Page 71 of Tangled Hearts

“I think we should find the Fae lands,” Max said through gritted teeth.

We all sat in silence until everyone started speaking at the same time.

“Stop!” Oria yelled, staring at Max. “Is there a possibility my family is still alive?”

“Maybe, I don't know what happened after I went looking for you, but if they have survived then it's our best bet at getting help and a place to stay hidden.”

“Don’t you think Taylin will go back?” Ryder growled. “He will expect it now and so will Laima.”

“What if we go and there is no one there?” I asked.

“What if they are alive?” Soren countered. “If they are alive, we’ve brought back their princess, and they will protect her.”

“That’s a very big if,” Ryder said.

“Soren is right, we need somewhere safe so we can regroup and get ahead of Taylin and Laima,” Max said, as Oria gave him a sip of her tea.

“And if we don’t find anyone, we would have wasted all that time for what?” Ryder looked at each of us.

“Closure?” Oria spoke up.

Her lips were pursed together.

“Heaven,” Ryder said, unsure. “Is that a gamble we want to take now? I know you need to know about your family, but is it worth the risk to your life?”

“No one knows where we are, so now would be the time to do it.” She looked at Ryder with hope.

“Not if Taylin is betting on you going there,” I said, playing devil's advocate.

She scowled at me.

“I feel like there are a bunch of what-if’s with anything we decide to do,” she growled. “Anything we do is a risk, but I feel we have so much to gain from this if we do find my family.”

“Heaven, we?—”

“Please, Ryder,” she said, with her big hazel eyes looking at him with so much hope. “I know it's not logical or it may not seem right, but please, I have to know.”

I felt his resolve before he said anything, and I couldn’t help but smile. Ryder glared at me before looking softly at her.

“Ok, but if we don’t find anything, we are leaving immediately,” he said in a stern tone.

Oria smiled, throwing herself into his arms.

“Thank you,” she whispered, as I felt her appreciation.

“Don’t make me regret this decision,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Now, how long before Maxy is ready to go?”

Max scowled at the name, making her laugh.

It was the first time since yesterday that the tension between us wasn’t strained.

“I can leave now,” Max said, trying to get up, wincing when he almost stood up.

“Nope,” she said, pushing him back onto the sofa. “You need to rest.”

She cupped his face and their eyes went wide.

“Sol, do you feel that?” he asked, as his eyes glistened. “I feel it again.”

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