Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (28 page)

“I was sure that Kaden would actually find someone else. I was pretty sure that it would just one day solve itself, no matter if you thought you loved him or not. I’m sorry, but I thought you just
imagined
loving him.” Maya knew it wasn’t true. She knew Kaden belonged to her, but still her stomach instantly bottomed out.

“If one thing between Kaden and me was real up to this point, it was how I was feeling for him,” she tried to say, but panic tied her throat close.

“Col, what the hell are you doing? Imagine how you’d feel if she suggested what is between you and me is just a mistake,” Lara cried. Maya saw the leader of the warriors flinch and yet it didn’t give her satisfaction at all.

“Great move, coming into her home, which you forced on her, insulting her,” Lex cursed while the twins finally joined her side. She wondered for a second what had stopped them before.

“You usually try to fight your own fights,” Kaden whispered apologetically and Jaden just nodded. Obviously she had thought the question out loud. Neither of them were touching her and for some reason that was probably best. She couldn’t guarantee to not get Kaden naked right there and then just to have him claim her again.

“I’m sorry,” Colbin finally admitted, his face contorted with pain. Maya was sure that like it had been impossible for her to stop the thoughts spiraling towards what was implied. It hurt. A lot. “I should have never said that,” he added and Maya pulled the red knitted sweater she wore over her head, almost feeling bare in her plain tank top.

“Do you see this?” she asked, presenting her tattoo. “What do we want to bet that you have the same star? The one marking you as fully mated? The one I didn’t have after...” She stopped herself simply because this whole thing was either hurting Jaden or he hurt for her.

“We should have guessed that when you walked out,” Lara realized, staring at the new tattoo before turning to Jaden and Kaden, surprising them all with tears. “I always worried what would happen to you two if you found different Origins. You belong together. You always have been together. And now …wow, this is like the best solution ever!” She hugged the utterly still twins and then pinched their cheeks as if they were little boys still.

Such an emotional up and down in the twins wasn’t anything Maya was used to. Luckily the biggest part of her cold had left her and the rest was chased away as Kaden drew her in his arms, his echoing pain vanishing with the hug. He leaned in, cocooning her in his arms until they almost had their own world. “I love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing the outer shell of her ear. “I know you love me, too. Always did.” She just nodded, feeling suddenly a clammy hand on her back. She didn’t want to move away from Kaden. Hell, she wanted Jaden right where the hand was so she knew both twins were there.

Under her hands Kaden had stiffened and she knew it was Colbin behind her. Tense silence spread in the room.

“You’ve always been unconventional and it’s what I wanted most from you after all, right? A Hellraise not turning dark. I’m sorry.” He repeated it again and again until she turned back to him.

“We should be on the same side of this, not fighting. I don’t trust you, but frankly Lara was my first friend in the Morningstar world. I trust her.”

“She’s mated to me and would betray you before she betrays me,” Colbin remarked in disbelief and Maya nodded.

“There’s nothing she could betray me in. We’ll be connected with Matt through little devices that he calls –”

“Bugs,” Matt interrupted and she nodded.

“Bugs. He’ll be able to hear everything and all I need Lara for is to butter them up. She has been there with you. Hell, you trusted me to do something which is why you told Tristan.”

“I didn’t,” Colbin growled and Maya did a double take.

“I did,” Lara remarked quietly and everyone looked back at her. So much for rather betraying everyone else than Colbin. “She was bruised and bitten, hurt and miserable, yet she thought she deserved that. I told you I couldn’t deal with knowing she is one of us!” Lara exclaimed, throwing her hands up in helpless anger.

Maya cursed, wondering if she simply should have gone with her gut and just spoken to Lara alone. Now there was no changing that and so she sighed, deciding for a change in direction for now.

“Cia?” she asked, turning to the girl that always reminded her of how lucky she had gotten. Even now Cia's eyes were fixed on Kaden and it took a moment until the human realized that she was talking to her. Maya took a soft breath, trying to secretly ease her jealousy before either of the twins realized it. Kaden though was already squeezing her hand. Caught again.

“Maya?” Cia gave back and Maya nodded.

“You know about the Masquerade. With the chaos in the last days, would you be willing to help Cany organize and plan the event? You'd get free reign on decorations and all. The dance class needs to be upheld. We have a list in my office. My courtier knows all important details. Do you think that would be something you'd enjoy? You could stay here and become my second courtier,” she offered. Despite the fact that there was probably no love lost between the two women, she wanted Cia to have something to do, to enjoy her life. Maya wanted it for Cia's parents, who were worried. Besides, there was something about Cia that needed further exploring and right now she didn't have the time to deal with it.

You could have heard a needle drop in the room as seemingly everyone held their breath, wondering if this would end in a screaming match. Instead, tears came to Cia's eyes as her heartbeat sped up. “Do you mean that?” the woman asked and Maya carefully nodded. She wasn't sure if she had insulted Cia or not.

“I want you to have a purpose until you know what you want. I talked to your mom about you. She loves you to pieces, but is a little worried. I've been alone for most of my life and I don't wish that on anyone, no matter if they chose that isolation or not. Besides, I have a feeling Kaden will need a friend while I'm gone. Teach the twins how do dance properly or not. It's your choice. Are you willing to accept though?”

Cia stared at her, tears dripping down her cheeks while she blushed as if she had been put on the spot. “Maya...” The raven-haired woman shook her head in utter disbelief.

“I'll show you everything you need to know later,” Cany promised and Maya was glad about that. Cia only nodded, obviously relieved that she could get out. Next were the warriors.

“I don't want you to go, May,” Red instantly announced and Maya laughed.

“No one does, if I understand that right, but there's no choice really. I promise I'll watch out for myself. I have a task for you though, too. You and Devon need to find Nox and Destra. We know they’re back in Helpston and even though I'm not sure they’re still working together, there needs to be a hint, some talk, something. You know who you are looking for,” she whispered urgently. Those two needed to leave the face of the earth one way or the other and as much as Maya wished she could contain Nox somehow, if just for information, she knew it would be impossible. “While being at it, try to find out where the Hellraise are.” Turning to Ryder, she took a deep breath.

“You need to help around here. I think someone should go out there and check how we progress on the houses and all. Maybe find out if there's someone who needs more help, someone who didn't drop by here. And I expect you to be here for the dancing classes. We need warriors here.” Her brother cocked his head.

“When are you gonna leave?” he wanted to know and she sensed another discussion coming on. She shrugged and then pointed the warriors towards the door. Colbin stayed stubbornly, as did the twins. She knew that the warrior’s leader was probably biggest reason why they didn’t leave. Ryder glared at her, making it pretty clear that the talk wasn’t over yet, then he and Cany left, too.

Taking a seat so she didn't appear as if she wanted to show her position of power, she looked at Colbin. She knew she had stepped on his toes more than enough since becoming Queen, but frankly she was tired of running into walls where it concerned him.

“It's your choice. Or hers,” she shrugged, knowing there wasn't any reason to tell him again what she wanted.

“It's mine.” Maya kept her smile wisely to herself as Lara stepped forward, touching her absolutely stone-faced mate. “I've never spoken up because there never was a reason. I used to be happy being somewhat a mother to those guys, but I have to be honest, since they came by less and less, I want something different. The warriors have been with us for so long, I didn't remember being anything but busy. I miss them. I miss them all,” Lara admitted, her blue eyes huge with tears.

The twins instantly felt a tinge of regret and Maya knew that they missed Lara just as much. Maya tucked them close, squeezing their hands. It was her fault they didn't see those two as much as they should, especially since Colbin probably was as much a father figure for them as Lara was a mother. She felt guilty for having them taken away from that. Jaden had spent his nights during the last months with her or at home, and Kaden ... he was a different story, yet never at the compound either.

“Oh Lara,” Matt mumbled, rushing over to pull the tiny woman in his arms. Maya could see Lara’s knuckles turning wide as she replicated the hug. Colbin looked as if someone had struck him with a tire iron and he couldn’t shake out of the stupor. Maya could imagine how he felt, especially since Lara probably had neither spoken up, nor mentioned how much she hurt.

“This sounds pretty decided to me,” Jaden announced and Maya couldn’t decide if he wanted to have this topic solved for them, Lara, or Colbin. Hanging her head, she wished just once a decision of hers wouldn't hurt someone else.

Maya’s guilt was crushing. Jaden knew this wasn’t her fault, in fact, none of this was: neither the wolves hurting one of the Origins, Colbin and Lara being in a less than ideal place, or the fact hat Maya just was a person who’d try to save that little wolf. Still, he wished that for one night someone else were Queen. Mixed with the guilt was sudden overwhelming sadness and it made Jaden grit his teeth. She needed to be carefree more as she deserved happiness. He couldn’t imagine how the previous Queens’ mate managed to survive with being away from their Origins. It hurt him just to imagine that. There was nothing he wanted more than taking her up to their room to tickle her until she was breathless with laughter.

Exchanging a glance with his twin, there was a world of sadness in the brown eyes he knew so well.
Do something
, Kaden mouthed and Jaden took a deep breath, but didn't get as far as speaking. Maya had gotten up again, touching Lara’s back.

“When do you wanna leave?” she asked and Lara focused back on her, tear-stained face turned up. Jaden hadn’t thought Maya was taller than Lara. In fact, he could have sworn that the two were the same size when he had first introduced them, but now Maya seemed taller. Maybe that was just his impression since for him she was larger than life.

“Three days, tops?” Colbin’s Origin suggested and Maya nodded.

“Three days it is. I wanna make sure everything is solved and I want to give Matt the chance to collect all we need,” Maya decided. Jaden knew that Matt was set on upgrading all technical equipment they had and it was missions like those that made Jaden think that maybe this wasn’t the worst idea out there.

“I’m gonna get started right away,” the youngest of them promised and then left, being followed by the officer who had stayed silent throughout the whole exchange.

“Is that okay with you?” the Queen wanted to know from Colbin and Jaden loved her for keeping her face open and honest. There was no judgment on her face, but Jaden could still feel the guilt pouring through her.

“You took my warriors from me, and now you are taking my Origin. How could I be okay with it?” There was no heat behind the statement and yet Jaden stepped forward, this time not wanting Maya to answer.

“We didn’t take anything from you. You made your decision and so did we. Each and every warrior took his very own stand. I cannot help that they stayed away from you. I cannot change the fact that they didn’t return to you, either, Colbin. We are not going to take your way, but we will be happy to follow you if you are ready to lead us into the future this Queen and this group want to build.”

“You are an outstanding leader, Jaden,” Maya mumbled behind him, obviously thinking he didn’t think himself to be worthy of the job. As it was, he didn’t
want
the position.

“I don’t do anything. They just fall in line with me and Kaden, and it’s not something I asked of them,” he admitted, looking back at Colbin.