Page 81 of Tangled Hearts

“No fucking in the car unless we are parked,” Ryder growled.

“No fun,” I pouted, but I saw the glint in his eyes like he wanted me to keep going.

“Ryder, this is your exit,” Gray said, looking back down at his map.

The car jerked a bit as he tried to make the car go across a couple of lanes.

“Dammit, don’t be distracting me with sex talk,” Ryder growled, but I saw the teasing in his eyes.

My heart was content that we all ended up here. Ryder didn’t seem like he was going to give into the bond. A part of me wondered if he wanted to do it or the bond was just pushing him to do it, but seeing him teasing and playing with me made my heart soar.

When Gray put the map away, I leaned on his shoulder as he directed Ryder to this Valley of Death. The name was daunting, but Gray said it was a desert that had scorching temperatures. Its name was given by men in the eighteen hundreds because they thought it was going to be their grave, but when they were saved, one of them said, “Goodbye, Death Valley”. Apparently, the name stuck, but it felt like this wasn’t a good sign at all.

The sun was getting ready to set when we left the car in a spot with trees. The unease in me grew, but I also sensed magic that felt oddly familiar. I looked over at Max who was standing on a rock as he looked over the barren terrain. They guys gave him clothes similar to theirs, black pants, a shirt with a tactical vest that had knives and other assortments of artifacts and potions. We locked eyes and I knew he felt it too.

I was sucked back into a memory of him in a similar position, but his hair was long like Taylin’s, with braids. He had a suit of armor with a sword on his back. The power he exuded was palpable. I walked up to him, and he looked down at me with all the love in the world shining in his eyes; until I was taken away by Taylin.

I soured as the memory faded. He had taken so much from us and the hate that rose in me was hard to contain.

“He will get what’s coming to him,” Max said confidently.

“They both will,” Ryder said sternly.

“We will make sure of it, Blondie,” Soren said, coming on my right.

“They will pay,” Gray said, coming up on my left.

With them at my side everything felt possible.

“The doorway should be close,” Max said, jumping off the rock.

Butterflies were dancing in my stomach, I watched him and Ryder walk in front of us. Was this my life now? Horny all the time?

“God, I hope you stay horny all the time,” Soren said, pulling me closer to him.

“You’ll never have to worry about needing relief, Sunshine,” Gray said, kissing my cheek. “I’ll get on my knees for you anytime to relive that ache, you just say the words.”

“Am I going to have to separate you?” Ryder looked over his shoulder. “I don’t think we need a fuck-fest in the middle of Death Valley.”

“We could give it a new name.” Gray chuckled.

“Fuck Valley sounds way better,” Soren said, running his nose along my neck.

Max barked a laugh, looking back at us. “I don’t think I’d want everyone to see how Oria looks as she’s coming.”

“We definitely need an invisibility stone and a silencing one, so we can have our way with her whenever we want.” Soren nipped at my neck.

How he walked and turned me on was a mystery.

“I think that’s a dangerous combination,” I laughed.

“I think it’s a perfect one,” Gray said, grabbing my hand.

My heart warmed at the simple gesture. We walked hand in hand for about an hour as we followed the magic. It grew stronger and stronger the closer we got to it and when I felt the magic sitting on my chest, I knew we were very close. Nerves bloomed in my abdomen at the possibility that I could finally meet my family.

We arrived at a wall of rock, and I looked around for a door or something to show us that it was here. Max placed his palm against the rock, whispering something as he drew something that made a door glow. As he stepped away from it, the outline transformed into an actual door.

“Oh man, this is like some Lord of the Rings shit,” Soren said, looking up at the wall in awe.

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