Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (19 page)

“If you don’t shut up, you’ll never see another night full of stars,” Nox growled. Why did everyone think Maya was such a saint? He was actually sure that if you tickled her right, she wouldn’t mind giving someone the dying blow. Luckily for her, Nox was very interested to tickle it out of her.

Maya had half a mind to turn back around and find her mother again. She should have just killed the evil woman, but somehow she couldn't actually see that happening. No matter how much she hated her, rotting in a prison would be the punishment she deserved, nothing less.

The twins were just coming down the stairs when they returned and she instantly went over, going on her tiptoes to hug them both. “Destra. It was Destra. There was nothing about my father. I almost killed her,” she mumbled against Jaden's shoulder.

“You should've,” he gave back.

“No, it was better that way. She's not a killer,” Kaden protested.

“She had a fucking officer with her.” Jaden released her, stalking over to Tristan while Kaden pulled her closer.

“You did the right thing,” he promised, kissing her cheek, then squeezed her tighter. “Are you fucking insane? Jaden literally jumped out of bed and we were terrified. You were ... I don't know what made him wake up, but Maya, don't ever do that again!” He grabbed her face and kissed her hard on the lips.

“Are you fucking stupid? What the hell did you think, taking the Queen all by yourself out onto the streets?” Jaden fussed, pushing the officer. Maya turned, but Kaden held her back.

“It's either he's mad at you or mad at Tristan,” he mumbled, but Maya just gave him a death glare, pulling her wrist free.

“Leave him alone,” she snapped.

“She didn't want anyone with her,” Tristan protested and Jaden chocked out a laugh.

“Yeah, since she's in the right frame of mind when it comes to her dead father! Why do you think we locked her up over the last week? We had no intention of letting her get killed! There’s no chance he's alive and all you did was let her get hurt. Again.”

“She's fine,” Tristan protested and Jaden grabbed him by the collar, almost dragging him off the pavement.

“Fine?
Fine
? She's fucking crying, you idiot. She's hurting and you have no idea how long it'll take to get her to stop. She has enough to deal with without your damn thoughtlessness adding to it!”

It was then that Maya realized Jaden was just worried. His stomach was in knots and he was hurting for her. She walked over, making him release the officer before jumping into the twin’s arms. He pressed her against him, holding her close while she felt his body shake.

“I thought it was over. I was sure you wouldn't come back. I was so ... I was feeling so much, I couldn't get a hang on your feelings. I was so worried,” he mumbled against her neck and she held onto him, kissing his forehead, his cheek, his shoulder.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. She knew she had been stupid, but somehow her heart needed the last confirmation that her father was no longer. Kaden came over and Maya reached out to cup his cheek. He kissed her palm, his face troubled.

“Maybe for once I'm glad I didn't know what you felt,” he mumbled and Maya bit her lip. She never had intended to make them worry so much, but obviously she was simply a female after all. She had been naïve enough to think that they wouldn’t realize she was gone. She had been stupid enough to think it would only take a few minutes.

“I'm not gonna do it again,” she promised, feeling how Jaden squeezed her just that bit tighter.

Nox couldn’t remember ever having been this furious in his life. He had been so close to getting exactly what he wanted: Destra dead and Maya within his reach. Instead, the Queen had gotten away again, probably hating him more than ever.

As much as he tried, he couldn't explain where the sudden fog had come from. That was what bothered him most, because it was the only reason Maya had been able to leave. Otherwise, the damn officer would probably be hurt and Maya by Nox's side. He'd take her to her father and she'd love him forever and then some.

There was something else occupying his mind since having met Jaden before the storm the night before. He said that Maya now had mates, as in 'more than one'. How many people exactly where allowed to touch his precious female? Almost shaking with anger, he punched a wall.

“What happened out there? I couldn't move! And I know it was you!” He wasn't worried about Destra since the female didn't dare to touch him. At least that was what he thought until he found himself up against the wooden door of her bedroom, his feet no longer touching the ground while her nails dug into the skin around his throat, making the warm blood run down his neck.

“Let me down,” he snapped, trying to pry apart the hands that were taking away all the air to breathe.

“Not until you tell me what you did and why you did it,” she threatened and he raised a brow.

“I can do it again,” he promised, knowing it wouldn't scare her because if she now stopped moving, he wouldn't survive.

“I'm not scared. The moment you are dead whatever spell you put on me will lift. I don't need you in my life! I don't need anyone. And I was very good at making my own plans to take Maya down! She needs to die. We could’ve had exactly that today, but instead you let her walk away!” She squeezed tighter and black spots entered his vision.

“Kill me then.” She wouldn't and they both knew it, that was, if her sanity stayed long enough with them. It was crazy how he saw that entity almost like a real person, something following her around most of the time.

For a split second, he was sure it was over, then she leaned in and licked the blood running from his wounds.

“Powerful,” she gasped and he gritted his teeth. It wasn't something she had done so far, but it was something that would make her realize he had been lying to her even more than he thought. Her hiss followed almost instantly after the surprise and she dropped him to the floor. He scrambled to his feet, ready to come up with whatever lie would calm her down.

“Fate is cruel,” she sobbed, suddenly falling to the floor, crying. That woman had more mood swings than a bird had feathers. “First they took my mate, meaning I should be free to drink from whoever I wish, yet now I don't even have a chance to survive because I can't take anyone else's blood! I’m no longer mated! Tymon is … dead. What did I do to deserve that cruel twist of fate?” She lifted her eyes towards the heaven hidden behind the white stucco ceiling. “You think you need to punish me for being alive as long as I have been, and not walking around a monster?” she wondered out loud, clearly expecting someone to listen. It was then and there that he realized insane partners in crime were the best to have.

It was his luck, too, that she provided her own answer. If she would’ve been in her right frame of mind, Nox surely could have counted the seconds until taking his last breath. As it was, now there was nothing for him to worry about but getting to Maya.

“So, that Masquerade you talked about a while back…” Destra looked up from where she knelt on the floor, making him grin. She still was onboard with whatever he’d plan and Nox wouldn’t lie, it was exactly what he’d need so he could prove a point. Maya may have been too weak to kill Destra, but he wouldn’t hesitate if it meant Maya would stop looking at him with devastation and disgust.

Kaden couldn’t help but watch Maya. Across the room he could see his twin doing the same and it almost made him smile. Jaden’s luck was that he’d feel it the moment she’d move somewhere he didn’t want her to be. Kaden didn’t have that luxury. He needed to rely on visuals in order to not go crazy.

“Kady, hey,” Cia said, coming in with the little girl they had found the night before, cuddling the little vampire close. “Estell, that’s my friend Kaden.” The blonde child turned her head, watching him with a calculative expression.

“Hey Estell. Hey, Cia. I’m glad your parents were so willing to help. They have found so many volunteers, it’s crazy,” Kaden mumbled, focusing back on going through the pile of clothing some of the volunteers had brought in. The house was buzzing with action and it actually made him feel confident. Catastrophes were terrible for humans, even the ones they had among them, but for vampires it was just another rocky part of the road. They had seen plagues and wars, peace and friendship, and had lost hope and gained it again. It was life’s cycle and they had been through it all. If he looked around now, Kaden thought this could be a chance for Maya.

After all, she had proved to be generous and sweet.

“You didn’t get any sleep, did you?” Cia asked, reaching out to touch his face. He had enjoyed her touch at some point, but now it felt all wrong to him. Without being obvious about it, he moved away from Cia enough so he was out of her reach, bending to inspect some shoes he had already checked.

“It’s hard for us to sleep if Maya almost drops from exhaustion and yet insists on staying on her feet. I’m hoping that when morning comes, things will have settled down a little and she will find some rest.”

“No rest for the wicked,” Cia murmured and Kaden sighed. He understood where Cia was coming from since letting go of a person you loved was much harder when not being bonded, but he couldn’t deal with her attitude any longer.

“We didn’t choose it, Cia. Maya didn’t step up to the Creator and demanded to be handed the cards she got. I haven’t asked to fall for her, and I sure as hell would have never imagined that fate would make her my mate, but it happened. There’s so much to figure out, so much to fear, I don’t need you going around and hating Maya, making her feel bad every damn hour of every damn night. I’m sorry you’re hurting over this, Cia, but it’s my fault, not Maya’s. Don’t punish her for me not loving you.” His voice was pleading, yet his face was most likely hard. A woman stepped towards them before Cia could reply something.

“So, you’re a warrior, right?” the female asked towards him and Kaden slowly nodded, forcing a reassuring smile.

“That would be me. I’m Kaden,” he told her and the woman crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“We’ve arrived last night without knowing who we’d meet or what to expect. We thought about help and there was this pull inside of us. As it is, we’ve been welcomed with nothing but smiles and helping hands, but you know what I’m really curious about? That elusive Queen never once has shown her face. I know it’s because of her that we’re here, but would it hurt her to just once show her face, make us feel as if we’d be important to her?” the woman asked and Kaden blinked. It took a moment until realization settled in. Maya and Jaden most likely had visited the upper class, not everyone else, so of course, how were they supposed to know how Maya looked?