Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2)

by Destiny, Sam

  “Kitchen, food, Cia,” she reminded again and then finally left, or they’d never get anywhere. Funnily enough, with the fresh shot of blood in her she felt as if she could change the world and she sure as hell hoped that it would work.

  Cany stood in the sitting room, her eyes going from the blood that stuck to almost every surface to the humans huddled together in front of the fireplace, while couples held onto each other. There was so much hopelessness in the room, Cany wanted to cry.

  She’d heard a lot of stories so far: broken down houses, rooms collapsing, people caught underneath them, trees crashing through roofs and destroying everything, houses flooded and unusable and it was all because she had let her feelings get the best of her.

  “What did I do?” she whispered, thinking that this night had been like a rollercoaster ride.

  “I tried to tell Maya to calm you down. I hadn’t realized how serious it could get though.” Kaden showed up by her side, carrying a tray of food.

  “How did you know anyway?” she asked while taking fruits and sandwiches from the trey, placing them on the only table in the room.

  “Matt and I were supposed to look into the future courtier. Despite Colbin disliking Maya’s ways and attitude, he still wants her safe. We checked a lot possible courtiers, but it was only when I was hunting on the streets to forget about Maya that I came across a stupid group. Seems they used to be in school with you and knew things. They were humans, not yet turned. Buzzed up, they basically don’t know how to keep a secret.”

  Cany tried hard to go through all the possibilities, but they were endless. People always had been afraid of her and the few girlfriends she thought she had suddenly didn’t even bother talking to her anymore.

  “Kady, hey. Cany,” Cia said joining them. Even though Cany was not mated to Kaden, she couldn’t help but be bothered by the intimate way Cia used the nickname she had given Kaden. No wonder that Maya had been ready to explode once she had heard it. “What else do you need?” Cia asked and Cany looked around, figuring that she was in no position to make a comment about who called whom what.

  “We just need to get people their own room. The beds are for two people each, so maybe you can get the couples settled in before we deal with the rest?” she asked and looked at Kaden for confirmation.

  “Actually, maybe it’s better if Cia finds bandages and helps set some bones. The vampires will be okay as soon as you straightened that out. Maya is taking care of the humans,” he explained and Cany shrugged.

  “Why doesn’t Maya take care of her own people?” Cia asked and Cany realized that this seriously was hard for Cia. She couldn’t even start to imagine how it would feel if she had to go and watch Ryder interact with someone else, and they were neither mated, nor had they even come close to the one-word-bridge. It was freaky how warm and secure Cany felt just knowing that they’d get there eventually and that the immense attraction she had felt for him had not been another way for the Creator to show her that she was a misfit. She fit. Hell, she fit perfectly. That was, unless she let her emotions reign free.

  “Because they’re all my people,” came Maya’s voice from the door. Cany turned to her Queen and noticed how tired she looked. “Cia, can you come and help me take care of the younger ones, please? Your mother said you were a kindergartener and I can’t get my hands to stop shaking enough to clean a wound. The kid doesn’t stop moving.” It wasn’t a request like Cany had expected, but a plea. Maya was reaching her breaking point, which didn’t surprise Cany at all.

  “Little star,” Kaden mumbled, but she just shook her head, leading Cia out of the room.

  “I hate to say it,” Kaden said towards Cany after his mate had left, “but you need to do something about that power of yours.”

  “There’s nothing I can do. If I feel, it’s happening. I try hard not to get affected, but I can’t help it,” she explained, following Kaden back to the kitchen where the kitchen help almost tripped over her own feet trying to get food finished that basically vanished the moment she had set it aside.

  “I’m sure if you practice, you’ll be able to control it,” Kaden insisted and she felt like slapping her hand down on the tabletop just to prove to him that she was getting angry again.

  “It’s not that easy,” she snapped and Kaden lifted a brow, obviously ready to annoy her.

  “It is. I heard that you actually made it rain inside the rooms, but this time you didn’t,” he remarked and she slowly nodded.

  “I was mad at the world for being unfair, not sad for myself. There’s a difference,” she explained and Kaden nodded, as if saying ‘see?’ She didn’t see anything though.

  “You can influence it,” he helped out, lowering the knife he had taken at some point. They both were preparing sandwiches now and Cany actually enjoyed the mindless task because it gave her the chance to think.

  “Kaden,” Cany started, noticing how he paused to look at her. “Is it scary?”

  He was taken aback by the question, that much was obvious, but he just shrugged. “Everything is scary, nothing is scary. It all depends on the view. What exactly do you mean?”

  She focused back on her fingers, folding two halves of bread together before setting it down on a plate. “Dedicating your life to one person and one person only. Is it hard taking the leap of faith?”

  He looked still startled. “I hadn’t realized there was a choice. I saw her, liked her, got to know her, loved her, and then never thought back. What’s scary is the fact that I have no idea where to go from here, but loving her and giving her all I have never once was a choice. It happened and then the deal was sealed. You’d never ask Jaden if it was hard,” he explained and Cany rolled her eyes.

  “Duh, we know he struggled with the decision,” she gave back and he shook his head.

  “Not really. The moment I walked in on them, he stood in front of her. He would have fought me for her. I’m his brother and he wouldn’t have hesitated.”

  “I wanted to tear you apart because she trusted you.” The brother in question walked in, looking at the food. “We settled everyone in and now we just need to spread clothes and blankets, towels and whatever else they need. The food too, of course. Make sure you all get something into your stomachs,” Jaden ordered and then left with two plates.

  “He’s a different person,” Cany said in awe and saw how his brother nodded.

  “Love will do that to you. Plus, Maya needs someone like him by her side or she’ll break with being too nice. Jaden doesn’t mind being the ass he knows is necessary sometimes,” Kaden agreed and Cany sighed.

  “They all will hate me if they realize this is my fault,” she whispered, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. Kaden actually pulled her in his arms.

  “In case you didn’t notice, Maya’s pretty forgiving, and Jaden doesn’t care about anything as long as Maya is okay. Anybody else doesn’t matter. We just won’t tell them. But don’t ever let that happen again, Cany, okay?” he asked and she nodded against his shoulder.

  “What, my sister is no longer enough and you need my girl now, too?” Ryder asked and Cany instantly left Kaden’s arms, blushing a deep scarlet. She could hear the angry tone underlying the teasing.

  “Don’t go there, Ryder. I’m neither in the mood, nor have the patience to deal with that right now. I’m not here to fight with you, but to calm her down,” Kaden gave back curtly, and then, towards her, “tell him.” With that he was out of the door and Cany left with Ryder and … turning, she realized no one else was there any longer.

  “I was joking,” Ryder mumbled apologetically, looking unsure of how close he should actually come to her. She cocked her head, turning so he could easily embrace her. It was weird how shy she suddenly felt when only some hours prior she had been ready to undress him on the spot.

  “We both knew you weren’t. In fact, Kaden knew too. I don’t think though you should tease him like that with everything going on between the three,” she scolded and he had the de
cency to look embarrassed. By the Creator, he was beautiful.

  “I think they sorted that out, but yeah, I guess you’re right,” he admitted, scratching his head. She couldn’t believe that after the hectic of the last hours she had a few minutes of silence right there.

  “Ryder –” She didn’t get further because he was kissing her again. It was different than earlier, a lot tenderer. He had cupped the back of her neck, brushing her cheek with his free hand.

  “I couldn’t wait to taste you again. It grounded me out there,” he murmured against her lips, both hands farming her face now. She loved it.

  “How many did come in total?”

  “Fifty,” he said. “Lex and Matt tried to find the little girl’s parents, but there was nothing left of them.”

  “The one with Cia?” He nodded and Cany shook her head, realizing what this meant. She needed to find Maya and talk to her. She needed to find Maya and explain it all to her. She would never be able to forgive her for everything she had done to those people. In fact, she was sure Ryder would hate her if he found out.

  The thought made her swallow and step back. If you looked at it the right way, then Cany had committed assault and murder. She had killed a little girl’s parents. Her mother had been right after all: Cany was something to be feared, something that didn’t deserve to be alive.

  Maya closed the last door on the long hallway, being glad that the last two people were taken care of. She had no idea how late it was, but she knew that the shutters had been closed hours ago. There was a hushed silence in the house, making her feel as if she were deaf after the frenzy of the last minutes and hours.

  She leaned against the wood, resting her head back. Not even during her years on the run had she felt as exhausted as she did that day. It had been emotionally draining and it wasn’t over yet. She needed to know if Jaden had found out the reason for Kaden’s blackouts and if there was a chance to take care of it. She needed to organize more help, too, so that by nightfall there was enough food for everyone. She needed medical personnel so someone could look at the human victims. Though they had cleaned out all wounds, she worried there’d be infections coming and she needed someone to look at them, someone who knew what they were doing.

  Maya stepped forward to the banister, looking down into the foyer. Oh, they needed a cleaning crew, too. Her list just kept getting longer and longer.

  She spotted Matt downstairs, softly whistling. He looked up and she gave him a smile. “Get the warriors together. Bring Cany and Lara, too. I’m gonna meet you all in the game room,” she told him and he nodded. The game room was where he and Ryder had their video games and everything. Maya had made sure that no one went in there, meaning it was probably the only untamed room besides her quarters and she didn’t want to hold any meeting there.

  Starting to walk, she realized that her hands were covered in grime and blood, partly her own and partly the blood of others, but at least her wound was healed now. She felt dirty, but that was just another thing that would have to wait.

  Being the last one to enter the room, she instantly noticed that first, Red was still there and second, Cany and Ryder didn’t just stand close to each other, they were practically one person. Good for them, she thought. The rest of the room was barely visible with all the bodies inside and it surprised her to realize how small it actually was. They needed another room to have those kind of meetings in the future. She groaned inwardly as she realized that it was just another item to add to her list.

  Silence settled over the room as Maya took in all warriors. Lex, Matt, and Devon looked terrible: dirty and worn out.

  “After trying to find the girl’s parents, we decided to check the other Morningstar corners we knew, thinking maybe we’d find people that need help. Devon joined. There wasn’t much more damage since a lot of houses aren’t around any trees,” Lex answered to her unspoken thoughts and she nodded, grateful.

  “I’m sorry we didn’t find the parents,” Matt mumbled, but Maya just shook her head. She knew it wasn’t their fault. She gave the youngest warrior a thankful smile, seeing his blue eyes lighten a little in relief.

  “Thank you for trying it anyway. And thank you for looking out for the rest of the people,” she said, hugging herself. She was tired and had a hard time trying to keep herself from swaying on her feet. Even with all her vampire-powers the supply of strength seemed to have reached its end.

  “Maya…” Lex started, but she silenced him with a pleading glance.

  “Okay, I need a report on the none-vampires here,” she declared and Lara, seated on an ocean blue silk comforter between Devon, and Matt, got up. She looked dead on her feet, too.

  “Sit down. It’s fine,” Maya told her. It had been months since she had seen Lara last. No one had expected Colbin’s wife to go against him and Maya regretted not having her as a friend by her side.

  Lara sat instantly, proving how tired she was. “We have two that are pretty badly injured. I think we got every last one of the glass splinters out, yet I can’t guarantee it. As for the rest, it took me a while until I remembered that they needed to get out of their wet clothes,” she admitted and Maya rubbed her forehead. “Cia actually reminded me of that.”

  “She was shivering. I gave her some of your clothes. They were a little tight on her, but at least she ended up dry,” Kaden threw in from the right corner of the room and Maya gritted her teeth. Jaden elbowed him in the stomach almost instantly, clearly reacting to her feelings.

  “As long as you didn’t help her dress, everything is peachy,” Devon chuckled, but it sounded strained. People obviously picked up on the tension, trying to ease some of it. Maya couldn’t help but give him a secret smirk.

  “Pneumonia is a risk for them, true. I haven’t considered that, but should’ve remembered when they started to huddle around the fire. We need a doctor here tomorrow night; a human one to look at the humans. You think that can be arranged?” she asked, deciding to ignore her pathetic jealousy.

  “I know someone,” Lara announced and Maya blinked, surprised. “Can you get him here?” she asked and Lara nodded. “I don’t think we shouldn’t wait,” she went on and Maya finally bothered to look at the clock on one of the game consoles. They had less than an hour to sunset.

  “Oh Creator,” she mumbled, trying to organize her thoughts. “We need help in cooking and we need more food. I don’t think there’s anything left. Who of you feels strong enough to go two or three more hours before we change shifts?” Maya asked and, just as she had expected, no one was tired at all.

  She wasn’t convinced, but that didn’t matter. “Fine, I decide.” She thought a moment, figuring that it was best to take Red away from people-duty and put him to work on something different. She trusted Lex most with Red, so she pointed at those two.

  “Food. Tons of food. Everything,” she ordered. Lex instantly got up, being followed by Red. “Bring everything back: meat, vegetables, fruits, and something to drink. Oh, and sweets for the little ones. Start calling supermarkets to get everything already packed up, that way you can get the stuff the moment the sun is gone.” They both nodded and Lex hugged her while Red kissed her cheek before leaving. Kaden growled alongside Jaden, making her raise her brow. At least they all were on the same page when it came to each other.

  “Lara, besides the doctor, can you find people who’d be willing to cook and help?”

  “We can do that.” Maya turned, looking at the two that had joined them. It were Cia’s parents. They looked shaken, but other than that they obviously were fine and showered.

  “Thank you for the offer, but you came here because your house was destroyed, too. I’d feel bad putting you to work,” she admitted and the two gave her genuine smiles. Sadly, she liked Cia’s parents much more than she liked their daughter.

  “We know people and your guys there will be better put to work with other tasks. We have the connections. Let us help.” Maya thought a moment, which got more difficult by the minute. Sh
e couldn’t remember when she had last eaten and besides Kaden’s little blood earlier, she hadn’t had any of that, either, in more than a few months. Just a few more hours, she told herself.

  “Okay. I can never thank you enough,” she told them and they nodded.

  “Any phones we can use?” Cia’s mother asked and Maya reached into her pocket, but there was no phone there.

  “Here,” Kaden said, appearing by her side. “My twin and I won’t leave the house anyway for the next night, so we don’t need ours,” he explained, handing over his and Jaden’s cell phones. With that the two vanished and one worry was off her shoulders.

  “Next up,” she mumbled, mentally checking her list. There was too much she wanted to organize and yet, she simply didn’t know enough people. It almost defeated her, but she figured you couldn’t lose if you didn’t let anyone else win, and she wasn’t ready to give into the helplessness that threatened to take her over.

  Jaden gritted his teeth. Maya was barely keeping upright, yet she stood proud and strong. The caveman in him was ready to throw her over his shoulder and drag her off so she’d lie down, yet he knew that this wouldn’t happen.

  “We need someone to take care of the damaged homes, which means phone duty. I don’t care what we’ll spend, Colbin will have to live with it,” Maya decided then and Jaden grinned to himself. She was out to seriously piss off their leader, but so far they had yet to meet again.

  “I can do that,” Cany offered and Jaden looked at the courtier. Ryder stood next to her, protective, as if he feared that someone could attack her.

  “You recognize that behavior, huh?” Kaden asked barely above a whisper while Maya and Cany talked about what was needed. Jaden ignored his comment though.