Page 62 of Tangled Hearts

“Are you ok?” Gray gently grabbed me by the elbow to steady me when I slipped on my shoe.

“Fine,” I gritted out, the hurt and panic bubbling to the surface.

“Oria,” Soren said, standing on the other side of me.

The twins weren’t blocking my way out, but I knew they would. Their need to protect me was starting to look like a different kind of prison. I couldn’t look at their faces, afraid my fear and doubts would show on my face.

“Oria,” Ryder said, his voice stern.

Was this the beginning of them trying to control me?

“I said I need space,” I snapped, feeling the tears gather in my eyes.

Please don’t cry.

“Ok, you have to give us something else because your?—”

I pushed Gray away, hurrying to the door as I pleaded with Max to keep them away.

“Blondie!”

“She asked for space, just give it to her,” Max said, holding them back and I was grateful for him being there.

They started to argue as I made my way down the stairs. Someone called out my name and I almost turned around from the pain in their voice. I clenched my jaw, keeping my emotions under control, so no one would feel it through the bond.

Please don’t go too far, but if you need space I understand. We don’t know what happened and we are just worried. Gray's voice was calm, but I could feel their emotions and they were anything but calm.

I made it out of the house, walking away, but stayed within the perimeter. It was dark and I didn’t need to be out here, but I couldn’t stay in the house. The forest was eerie enough that it almost made me turn around. My mind raced with everything my mother had said. Was Taylin right? Even though they were my mates, would they still use me like she did? If it was true, what was my next step? I knew I couldn’t leave on my own. Taylin or Mother would find me in a heartbeat. My mates could find me too.

Tears fell down my face as I thought about my mates and how I wished everything Mother had said was wrong. There was only one way to find out, but would they even tell me the truth? All the uncertainty was awful. What if this is what she wanted? She planted seeds of doubt so I would come back to her.

You have no reason to believe me, but believe in our bond. Close your eyes and feel me through our bond.

Soren had already told me to believe in our bond and I did exactly what he told me before. It wasn’t hard to look for our bond. It was bright and strong, sitting in my chest full of worry and love. Tears formed in my eyes because I was too confused.

Why was I like this?

In every lifetime it will always be us.

Their words hit me square in the chest. Each of my mates had said those exact words to me. My anger, hurt and worry dissipated with every breath I took. I needed answers because everything made it look like they were working for her, but everything felt like they were devoted to me.

I looked back at the house feeling their worry and anger, but I assumed the latter was toward Max for not letting them come after me. Time to get some answers and get to the bottom of this mess.

Taking a deep breath, I walked to the front door hoping for the best.

“Ria?”

My blood turned cold as I recognized that voice. How the hell did he make it through the barrier? I slowly turned around ready to lash out because I knew one thing for sure; There was no way in hell I would be a prisoner anymore.

18

MAXTON

Something was wrong, but if she asked for space, I wasn’t going to say no to her. I don’t know what had happened to her, but something was worrying her when she woke up. My heart didn’t want to let her get away from us, but my mind didn’t want to force her to do anything. She had had enough time and moments taken from her, but having to do someone else’s bidding for almost two hundred years was a lot.

“Just give her a moment,” I said, standing in the doorway.

“Move,” Soren snarled.

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