by Destiny, Sam
Maya didn’t want to move. She was in a warm twin sandwich, her head resting on Kaden’s chest while Jaden had his arm wrapped around her hip. He was sleeping soundly next to them, but she knew Kaden was awake. She touched his chest, letting her fingertips go over his skin. Pure bliss spread through the bond and she couldn’t help herself, kissing the spot closest to her lips. He kissed her hair, gently brushing through her dark strands then.
“Are you okay?” she asked, knowing very well that he was due to the new connection they shared, but she still liked to hear it.
“Of course,” Kaden gave back, his voice rumbling in his chest as he spoke even though he was quiet.
“Are you happy?” she changed her question, holding her breath as she waited for his answer.
“Why shouldn’t I be?”
She thought a moment, shrugging lightly, hoping not to wake the other twin in her bed. “This isn’t what you wanted or deserve. This isn’t what Jaden thought he’d get out of the deal. You both deserve a woman that loves only you unconditionally and me … don’t get me wrong, I got the best of the best, but…” Yeah, but. Doubt was creeping in heavily and she worried that some time soon the guys would come to regret that. Not that either of them ever had a true choice in this, but then she hadn’t been ready to decide either.
“Maya, I couldn’t be happier than I am right now. Jaden instigated that, remember?”
“Jaden ran away, remember?” She knew it was stupid because she probably would have been hurt, terribly much so, and running away would have been her last resort. She could see herself screaming and fussing, crying her eyes out, or even accusing him of hell’s sins, yet she had expected him to be calm and understanding? She sat up, resting her cheek against her knee so she wouldn’t have to look at Kaden.
“Biggest fucking mistake of my life,” Jaden mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. It made her exhale quietly because it was so sexy. Arousal coursed through her and Kaden chuckled.
“Say more, I think she likes that,” he said and Maya heard the grin in his voice.
“How can you be already awake? It’s been a long few nights and you manage to be all chatty and thoughtful at six in the evening. The sun hasn’t even set yet,” he fussed and then kissed Maya’s spine right where she knew her star sat. It was incredible that they all had the same. She almost had a mind to ask Lara if she had one, too, but then she and the other woman weren’t on so personal terms any longer. It actually made Maya sad, but she didn’t comment on it.
“As I was saying, I shouldn’t have run. In fact, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but we all know I’m more a strategist than a person that notices things. That’s Kay. Can we now go back to sleep?” Jaden asked and then rested his head back in the pillows. Maya moved until she was basically lying on him, her ear pressed to his heart. She never had noticed how quiet vampires’ heartbeats were until the humans had come into her home. Luckily, their room was soundproof and she didn’t have to worry about waking up from the humans or waking them up.
She looked at Kaden, who turned on his side and let his fingertip go up and down her back while Jaden embraced her and then kissed the top of her head.
“Thank you,” she finally decided to say and both froze for a second, obviously startled.
“For?” they asked in unison, making her smile.
“Being the most amazing guys anyone could wish for,” she replied and Kaden leaned in, kissing her cheek while Jaden brushed her hair off her shoulder.
“Thank you for choosing us,” they answered in unison another time and Maya couldn’t help but feel elated. Maybe Ryder was right and she should stop hunting for a family that most likely didn’t exist anymore while she had one right there, making her as happy as she could ever be.
Ryder straightened his shoulders, wondering why in the world he was nervous. Cany's parents didn't deserve his respect and yet he couldn't help but breathe deeply in a way that was way too human, he knew that, but somehow it had calming properties for him.
He knocked, waiting in silence. The better parts of Helpston were a sight to behold and he turned away from the door, looking over at the sparkling lights of the city. Somehow he was glad that the Queen's mansion was across town, still a good part, but with far more privacy for them all and more room. The way Ryder saw it, they'd always be able to expand the housing if the need arose.
Someone clearing a throat made him face back. It was a maid. Ryder raised a brow and then slowly gave her a smile. It wasn't her fault that she worked for people he considered monsters.
“I'm here to see Cany's parents. Please tell them a warrior is there to talk to them,” he mumbled, wishing he knew more about stuck up language. Somehow he thought it would make things easier with her parents, show them some respect even if he didn't feel it.
As much as he wished it were different, it was hard forgetting that those two technically were something akin to in-laws to him. He was led in the same sitting room he had occupied with Cany and her mother the last time he was there and it made him realize that they treated her own daughter like a stranger. Anger boiled in him, but he tried to regain control of his emotions. Somehow he needed to make this either right or make a stand. Trying to gain control of his emotions, he started wandering around the room, the satins covered walls gleaming in the fake electric candles that lit up a chandelier. While at one point this probably had been a pretty room, it now looked like her parents tried too hard to hold onto former, more glorious times, even if paintings adorned the walls. The room didn’t prove taste, it just proved desperation.
When Cany's mother entered, her expression made it pretty clear that this would be more a 'make-a-stand' kind of meeting, but before any of them could say anything, the door opened again and the servant girl returned.
“Mistress, the Queen is here for a word as well.” The female in question already pushed passed the maid and gave Ryder a tight lipped-smile before turning to their unwilling hosts. She wore a purple flowing dress that left her shoulders and arms free, skin that was covered in an extension of the tattoo Ryder already knew as stars seemed to sparkle wither her movements. He almost grinned as he realized that Kaden finally got lucky. Her dark waves were pinned up and she looked royal, to say the least.
“I'm Maya, Queen of the Origins,” she introduced herself, her head held high and her expression expectant. “I offer my sincerest apologies for being late. Ryder made it clear how important it was to be here on time,” she went on as if they had been asked there.
“We didn't expect you,” Cany's mother stated, surprise clear on her face.
“Clarice it was, right? Shouldn't you be expecting the mate of your daughter and the Queen she serves to drop by and tell you what an outstanding child you raised?” Maya wondered, blinking her purple eyes innocently.
This was all wrong. Ryder wanted to say a few things and Maya just came in ... Ryder reconsidered wanting to have the attention when both parents suddenly stared at him as if he was naked and with dirty feet in their house.
“I'm ... you heard,” he stammered and then cursed himself. “Cany is my mate and I came today to let you know that she's one of the kindest people I ever met. I know you had other plans for her,” he explained, trying hard to ignore the fact that those plans involved Cany's death, “but this is what fate wanted for her and I hoped you'd give your blessing to this mating.” Not that he cared, but he knew that Cany would.
“You don't know Hurricane the way we do,” Cany's father snorted and Ryder had to hide a smirk as Maya coughed, hiding a 'right' under the noise. She had started looking at the paintings spread throughout the room, her back to their hosts. Maya hopefully knew that this wasn't the right way to charm those two.
“You've got something to say, Queen?” Clarice asked, obviously having caught it as well.
Maya didn't even bother to turn around. “Nothing for your ears, milady.” Maya wasn't out to impress Cany's parents. She wanted to make them feel like Cany most likely felt when
she was here: inferior.
“As I was trying to say,” Ryder interrupted before Cany's parents could say more, “I was hoping you would like to have dinner with me and your daughter so you can see that she's happy.” This was so much worse than he had expected. He knew Maya meant well, but somehow her appearance had made this a whole different dimension of bad.
Plus, those two definitely wouldn't join the Queen's fan club.
“Are you inviting us to the Queen's mansion?” George asked and Ryder cursed under his breath. Of course he was doing that since he didn't have his own home or apartment any longer, but suddenly it felt as if this made him not good enough for the daughter they hadn't wanted anyways.
Maya stayed silent, watching a painting with frogs in the bottom left corner.
“I guess I am,” he admitted and George nodded slowly.
“Does your Queen approve?” The sneer in the other man's voice was clear and Ryder wondered how he had ever thought that this could end well.
Finally Maya returned to them, giving them a cool smile. She looked nothing like the young girl Ryder remembered and sometimes it really scared him.
“I don't keep my house locked or the people there under my surveillance. Everyone is free to use the rooms and kitchen and whatever suits them the way they want. If they plan on having dinner with you, I'm happily giving them the room.”
“You aren't really a Queen, are you?” George asked. “You have a courtier so she serves you. No wonder our daughter is developing an attitude.”
Maya's smile turned to ice and Ryder gritted his teeth. “I am the Queen when the need arises. Maybe I should remind you of the fact that I am your Queen, too. You should show some respect. Or can it be that your daughter has the attitude from her parents?”
“You’re the Morningstar Queen and we did our duty. We served you well, giving you our daughter. She was trained in etiquette and proper manners. What you do with her at your court is your thing. Besides, you might beware of her. She is a danger to herself and others,” Clarice explained and that was all Ryder needed. He saw red, blindly reaching out to grab the mother of his mate.
Small, yet strong hands refrained him, making it possible that his haze vanished just as quickly as it had come on.
“Let go, Maya,” he ordered and she shook her head.
“No, brother.”
Silence spread in the room as if someone had sucked out all sounds. Maya still held his eyes, but he could practically feel the burning stares of their two hosts.
“Seems not many people really know how an Origin Queen comes to be,” Maya stated calmly and then finally sat down on of the crème-colored sofas. It didn’t exactly ease Ryder’s mind since she now fully faced Cany’s parents. “You need to be a surviving Hellraise child. One that doesn’t go crazy. I guess some people still consider me insane.” She shrugged as if she had no care in the world.
“Can we now please talk about the fact that I originally planned on inviting you to my Masquerade until I saw the guy you tried to hitch your daughter with? And then, when she came to talk to you - not that I’m sure why – you were crueler than any parent could be? That is, our mother actually might be crueler than you, but then she is a Hellraise no one detected.”
Ryder couldn’t believe that Maya shared their family history so casually. As far as he was concerned, no one needed to know whom he was related to.
“Maya, do you mind if we have a word?” he asked, almost tearing his hair out as he scratched a hand across his scalp in helplessness.
“Yes, I do. You should tell them what you came to tell them. How you’ll mate their daughter and then bring her here just so she sees that –”
“How about for once you let me be the hero? Can I at least save my own damn Origin if you’re already saving our fucking race?” he snapped, not caring that maybe this could destroy the very fragile flower that was the relationship between him and Maya.
To his surprise, his sister smiled. “Then get to it. Stop standing there like they intimidate you when they don’t. You are pissed at them, Ryder, remember? They literally brought tears from heaven.”
It was a more than fitting description of Cany’s emotions causing rain like that and she was right. He didn’t impress them, probably never would be able to, but still he was just standing there, wondering how best to say what he wanted to say.
“You’ll never see your grandchild because I won’t ever allow Cany to come back here. She wanted nothing more than being loved by her family, but you didn’t have the decency to love her. Hell, you didn’t deserve someone as amazing as her!” He tried hard to keep his voice low, but he could feel it vibrating with anger that built his volume.
Clarice actually stood, glaring at him. “She is a monster. She won’t tell you her secret, but this storm? The one that tore apart whole families? That was her fault!”
Ryder laughed maliciously. Oh, wasn’t that just priceless? “Your daughter found out that you actually planned on her dying. You simply ignored the fact that she is an Origin. Mating her with the wrong guy never would have worked and you know it. He probably did too, but was there a deal? Prestige to be gained when he acted like he seriously cared about her only to be late for changing her. Is that what this was about? A tragic hero? A poor family and the guy that was supposed to be their son-in-law?” He trailed off, breathing hard. It suddenly was crystal clear that this had exactly been the plan. The only reason why things hadn’t come that way was the females leaning back in the two-seater, staring at her nails as if she was bored. Maya had saved his life by saving Cany’s.
He owed her absolutely everything.
“Maya,” he gasped and she looked up, her purple eyes going soft.
“Ryder,” she gave back as if they were playing some game.
“She would‘ve never allowed me to touch her if you hadn’t told her that she was an Origin. She wanted to keep herself for that douche on the sake of parents that hate her. “He shook his head in disbelief.
“No, she came here, telling us how proud we should be because she was still pure. Pure! Our daughter had been tainted by the fates before she ever was born. I don’t know what crime we committed to gain a girl like that as punishment,” Clarice snapped, the hatred in her voice almost too much for Ryder to bear.
“She asked us to be okay with her choice. A warrior. You, of all people, the guy who barely knows how to treat the higher class of the Morningstar race. We couldn’t ever agree to that, but then again, she didn’t expect us to. She knew we wouldn’t agree,” Cany’s father added.
“The true punishment is that you’ll never see all the things your daughter will be. You won’t see her as a mother, the Queen’s courtier, as a mate, or a listener. You won’t ever realize what a truly great female came from a family that is so rotten to the core. Our father loved Maya unconditionally even when he knew what she was going to be. He never once thought she could be a monster and that where by definition of our race, she was one. I’d prefer a thousand Hellraise to you two, because at least Hellraise have some kind of code. They stick to what they love – blood. You don’t even have that decency. Sis, are you ready? I think I need to get back to my Origin and prove to her how much she means to me. Afterwards, I’m going to try and think of a way how I can ever pay you back for making her realize that she belongs with me. How can I ever thank you?”
Maya stood, grinning.
“Just love her exactly the way she deserves. Now, if you are done here…?” She pointed at the door and Ryder took a deep breath. His anger had evaporated the moment he realized that Cany had given it all up because of him. She might have returned to her parents to find out the truth, but Cany no longer had any reservations about whom she wanted to be with, and that was him. She was his and his only and it was time they made it official.
In the door, Maya paused and turned back to the two that now looked rather disheveled despite not having done a thing.
“Just one last thing. You are not welcome in m
y house unless you want to do right by your daughter. Any other reason for you to show up and I will have my mates escort you out,” she threatened in a low voice and Ryder wasn’t sure he ever wanted to cross his sister again.
“The Queen’s mate doesn’t live with her,” George stated as if he reminded Maya of a protocol she had forgotten.
Another time Maya smiled. She really enjoyed this little power battle. “Seems you didn’t get the memo. My mates stay with me. I’m not exactly your regular Queen and that little pimping and pruning act the higher classes of the Morningstars have going on? That’s something I’m going to try and abolish. Women need to make their own decisions.”
“Mates,” Clarice just repeated, sinking down on the sofa next to her as if the world was finally going down.
“Yes, twins. And they are both mine. Guess fate figured I need a stronger army if I want to change traditions, so I got them both. And now, good morrow,” she said, actually bowing to Cany’s parents.
Outside of the mansion Ryder paused by her side and they both took the view in. He realized that no one else was there. “Alone, Maya? Again?” he snapped and she turned to him, hugging herself after pulling pins from her hair and letting it spill over her shoulders.
“Weren’t you the one accusing me of taking stupid risks for a family I wish I had when, in truth, I already had one?” she wanted to know and Ryder stared at her. “Kaden told me about the talk you and the twins had before they came to me yesterday. It wasn’t a hard guess where you’d go to get rid of your anger.”
“You ruined everything. I wanted to be all –”
“You were, Ryder. You don’t understand that your intention of making this right for her was all she’d ever need,” Maya said softly, touching his arm.
“Those boys of yours talk too much,” he finally decided to mumble and Maya actually laughed, turning away from him to enjoy the light breeze that surrounded them.