I needed her with so much intensity, but circumstances kept us away. Then her duties kept me away and then it was like she had forgotten me. Our bond had been erased or something wasn’t right. Next thing I knew, I came back to Oria and Taylin together.”

“Was he trying to take over the kingdom? Or maybe he was always in love with her?” Soren looked thoughtful, like he was mulling over my words.

“Maybe? I don’t know when he changed, when his plans changed or when he met Laima,” I said, running my hand over my jaw. A few days of growth sat on my face, and I was kind of liking it. “She had to have gotten to him for him to go after the girl I was destined for. I felt like I was living in an alternate universe where the bond was one-sided. I also wondered if I had made up this elaborate story in my mind and none of it was real.”

Soren studied me again. I couldn’t take his scrutiny so I looked away so he could come up with the conclusion himself. Maybe I was crazy.

“I don’t think you’re crazy, at least if you are, you hide it well,” he smirked, as I rolled my eyes. “I think Laima did get to your brother, but what would she gain from him becoming king?”

“Oria was set to become queen of the largest court of Fae and when she became queen, she would get her father’s power,” I said, feeling dread. “Fae’s power is passed on from generation to generation and with that power it grows. Oria’s grandfather brought the two Fae courts together, bringing the light and dark together. Oria would inherit the light and darkness, she would be the most powerful Fae on top of her god-given power.”

Soren nodded. “I’ve always suspected she was powerful, but I had no idea she was a Fae. I just assumed she was a witch, and it makes sense because the fall of the Fae happened almost two hundred years ago.”

“What?” I growled.

My heart pounded in my chest. I had thought about my family since I had become free; I thought I had all the time in the world to go back to them.

“No one has seen the Fae in years,” Soren said with a somber look. “No one knows why they disappeared, only that no one has seen them for years.”

“Without a living heir…” I let my words trail off. “I don’t know what would have happened. I assumed maybe a relative would be able to inherit the power.”

“What if they gave it to Taylin?” Soren looked horrified.

“And he gave it to Laima?” My eyes widened as the realization hit me. “But I don’t know if that's possible.”

“Fuck, if that’s a possibility, what are the chances of killing her?” Soren brows furrowed.

“Nonexistent. The longer they have the magic the more powerful they get until it's too much power for them,” I said, trying to remember anything Oria’s father said about it. “It should have killed her by now; the power would have been too much for her. Fae lived a long time, but they transferred the power over, so it didn’t grow out of control and if she’s kept it all these years, I don’t know how she has done it. Fae can hold a lot of power, but she’s a witch.”

My mind was going a mile a minute at the possibility that my brother was stupid enough to give power to that witch. What the hell was in it for him?

“So, your power is shifting?”

“I can shift into any animal as long as I have seen it before,” I said, looking over at him.

“Anything? What about a giraffe?” Soren asked, getting excited.

“I don’t know what that is, but right now, I can’t do more than a cheetah,” I said, frustrated. “I tried a gorilla the other day, but that didn’t work out. I think being in cat form has made my power weak. I need to get used to my power again.”

“What about a dragon?” Soren eyes widened.

I smirked. “If I can train my power, I can do it again.”

“What the hell are you waiting for?” Soren said with a grin. “I think a getaway dragon is exactly what we need.”

“It’s not that simple,” I said, enjoying his excitement.

“Can you imagine people's faces when they realize we have a dragon on our side?” Soren stood up. “We could fry Laima, well you could.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure she would have a plan in place if I breathed fire.”

“Dude, come in guns blazing, literally,” he laughed.

“I don’t know if coming in guns blazing is going to work out,” I said, grateful he got over hating me.

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