Page 27 of Tangled Hearts

I wanted to ask what guns blazing was, but I think I had felt inadequate enough for today.

“I think?—”

Soren’s face immediately grew serious until he smiled.

“Fuck, thank god,” he said, turning to the door.

“Is Oria back?” I got up too, ready to see her.

He shook his head, opened the door and walked to his twin.

9

ORIA

It wasn’t easy to leave the town. We were in a quiet alley waiting for some guy to pass before we ran across to another alley. It seemed Jordan was hellbent on getting to me or he knew something about Ryder and me. Did mother know who I was with? Had she spoken to Taylin?

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, pulling out my necklace.

I grabbed two stones, grabbing Ryder's hand activating one and then the other.

“I forgot your necklace is full of tricks,” Ryder said, amused.

“I was hoping to save these, but we need to leave, now,” I said, as he pulled me through the streets quicker.

The silencing and invisibility charm were my most used charms and I hated to use them now, knowing that our fight was probably only beginning. I didn’t know if I would get a chance to make more stuff or how much it would cost to get these made.

“Shit,” I said, seeing a poster up with my picture on it.

“Fuck, it seems like Laima is getting desperate.” Ryder studied the picture.

The reward said a million dollars needed for questioning and I couldn’t fathom mother having that much money, but I shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Now I know Jordan wants you for that bounty,” he growled. “We need to get the hell out of here and get you out of populated areas.”

He pulled my hand, guiding me through the streets, careful not to hit anyone and bring attention to us. We passed another poster and Max was there in his human form and his cat form, saying he was a shifter and very dangerous.

“Fuck,” Ryder clipped, walking faster as I had to jog to keep up with him. “I need you to deactivate the charm on me and you will get into the truck on my side.”

“Ok,” I said, getting the charms ready to disarm them on Ryder.

“Now,” he said, letting go of my hand as I said the words twice.

Once to disarm it and once to activate it on me. I hoped the transition was seamless, getting into the truck while Ryder looked around. He started the truck and we left, thankfully without any problem.

The ride back to Soren and Max was filled with silence that gave me too much time to think about that kiss that Ryder had given me. I could still feel his lips on mine, igniting a need in me that was hard to ignore. Why had he kissed me?

On the car ride to the town, I felt his guilt, his disappointment in himself, and I hated it so much. It made me feel like our bond was nothing to him, that I was just another woman who wouldn’t come close to being as precious to him as she was. Jealousy had infiltrated my thoughts and then shame. I was jealous of a dead woman that I didn’t think he would ever get over. Our bond was likely to never be completed.

My mood plummeted again as the sadness ate away at me. I would survive his rejection, I couldn’t let it break me. The goddess gave me two amazing mates and I needed to focus on them. A part of me wondered if Max was my mate. Would he reject me too?

Dammit, why was everything so hard?

I clenched my jaw to keep the tears at bay. No one needed to know about the tornado of emotions I had within me. I just needed Soren and Gray, then I would figure out everything else.

“I think we are being followed,” Ryder said, breaking my train of thought.

“Jordan?” Fear made my voice high-pitched.

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