Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (27 page)

“Lara. I’m gonna take Lara with me,” she finally decided, not moving away from his chest. She closed her eyes as he answered, just enjoying the rumble of his voice in his chest.

“Two women against a pack of wolves?” he asked and she wasn’t sure of he doubted her abilities or Lara’s. That reminded her of something else she had wanted to run by him.

“We need a self-defense class,” Maya explained and Jaden groaned. It made her laugh. She had too many ideas and knew he would one day be bothered by it, but then she’d simply hire Kaden to help her. It was a little like ‘if mommy said no I’m gonna ask daddy’. She giggled at that thought.

“What’s so funny now?” Jaden asked and she heard the smile in his voice.

“Nothing,” she replied innocently and he started tickling her, making her laugh more. She tried to run from him, but he proved, like always, that he knew how to use his vampire reflexes, picking her up from the floor and sitting her butt down on the desk of her office. The mahogany furniture put her almost at eye-level with him.

He reached out brushing dark strands behind her ear while his expression got serious again. “You giggling is probably one of the sweetest sounds I know,” he whispered and she looked at him, almost embarrassed. “It makes you sound young and carefree. You should sound like that more often,” he went on and she pulled up his shirt so she could press her hands against his skin. She loved feeling so connected to him, especially right now, where she felt his heart beat against her palm. He was worried, happy, torn, and glad all at the same time. It probably came with the territory of dating a Queen or maybe it just always would be that way with mates.

“It’s a little much right now. Six months we had relative quiet, just the occasional group of Hellraise. While inside of me they were hell…” She paused, but it was obvious on his face that he knew what she meant, “at least the world around us was more or less peaceful. I won’t lie, there haven’t been enough Hellraise around in the last time. It bothers me.”

“You’re listening when I give my reports,” he exclaimed in surprise and she nodded, framing his face.

“I always listen when you speak. I just sometimes get lost in the movement of your beautiful lips.” She touched the object of their talk, seeing a shudder pass through his body as his eyes went dark and he sucked her thumb between his teeth, letting his tongue go over the skin. The little contact went straight to the place between her legs, making her hiss in pleasure. Spreading her legs to accommodate his body, she moved closer while he cupped the back of her neck and dove in for a hard kiss. She loved him taking control like that, being almost bruising in his touches because he couldn’t get close enough to her, couldn’t get enough. Kaden disapproved because he worried about marring her beautiful skin, but she didn’t care. She was a vampire, by the Creator, and a well-fed one at that. She’d heal in no time at all.

She opened his belt, suddenly hating the jeans. If she had worn a dress, he could simply push it up. Their movements got more frantic and she couldn’t help but grin as he picked her up with one hand far enough to pull down her jeans with the other.

“Show-off,” she muttered, noticing that her voice had gone husky. He didn’t even smile, just giving her an intense look with eyes that reminded her more of melted dark chocolate than the usual milky one.

His lips came back to hers and then he was in her. There was nothing loving about their coming together. It was raw need and, on Jaden’s part, worry. She could feel it in him, strong, as if it was something she could grab and pull out. She didn’t mind how he expressed his worry. She just hated that she made him worry at all.

“You still with me?” he growled and she reached between them, cupping his balls in her palm.

He called out her name, half curse, half prayer and she squeezed just a little tighter, hurrying his movements along with that. With a last strong thrust he buried himself deeply in her. She felt his cock twitching and it made her gasp. She was so close and Jaden obviously knew that, letting his thumb find her clit before he bit her neck just long enough to push her over the edge, before slowly moving so she could fully ride out her orgasm, then he pecked her lips, promising to get something to clean her up before she had to face the world.

She knew he hadn’t reacted to her suggestion of a self-defense class, but for now she figured they had enough on their plate without adding another thing to it. That didn’t mean though that she would forget about it for long.

Cany woke with the biggest smile on her face. She stretched and felt Ryder next to her. His finger was tracing something on her back and she gasped as she remembered the tattoo she would have gotten from their mating.

“Dearest Creator, am I pretty?” she asked, jumping out of bed and hurrying into Ryder’s bathroom. His laughter followed her as she tried to see what she had edged into her skin in the mirror above the sink.

“Come back here,” he called and she did, finding him with his closet door open. On the inside was a mirror that she could see herself in from head to toe. Turning, she first looked at the star at the base of her neck. It was the same she had seen on Queen and the twins, so she guessed it was common for all Morningstars. Maya simply hadn’t had it until she was fully mated.

Below the star, standing in the light it caused, was a sword. She was almost disappointed. Ryder’s eyes sparkled as she raised he gaze to his in the mirror.

“Don’t look so sad,” he laughed and she pouted.

“A sword? Seriously?” she mumbled, looking back at the plain tattoo. Ryder stepped so close that he could reach around her and he traced the lines with his fingertips as if he had already memorized them. His expression was serious now.

“I think it fits perfectly. You’re a fighter, Cany. You have been one all your life. A sword is steady and strong, and will break at almost nothing. It just stands for all you’ve been through. Again, I think it’s perfect,” he explained and she looked at it again. It looked as if someone had impaled it in the ground and it was the only thing the star shone any light on. The hilt was an intricate matter of knots and she thought they looked familiar. Just then Ryder’s finger wandered over it.

“Celtic power symbols. Again, a sign that you are strong and powerful.” It was beautiful. And after his explanation, she instantly decided she loved it. Plus, if she pulled on a dress with a low back, it would always fully show, probably tempting Ryder just the way she’d want.

“Let me see yours,” she pleaded and then turned to him. He presented his back and it made her hold her breath. The star was exactly where she had expected it, sitting above deep emerald clouds that lost big drops. The rain vanished below his waistline and she couldn’t resist, pulling the sweatpants he had slipped on away a little. There was one last drop exactly at the end of his spine. Oh, it was so tempting, she wanted to lick it. “That’s pretty sexy,” she whispered and he grinned proudly at her. It was a beautiful tattoo, even if it reminded her of what destructive power her emotions could have.

“And here I thought my whole package was pretty sexy,” he laughed and she wanted to reply something when someone knocked hard against the door.

“Hey, yer love birds, get yer satisfied asses outta here, Maya wants to say something,” Devon called and Ryder groaned.

“And here I thought we could squeeze in an evening quickie.” He actually started to grin as she blushed with the thought, heat and wanting running through her body. Wetness pooled between her legs and she closed her eyes to calm herself down. Ryder leaned in and brushed his lips across the side of her head before snatching a shirt from his closet.

“Hold that thought, babe. We’ll get back to it later. There are a few things I still want to try with you.” He winked and she almost cursed him. It had been her first time the day before and even though Cany wanted to do it again, she couldn’t see herself becoming as addicted to the action as Ryder seemed to be.

Obviously her doubt must have spilled over the bond because he laughed even more as he watched her get dressed. “You can think whatever you want, Hurricane, you’ll be beneath me before long again because you want it. You’ll probably be begging me to show you new stuff –”

“Shut up, Ryder,” she cried, blushing furiously. Her body was betraying her, shooting longing and arousal like hot lightening through her body, making Ryder growl appreciatively.

He reached into her chestnut curls, gently pulling until she backed into him and he could kiss her, sweeping his tongue into her mouth before releasing her and giving her quick pat to her ass. She couldn’t believe how ridiculously happy he was.

Only once they entered one of the bigger rooms downstairs, a dining room now turned meeting area, the happy feeling vanished pretty quickly. Tension coiled high in the room and Cany took a deep breath. Why couldn’t happy moods last forever?

Maya couldn’t help but smile at the happy glow on Ryder and Cany’s face, but she noticed they caught onto the mood in the room quickly.

She had asked everyone there: the warriors, the guests, Lara, Tristan and whomever else she thought this concerned, meaning Colbin was there, too. He had made it pretty clear that he was damn pissed at her for taking his warriors and even though she never had done that, she decided to not comment on it.

“Thank you all for being here.”

“We missed something huge last night,” Cany whispered across the room and everyone chuckled. That was, everyone but the humans. Obviously Cany had spoken quieter than Maya had guessed.

“Maya is going to see a pack of wolves about three hours from here,” Jaden growled. Three hours if you could run like a vampire. She had no idea how fast or slow a wolf would be, so if she had any luck and would get the female they probably would take longer getting back though she still considered driving a car. First, it gave her time to think and secondly, the wolf could get used to her and Lara better that way.

The twins gave her dark looks from across the room and she wished she could take them. In fact, she knew that the only thing keeping them in place would be the bond, because Maya could feel where they were. Otherwise, she had no doubt they’d simply follow.

“You
what
?” Ryder exploded and Maya almost regretted the bonding moment they had the night before. By the Creator, too many protective males were around here. Luckily she already had spoken to the one guy she’d take. For a second, she debated on ignoring Ryder, but then just straightened her shoulders.

“You heard right, Ryder, and believe me, I’ve heard it all and more.” She glowered at her mates. They both looked smug and she rolled her eyes. She wished they’d be close right now, but them staying across the room was a statement. She needed to give in, but she wouldn’t. “As it is, Lara and Colbin think there’s an Origin there that needs saving.”

“A wolf?” a voice asked and Maya’s head snapped around, trying to find out who had said that. She couldn’t figure it out.

“Rex, you got something you wanna share?” Jaden jumped in and Maya had a hard time keeping a smirk in check as the male in question gritted his teeth at being caught.

“She’s just a wolf and our Queen is on her way there, risking her life for what?” he inquired and Maya locked eyes with Jaden, silently wanting to know who should answer. He shook his head barely perceptible and Kaden actually moved. The diplomat.

“Just a wolf? You mean another race than the vampires here? I recall that correct and your daughter is human, right?” he asked, his tone curious instead of furious. Rex only nodded, and so did Kaden searching the room until his eyes fell on the girl they talked about.

“If you’d fight a vampire, who would win?” he asked.

“The vampire,” she answered truthfully.

“If you’d fight a wolf, who would win?”

“The wolf,” she answered again and Kaden shrugged.

“What do you think? Should that incredible woman over there go and save an Origin if she could or do you think she should keep her pretty ass here and hope someone else will do it?” he asked, giving Maya a wink over his shoulder. He really liked her ass, it said. She cocked her head, trying to get him to stay serious.

“Maya should go and save her, of course. She would save us all, even if we’ll never be an Origin,” the girl decided, her voice full of conviction. Maya didn’t even need to nod. They all
knew
she would go out of her way to get someone back that belonged to her people or should belong to them.

“Since that’s settled, let’s move on, shall we?” Jaden asked and she couldn’t help but notice that he tried his hardest to look badass and dangerous. Boy, he was sexy. Kaden turned to her as her stomach jumped, arching a brow and licking his lips. They were so not playing fair.

“As I said, I’ll try to find her. The only reason you all sitting in here is that I wanted to tell you that you can stay here as long as you want and request any help you may need. Ryder and Cany will be taking over in my absence while I’ll make sure the twins will be out hunting so they don’t annoy you with their bad mood. Especially not since it’ll be my fault.” She winked and the group laughed while the twins just shook their heads at her. A dark promise lay in their eyes and she couldn’t wait for what sure would be a passionate punishment once she was back.

“So basically since that’s said, you all can leave. That is, all but Cia, and the warriors. Oh, and they Origins can stay or better need to stay, too,” she announced. Chairs moved and people shuffled out of the room. Suddenly it seemed so much bigger and Maya waited until everyone had moved closer. She thought about sitting down, but she was too restless.

“A couple of things still need to be prepared before anyone can leave. Of course I’m
not
going alone,” Maya started off, hearing a collective release of breath. Seemed that this calmed at least some people down. “Lara, you’ve seen her and they know you. If it would be okay with Colbin, I’d love to take you with me. I think if we show up with two females only, they won’t exactly fear us. I don’t want to fight them. I just want that girl out. You got a name for us?”

“Sarah, I think,” Lara said contemplatively.

“You want to take my Origin and expect me to sit back and just let her go?” Colbin snapped, his stance aggressive. Maya felt the twins reacting at the same time, anger coiling in their stomachs.

“I don’t expect anything, Colbin, I asked. Lara has been cooped in that compound of yours for decades and there’s no need lying to me about that. She probably never has said a word about it, but she deserves to be exactly the Origin she can be.” Turning back to Lara, she gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry I’m totally springing that on you, but I thought it was the best chance we have. Matt will be joining us.” She looked at the youngest warrior and he grinned. There was no denying that he wanted to get some action. It was probably her fault he always had to stay behind.

“Colbin, don’t think I don’t know what you feel –”

“You don’t know me!” he screamed and she didn’t flinch, being proud of herself. Tension grew even thicker in the room as not only the twins, but also the rest of the warriors stood again.

“I’m mated. I know exactly how you feel about wanting to let her go. Those two over there? They don’t exactly make me forget that they have to let their Origin go,” she gave back, her voice still calm even though she was shaking on the inside.

Colbin’s jaw went slack, making her almost giggle. “Let
their
Origin go?” he asked, his voice disbelieving. Okay, that obviously was still news to him. “You mated with both of them after all?”

He had been there the night Kaden and her had realized their bond, yet he was surprised? “What, you didn’t think they would agree, or that I would agree?”

“So there hasn’t been a mistake made?” Colbin asked instead of reacting to her. Now she was the one being caught off-guard.

“Mistake?” she repeated numbly and he nodded, his eyes softening the tiniest bit.