Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (11 page)

“Tell me now what I want to know or I reconsider letting you go.” It was a demand and couldn’t have been clearer, but he needed something out of this.

“How does she taste? If you kiss her everywhere, how does she taste?” The warrior’s cry of fury should have scared him, but it didn’t. Just the thought of tasting her got him hot and bothered. He wanted to taste the Queen everywhere. He wanted her spread wide open so he could lick her clit, taste her inside out. He was panting and only the kick to his ribs made him realize that he had started rubbing himself over the material of his dress pants.

“You’re sick, you damn bastard. I’ll kill you,” the warrior snarled, already being on him again. It took five punches to his face until the erection started to fade and he could finally think clear again.

“He wants to catch her without you. No one would fight him for her unless it was you. They say your brother wants to have her blood. Every. Last. Drop.” As if he had been burned, the warrior jumped back. “Your brother wants to kill her, because if he can’t possess her, no one should.”

Cany watched her Queen from the distance for a while. It was almost sweet how Red had taken it upon himself to make her smile. She respected that, even though in the beginning she had been more than just afraid of the Hellraise. Cany couldn't imagine how he had ever made it into the warriors circle, but she definitely knew Maya loved him as much as he obviously adored her back. If Cany wouldn't have known her as well as she did by now, she wouldn't even have realized that Maya was everything but fine. As it was, her smile was still genuine.

Someone joined her on the sidelines and she looked up, being surprised to realize it was Kaden. He stared at Maya as if that would suddenly make everything all right.

“Weird, isn't it? Having your ex here?” she asked in a hushed tone, not wanting to make Maya aware of the talk. There was no denying that her Queen knew Kaden was back in the room because the smile was now taut and her posture stiff.

“I can't believe Cia vanished so completely from my mind. I never thought it was possible. Back when I met her regularly, I always thought that maybe, just maybe I would still love her after I found my Origin. Now I know I've been naive. I'm actually surprised Cia was here. I didn't know she was back with her parents,” he gave back and Cany winced. If she had realized that Cia had history with Kaden, she would have never invited her. It was harsh, but Cany felt much closer to Maya than she did to Cia.

“When we were little we used to be friends, close ones even, but then she got ... things got complicated and Cia had this thing -”

“You mean the accident happened where her blood was fully replaced with a human's before her vampire metabolism could cope? I heard,” Kaden interrupted and Cany stared at him. Barely anyone knew this story.

“You really were close, weren't you?”

Kaden shrugged, lowering his gaze. “I loved her as much as you can love someone who's not your Origin,” he admitted and she softly touched his arm, hoping to offer him at least some comfort.

“I hear you loved Maya, too, before you knew she belonged to you. Was it different than with Cia? I mean, you knew you shouldn’t have fallen for her,” Cany whispered and Kaden looked up. Cany followed his glance, seeing Maya hold his gaze while she listened to Red.

“How can you not fall for her?” Kaden asked so quietly Cany wasn’t sure she had heard him right. “She was cracked when she came to us, then Jaden broke her fully, yet she took the time to talk to all of the warriors. Red would give his life for her. The cold one, the heartless one, freely giving his life for just a tiny little girl. I loved her smile a little more each time I saw it. And then, there was this moment when Jaden had fucked up royally again, and she kissed me before I even knew what happened. That was when I knew that I loved her, magic or not.”

Cany slowly nodded, as if deep in thoughts. “Same feeling you had with Cia?”

Kaden took a long moment to answer, being quiet until Cany was almost sure he wouldn’t answer any longer. Finally he shook his head. “Stronger, much stronger. After she bit me I knew that she had been right about me not knowing what to expect. I loved her more, if that was still possible.” Cany’s heart ached for him.

“She didn’t want that for you, Kaden.”

“You mean she didn’t want me.”

“We both know that’s a big ass lie,” Cany fussed and then took a breath to say more, but a voice interrupted her.

“Hurricane, I’m not sure a lady of your status should be speaking like this.” Kaden moved so he stood in front of her while silence spread in the room. Even the music seemed to become nothing more than background noise as all warriors moved either to her or to Maya. Cany barely registered the movement though.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, the blood draining from her face. She stared up at the blond-haired guy. After being around warriors only, he suddenly looked lanky, missing all the muscles she was so used to. It could not be more obvious that the vampire in front of her never had fought a minute of his life.

“And you are?” Maya asked, moving between Cany and the guy she had hoped she’d be able to avoid for a little longer - the rest of eternity, for example. Cany saw all warriors flock Maya now, but the Queen just waved them away. “Please, guys, if he’d want to hurt me, he wouldn’t be here, remember?”

Cany saw Kaden step up to her nonetheless, staying behind her back though. He’d be ready to react in a split second before something would happen.

“I’m Sydney. Hurricane’s mother sent me to be her dancing partner. She considered me the best choice for her daughter, considering –”

“She has a pretty amazing dancing partner and we call her Cany here. Respect that, please,” Maya demanded and Cany wanted to hug her and cry at the same time, thankful for Maya’s words. As it was though, she needed to get Sydney out before he said something incredibly stupid. Something like …

“I’m
Cany’s
fiancé. Respect
that
, please.”

Something like that.

Ryder stared at his sister, hoping she’d kick that guy out.
He
wanted to kick that guy out. Fury like he’d never known before befell him and it was Kaden who surprised him by pushing down a fist Ryder had no recollection of rising.

“Sydney, I am not sure you are aware whom you are speaking to. I find your tone inappropriate.” Bam, Ryder’s sister was replaced by the best damn Queen they’d ever had. “This room was supposed to be for meeting people on equal ground, not to come in here, staking a claim as if we were still back in the Middle Ages. Even if she’d be your wife, shouldn’t you remember your manners and greet the owner of the house before rebuking anyone within these halls? As it is, I feel generous tonight and I’d be happy to allow you to properly greet me out in the hall.” Maya took a step forward and surprise flashed across the skinny guy. Ryder probably could take him with one hand bound behind his back. The Sydney-dude sure hadn’t seen a real fight in his life yet.

“Cany, leave,” Kaden suggested, watching Red follow Maya and the guy.

“Yeah, he might come back in and I don’t think you want to see him,” Lex added towards her, yet Ryder knew that the mind reader was aware of Ryder’s fury.

“Someone should have Maya’s back,” Ryder ground out, but Kaden pressed a hand against his shoulder.

“How about I look after my Origin while you tone down your temper? He didn’t do anything wrong but being a jackass. It’s Cany who maybe should have mentioned he’d be coming.”

“I didn’t know.” Ryder inwardly groaned at how small Cany’s voice sounded. She usually was so full of life and now it was twice that he had the feeling he had never met her before.

“How you could you not have known?” Ryder asked, his tone sharper than intended. Cany actually flinched and he wanted to pull her into his arms. What the hell was wrong with him? He knew he wanted her, but she wouldn’t be the first girl that commanded his attention like that. Usually the fever he carried for them vanished the moment he had them between his sheets. Cany couldn’t be trophy for him though or Maya would hang him by his balls. Nope, the little courtier was off-limits for him.

Yet he couldn’t deny the stab he felt as he realized that Cany wasn’t an Origin.

“My parents promised me to him. I saw him three times so far. They wait for me to get close to my transition so he can change me and …”

Another low growl unwillingly left Ryder’s lips and he felt someone tug on his shirt. “We are leaving, buddy. Now.” Kaden pulled him out of the room and then to the side so they wouldn’t have to cross through the foyer where Maya and the jerk still stood.

Away from Cany Ryder finally calmed down, stopping Kaden. “You should go and be with Maya there, not Red.”

The twin closed his eyes. “She doesn’t want me there,” he murmured.

“Bullshit, and you know it. She’s just not heartless. Jumping you after Jaden left might not be exactly the best thing to do if she wants to prove something to him. Kaden, she doesn’t need to hurt for you this time around since you’re here. You haven’t seen her. I did.”

“And I’ve seen you. Ry, I think you had pretty strong reactions to that little announcement there,” Kaden pointed out, clearly trying to change the topic. Sadly, Ryder was ready to go along with it.

“How he talked to her! I wanted to…”

“That’s exactly how Jaden reacted when I tried to talk to Maya the first time I saw her,” Kaden commented and Ryder leaned against the stairs, resting his head back.

“Impossible. They were already bonded the first time you saw her,” Ryder protested. Cany was promised. Her parents wouldn’t do that if she were an Origin. And her mother would know, right?

“Yeah, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Or maybe it is. I’m not exactly a pro when it comes to this whole mating business. After all, I didn’t even manage to … hey little star.” Ryder hadn’t even heard Maya approach, but of course Kaden would be aware of her.

She looked exhausted.

“He’s gone. Red and Lex will make the people leave. I just hope next week will work much better than this did,” she mumbled and ran a hand through her curls. It struck Ryder then that this was the second time in as many days that Maya wasn’t scowling at him or even ignoring him.

“I’m gonna help them,” Kaden said quietly and Ryder noticed how he exchanged a glance with his mate. She reached out and squeezed his hand before letting him go.

“Give her time, Ryder. I don’t think Cany knows what’s going on any more than you do. This whole situation is too much for her. The way I got it, that Sydney-dude came because her parents somehow hope to hurry the change along and because you’ve been staking a claim. We don’t know anything about Cany’s family because she doesn’t want us to. She will open up in time, I’m sure, but we have so many other things to solve, we need your patience.”

He wasn’t sure what Maya was trying to tell him, but it couldn’t be, right? If Cany were his Origin, Maya most likely would have said so. At least that was what he hope
d
.

Cany carefully slipped out her room. After the Sydney disaster the night before, she had hidden in her bedroom, too afraid to face Ryder. The anger on his face and the disbelief had been a shock to her system. She knew there was something between them, but the strength of his reaction to Sydney had still surprised her, especially because all she had wanted to do was to comfort him.

She moved around the mansion, realizing how eerily silent it was. Making her way up the stairs, Cany passed the library, only to jerk back. Maya was sitting on her favorite stuffed red armchair, resting her head in her hands. She was utterly beautiful in her sadness, Cany had to admit. The Queen wore light blue flared jeans, a white knitted sweater that left a shoulder free, and her dark curls tumbled around her face, her bare toes peaking out from the denim swallowing up almost all of her feet.

Approaching carefully, Cany cleared her throat. Maya wiped away a single tear before turning to her. “Hey,” Maya's voice cracked and Cany wondered what best to do. She figured it was obvious what bothered Maya, she still asked.

“What's up?”

“We need to talk,” Maya just replied, pointing at the sofa next to her. Cany seriously hated that they wanted to talk about her, but she understood it as well. She sat down and then waited. Somehow Cany wasn't ready to disclose more than she needed to.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re promised, Cany?” Maya finally asked, leaving the stuffed arm chair to pace. The disappointment was almost tangible and Cany wanted to fall to her knees to ask for forgiveness. Instead she straightened her spine and shrugged her shoulders.

“It doesn't matter,” she mumbled. It was a common occurrence in her circles and she never once had questioned the decision. At least not before Ryder had come along.

“It does. Besides the fact that I think it's backward to take the decision from your daughter, what did they think would be use of promising you?”

Cany exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words. “They want me to have the best match possible. Parents do it so their kids don't have to worry once the change comes. There's no need to start looking for a suitable match,” she explained and Maya picked up a brow. Cany went on, simply ignoring the protest she knew was coming. “Not everyone is as lucky as Origins are. You aren't free to chose, and neither are the females from the high class...”

“We aren't free to chose,” Maya corrected, kneeling in front of Cany.

“What?” Cany asked, blinking.

“We aren't free to choose. You referred to Origins as if you weren't belonging to them,” Maya explained, confusion clear on her face.

“I'm not an Origin. I'm just a plain female,” Cany whispered, disappointment making her feel cold. The Queen picked up a brow, clearly startled.

“You're joking, right?”

“My mother would have felt it, wouldn't she? She's an Origin, she would have felt it if I was ... a vampires true mate.” It had taken Cany so long to get over the fact that she wasn't special in that sense; it was almost painful to have hope now.

Maya actually smiled. “I'm the Queen. I can't do much, but I know when I meet an Origin. I never thought there was need to mention that. After all, someone should have recognized that. Then again,
Hurricane
, Ryder mentioned something about your mother being afraid of you. I'd guess her not realizing what you were could have something to do with this.” It was said as a statement, but Cany could hear the curiosity in Maya's voice. She couldn't and wouldn't deal with that topic though.

“If I'm Origin, there's no need for me to mate Sydney. I couldn't!” Happiness took her in a storm and a giggle bubbled up in her chest. She never had taken drugs because, well, they didn't do anything for vampires, but Cany imagined she'd feel exactly like this. Then suddenly her stomach bottomed out. “Then again, if my change is coming, I'll die,” she whispered. Her eyes flew to Maya's face, but the Queen looked utterly relaxed.

“You just need your mate,” the Queen commented and then stood again, resuming her pacing.
Just
, Cany thought. As if it was so easy finding your perfect match. Since her change hadn't yet threatened, she figured she'd push the worry from her mind.

“What made you cry?” she asked instead and Maya tensed instantly.

“I can feel Kaden in his room. I can feel how lonely he is, how broken. Jaden is furious and confused, but at least for the moment he's not hurting, whereas his twin ... knowing he's here, makes it all so much harder.”

“Did you ever consider just going to him, Maya? Why lie? You want it. You want to be close to him. You want to hold him and let him hold you. No one says you need to tear his clothes off or let him have your blood, but why not seek comfort with someone you considered a friend at some point?” Cany wondered and Maya turned back to her.

“Because he's not a friend, Cany. I can't look at him and think of him like that.”

Cany got up. “For what it's worth: If Jaden gets his shit together, I won't judge you three for doing that ... you know, triangle thing. Fate decided you belong together, you decided you want them both. Who am I to say something against that? Go to him and at least try to ease his pain.”

“Where are you going?” Cany smiled softly.

“I need to find some chocolate and celebrate. It’s not every day that the engagement you hated gets broken off.” With that she left, hoping Maya would do the right thing.

The Queen paced around the chair she had set in earlier before taking a deep breath and leaving the room. She didn’t bother to knock. It wasn’t because she didn’t respect his privacy, but because she worried she’d run if he took a moment too long to answer. To her surprise she found him in almost the same pose she had been in just a few minutes earlier.

He looked up as she closed the door and she froze, just holding his gaze. Kaden looked so hot, it should be forbidden. Maya was sure no one else besides the twins could rock grey sweatpants and bare torso the way those two did.

“Little star, hey,” Kaden choked out, his voice thick with too many emotions to make it possible for Maya to recognize them all. “What’s up?”

“You were hurting.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Maya didn’t care. She had a feeling that she’d scare herself away if she’d speak any louder.

“Constant feeling, but worse in the last days. I’m sorry, I should be better at keeping it from you,” he mumbled, no longer meeting her eyes. Her body moved forward on its own account and she nudged his elbows from his knees, only to sit down on his lap sideways, wrapping her arms around him. He pulled her closer, gathering her in his arms while resting his head against her chest as if her beating heart was the only thing that could quieten his worries.

Maya kissed his hair, letting her fingers comb through the dark blond strands. It was surprising how calm that actually made her feel.

“Thank you,” he whispered and then looked up, his eyes swimming with love and devotion when she didn’t really deserve it. She bit her lip, staring at his face as if she hadn’t seen it before, then she traced his jawline with her finger. He looked like his brother, and yet he didn’t mirror him exactly: Kaden’s jaw was a bit smaller, his cheeks more hollow and his lips just that bit slimmer. Most people wouldn’t even recognize the differences, but for someone like Maya, who had committed his twin’s face to memory, they couldn’t be more obvious.

She wanted him so much, her hands were trembling, yet her guilt almost made her cry. She wouldn’t mind kissing Kaden if only Jaden was there. She didn’t want to go behind his back, but she knew as well that she wouldn’t be able to walk out of this room without kissing the twin.

Resting her forehead against his, she gently shook her head. “I can’t do that. I feel as if I’d be cheating on Jaden,” she explained and he exhaled, his breath brushing her lips. By the Creator, Maya wished her feet would carry her out of the room before she did something she would regret later on.

Kaden didn’t know what to think or feel. Maya clouded his senses so much; his head was spinning with her close proximity. She suddenly stood, proving that she felt comfortable in her vampire body and knew how to use the powers well, but so did he, and he had much longer practice. Before she could leave the room, Kaden grabbed her wrist and pulled his Origin back. He cupped the back of her neck and then devoured her lips the way he had wanted to for months. She tasted as sweet as he remembered and it made him groan against her lips. Sharp pain followed by intense pleasure coursed through him. It took a second for him to realize that she had bitten him.

Dearest Creator, he had missed the feeling of her having his blood.

Breathlessly she pulled away, licking her lip.

“Now you didn’t do anything. You can blame it all on me. He hates me anyways,” Kaden rasped out, trying to calm his racing heart down. Maya’s cheeks, flushed just a few seconds ago, visibly paled and he regretted mentioning Jaden almost instantly.

“Oh Kaden,” she exclaimed, being back in his arms right away again, “he doesn’t hate you. I think he worries he lost against you. He always thought you were the better choice for me. That never was true. Yes, both of you are different, but that doesn’t mean one is better than the other. In a fight he’d charge forward, trying to keep the enemy away from me, while you’d bring me away. It can’t be more perfect than that, can it? He’ll always make sure the world is treating me right. You’d make sure I feel fine. If I had to chose, I couldn’t say which is more important, and you know what? It doesn’t matter, either. It is what it is. Jaden thinks because he’s less emotional, I’d refuse him if I could have you instead.”

He knew then while she was in his arms. She couldn’t look at him. He kissed the side of her head and then stepped back. “Instead you refuse me,” he concluded and she hugged herself. The night before she had practically said that she loved him, but Kaden simply couldn’t believe it. She had never been serious about wanting them both, had she?

“The race, my people, barely respects me as it is. I am unconventional. I am a troublemaker. I am going against most of our traditions. They’d laugh at me if I told them that I’m not only gonna have my mate move in, but that I as well claim a second guy as my own. They won’t care what fate did to me; to us! The bit of good they might think of me will go down the drain and I –”

“You were being serious,” Kaden realized and it made his knees buckle. Luckily his ass hit the bed instead of the floor. To his surprise, she walked closer again, framing his face with her small hands.

“How could I not be, Kaden? I’m the damn Queen. What good does my position hold if I can’t even decide what’s good and what’s not? The problem is that I’m Queen for what? Six months? I didn’t establish yet that I am good for the people. They are distrustful, mean even. You haven’t been with us to those meetings, but Kaden, the vampires are hateful sometimes. If it was my choice, I’d say screw them and then screw both of you.” Maya winked and Kaden chuckled even though there was a lump in his throat. She sobered and then walked over to his window. “The only thing keeping me from it is you. I could never do that to you and Jaden. People are scared of you, but so far they respect you. If we started a thing…” She stopped herself, turning to him, wide-eyed. “I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I? There’s nothing to consider since you two wouldn’t share anyways. With you it’s just either or neither.”