Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2)

by Destiny, Sam

  Someone wasn't happy about that and for some reason it bothered Maya. “You have a problem with other races?” she asked. She didn't want to get started on a lecture of equality, but she sure would if -

  “No, hell no! I just think it'll be so damn hard to find all Origins and save them when we don't even know where to look. I don't want to think about the bloke out there who didn't find his Origin just because she was a wolf in some pack we'll never meet,” he explained, his voice full of ancient sadness. Maya melted. There was another guy who couldn't wait for the day he'd meet ... his mate. After all, she already knew he was an Origin. One day, that would be a problem she'd have to deal with, too, or Tristan would die. Problem was, did a female Origin belong to him or where they looking for a normal female? Would she be glowing like all the unmated warriors did? This was all backwards and making her head spin. Shaking free of those thoughts, she focused back on the task at hand.

  “And?” she asked and Tristan looked around as if he was trying to find something, or rather someone in the otherwise empty room.

  “I hear there's an Origin being mistreated.” He looked uneasy, almost sick at the thought and Maya raised a brow.

  “How do you know they have a vampire there?” Her hands paused in her task of buttering the slices of toast.

  “She's a wolf, as far as I gathered,” Tristan replied and Maya bit her lip. If it would have been a vampire they maybe had the chance to go in and get her out, but a wolf ... they couldn't just demand a girl to go with them, especially not if the mistreatment wasn't obvious. For a moment she was curious why the MSP had contacted her about that when she realized that they most likely didn't even know. It was all Tristan and that could only mean one thing...

  “Funny, I swear Colbin and Lara just went to see some wolves a few days back, She could have come to me directly,” she mentioned, acting as if it wasn't important. In fact, Lara probably had just returned from that trip the night Devon had brought her back to help here. It cut deep that Lara hadn't trusted her enough to come to her no matter what. She was pretty sure that she had always mentioned how personal stuff was left aside as soon as it concerned the Morningstars.

  “I didn't say...” Tristan trailed off as he realized his mistake. She didn't blame him. He most likely wasn't around women enough to know how manipulative they could get if they wanted to. “How did you know?”

  “Because what coincidence is it that they sent you? Or in fact, sent someone at all? I know Lara and Colbin went there because the official capacities don't care about anyone but our own race. Colbin is the one keeping this more or less peaceful,” she explained and had to admire Colbin for that. As much as he was an ass, she could still respect his leadership skills.

  “You really did your homework,” Tristan smiled and she nodded, before rolling her eyes.

  “Twins,” was all the warning she could give him before the two stormed into the room, seething. She didn't even try to pacify them. There was no use anyways. Instead, she pushed the prepared sandwiches forwards. “Here, for you.” The surprised look on her mates' faces were almost comical.

  “What's that?” Kaden asked.

  “Distraction,” Jaden growled, eying the bread as if it was going to attack him. She cocked her head and his expression softened. “It looks damn good though,” he confessed and then reached for one cut piece. Maya had prepared it the way she liked it most, some mayo, ketchup, mustard, salad and a lot of turkey meat. A little barbeque sauce and the thing was perfect in her mind.

  “Heaven,” Jaden moaned around a bite and his twin actually followed his brother’s example and started to eat, too.

  “Fawk,” he mumbled around a mouthful and Maya shook her head in exasperation.

  “You have seriously awesome manners,” she teased and then laughed as both twins scowled at her. They didn't cease their chewing though. Moving to stand between them, she winked at Tristan and then let her fingertips trail over Jaden and Kaden's back, making them hum in appreciation. She loved it.

  Tristan moved in his seat, looking very uncomfortable. “One mate wasn't enough to torture me, right? You needed to bring along a second one, too,” he fussed softly, yet Maya could hear the humor in his voice.

  “Good warrior, bad warrior,” Jaden mumbled before biting back into his sandwich, polishing it of in three bites only.

  “Who's good and who's bad?” Tristan wanted to know, very obviously stalling.

  “They know, Tristan,” she helped out. “They are just here to listen to what you planned or better yet, what you're asking of me.” The officer turned pale and it was almost funny if she wouldn't be feeling so bad for him.

  Jaden reached for another sandwich, studying the younger vampire. The door opened and Tristan groaned.

  “How many more will be here to hurt me?” he asked and Lex furrowed his brow.

  “Maya asked me to come,” he explained and Maya took a deep breath, nodding.

  “Lex is a mind-reader. He told the guys why you came. I'm sorry. I should have probably mentioned it before, but I thought that it was common knowledge. I was wrong, I guess,” she explained, shrugging.

  “He's asking you to go,” Lex stated into the silence that followed Maya's confession. He had no patience left and the officer turned to him, glaring at him.

  “Thank you, I kinda wanted to ease my way into it.”

  “No easing your way into it, Officer. Jay and Kay would have had your balls after having finished their food. Be glad Maya prepared enough for a small army in such a short time,” Lex remarked and Maya noticed that just like the rest of the warriors he was wary of the Morningstar Officer.

  Tristan stood up, clearly upset about being so openly on display. Lex grabbed his arm, wanting to hold him back, but the officer just looked down at the hand that covered his elbow over the jacket. “Let me go right now,” Tristan said ever so slowly and Lex glared at him another second before letting go. The mind-readers aquamarine eyes were blazing with emotions Maya couldn’t name.

  “Pussy,” he snapped and Maya turned to him, furious.

  “For someone so smart you are pretty dumb sometimes. It's not his fault he's mad,” she fussed in anger, then she left to go after the officer. She caught him outside, where he had paused to stare up at the stars. It probably was something about their race that made everyone so fascinated with them, but she wouldn't lie, she loved to look at the sparkling lights.

  “Tris, I'm sorry,” Maya whispered, honestly meaning it.

  “I don't know what happened. There was a time when I grew up that I thought the warriors and us should be a unit, in the same fight, you know? When they came into the office, it was okay. They were polite, but being here now is proving definitely that we seem to be standing on different sides of a fucking ravine. I don't even want to know what they’d do if they realize...” He shook his head, leaving the sentence unfinished.

  “Realize what?” she wondered and he pushed his hands into his trouser pockets pulling his shoulders up until they almost covered his ears.

  “In their eyes I'm half a male. And then, I'm additionally an Origin. If they find that out, I could be a female as well.”

  “Being what you are doesn't make you anything less worthy. In my eyes there are only two kinds of people: those with honor and those without. We'll get them there, and trust me, I plan on having you a lot more around since I think you're going to waste away in that stupid station. Human liaison or not, I think you should be a warrior,” she commented and surprised claimed his features.

  “What?” He didn't believe one word she had said. It was clear in his eyes and in the way his shoulders went rigid. He honestly thought she was lying to him.

  “All in due time, but that's the plan. Did you ever think about your change? I mean, we have no idea how long you still have, right?”

  Tristan just shrugged at that and Maya reached out to touch his arm. As it was, he didn't really fit in anywhere. Sadly, she had to agree that the boys wouldn't go easy
on him if he was to be around more. It wasn't him being an Origin though. It was merely the fact that he had come only to ask her to walk into danger twice now.

  “So, the wolves -” she stared.

  “Tell me you'll get the Origin out there. You aren't like the rest,” It was as if his statement had lost heat in the middle. Maya couldn't shake the feeling that 'the rest' were specific people.

  No matter how little the guys would like it, she already knew she couldn't leave the girl there. “Of course I will,” she agreed and he caught her off-guard, hugging her tight.

  “Bye, my Queen.” He left after bowing and she waved, then turned back to the mansion, exhaling. Jaden and Kaden wouldn't like that much, but there was no changing that. They couldn't barge in with a whole army without disrupting whatever truce was between vampires and werewolves. This was a delicate matter and she feared that the twins didn't exactly have the patience for it.

  Cany stared at Ryder, not sure if she should laugh or cry. Ryder looked devastated and if the story he had told her was anything to go by, that meeting surely had been a disaster.

  “I'm sorry Maya ruined your plan?” she carefully offered, not sure if that was he wanted to hear, leaving it more as a question than a statement.

  “I think she actually just came to make sure I'd be telling your parents exactly what I think of them. I wasn't very good at it. Hell, Cany, I wanted to come back with them and have them crying and tell you that they love you and everything be perfectly fine. I wanted to go there and tell them how amazing you were until they'd realize it, too. There's no one more loyal than you and... I messed up. They hate you. They hate Maya. And they hate me. They'll never accept our mating,” he said in a rushed whisper and Cany's heart was ready to burst with love for the siblings. Ryder had fought a lost battle and Cany couldn't help but think that Maya was there to prevent the worst from happening once Ryder realized exactly what he was up against.

  “Your sister wasn't there to ruin this for you,” she explained gently, wishing she could thank Maya, yet needing to soothe Ryder's hurt heart first. “She was there so my parents would focus their hate on her, not you. She wanted you to still be better than her. She has heard enough about me and my parents to know how they are. She took the fall for your family.”

  Ryder's emerald eyes, shining with regret, never left her face. “It is true that they probably hate her more than they hate me,” he admitted and Cany saw his lips curl into a smile.

  “Thank you for trying, but you shouldn't have gone there.” She walked closer, running her hand up his chest until it came to his collar and touched skin. Their glow calmed her instantly and the burning on her back eased her soul.

  “I thought that if I can get rid of my anger at them it would be safe mating you. I can't risk us creating an explosive reaction,” he told her, lowering his gaze another time. Cany could hardly believe that this was the overly confident warrior she had come to know the first time she had walked to the doors downstairs. Now he looked hopeless, hating himself for not having found the key to her happiness when he didn't yet understand that all she needed was him.

  “I think you’ve been safe mating me all the time. There’s nothing more calming in my life than you! Maya tried and failed, no one else could have, but you came in and … it’s us, Ryder. There’s no else who could ever do to me what you do to me just by being in one room with me. I love being around you. I love seeing your smile. I love every little thing about how you make me feel. I’ve never felt special before. Excluded, yes, feared, even more so, but special? No. So you could’ve stayed next to me in bed and enjoy your hours instead of beating yourself up for something you cannot change anyway,” she remarked, smiling up at him.

  She had no idea what made it so easy to give herself over to a guy she hadn’t spoken to much, but who had been there whether she wanted it or not. Maybe it was the simple thing that fate decided they belong together, but trusting Ryder came as easy to her as breathing. She was a raised Morningstar, had the vampire hearing and speed, yet like all Morningstar children, no matter – vampire or not – she had never needed blood to survive. She couldn’t wait to try that and more with him. After all, he’d be her first. At everything.

  “Cany,” he just breathed, then she was gathered up in his arms and brought over to the bed. Her back hit the mattress and she couldn’t help but laugh as his eyes got dark, anticipation making her breath come short. “Are you ready to be turned?” he wanted to know and she nodded. She couldn’t be more ready if she had been born ready.

  In the back of her mind, she realized that it was the middle of the night and maybe, just maybe there were things going on downstairs that needed to be taken care off. When she said as much to Ryder, he just shook his head, telling her that only she needed taking care off.

  It was only when Ryder crawled up to her that she started to tremble, apprehension setting in. She knew he had been with woman before. Hell, the way the other warriors talked about him he was aiming not only for a lot of woman, but mainly the married, taken kind. She would absolutely disappoint him. Terror seized her as he leaned in to kiss her. It wasn’t their first kiss and while she knew it wouldn’t be their last kiss either, Cany held her breath.

  What if she did something wrong?

  Obviously she must’ve stiffened under his hands because he pulled back, arching a dark brow while glowering at her. “Tell me in five words or less what’s wrong or I’ll bite you to get in touch with your feelings,” he threatened and she swallowed.

  “WhatifIdosomethingwrong?” she rushed out, not caring that those were probably more words than he had given her.

  Sighing, he lowered his head to her stomach, kissing the flat plain of her sensitive flesh through the cotton of her top. She could still feel his breath warm her skin. It made her tingle in all the right places.

  “You can’t, Cany,” he promised and she actually hated that he had understood exactly what she had said. Color heated her cheeks and she closed her eyes tight, hoping that if she didn’t see him, he wouldn’t see her. It was childish, but she couldn’t help it. Her arms were locked on her sides, stiff as she pressed herself into the mattress, waiting for what he’d do.

  She felt her shirt moving, cool air hitting her overheated skin, then warm lips pressed against her stomach, leaving a warm trail as they went higher and higher until her bra and her shirt couldn’t go anywhere but over her head. He didn’t even think about that, with ease pushing his arm under her body to lift her enough until her shoulders weren’t touching the bed anymore, then her upper body was bare. Instead of lowering her back into position though, the wet tongue encircled Cany’s nipple, making a strangled moan escape her lips. He worried the little bud until she trembled with a whole new reason. Somehow she was glad he hadn’t tried to talk to her about why she worried, or how much experience he had. She should have just talked to Maya. After all, the Queen now kind of had gone to the next level. She didn’t only need to satisfy one man, but two already. If she didn’t know what best to do, who would?

  Thoughts of her Queen vanished the moment Ryder changed the side and then played both nipples, one with his talented mouth and one with his finger, teasing and twisting until her panties were soaked. He seemed cool as a cucumber and still; Cany couldn’t bring herself to really worry about it.

  “Should I…?” she started, but Ryder instantly shook his head.

  “Unless you’ll offer now to get undressed, then no, you shouldn’t anything,” he mumbled, his voice having gone husky with longing. Cany dared to open her eyes and peered down at him, seeing a bulk in his jeans. Maybe he wasn’t that cool after all.

  “Not what I wanted to say,” she admitted and Ryder moved so his hoodie was brushing against her sensitive peaks while he leaned in and kissed her deeply. It was a sensual kiss, slow and patient. He swept his tongue inside her mouth, tasting her and humming as if he liked what flooded his tongue.

  Cany was so distracted by his kissing that it took a m
oment for her to realize that he was making room for himself between her legs, gently moving his hips against her core. Hot flushes came over her and she moaned into his kiss.

  “Right?” he asked, sounding breathless. He was always beautiful, but now, up close, she was sure there had never been a more handsome male out there.

  He kissed his way down her neck and she raised her arms above her head, trying to find something to hold onto as he tasted every part of her skin while in the process peeling off jeans and underwear in one movement. His warmth left her body, only to be back a second later. This time skin on skin though. Leaning in, he molded his lips to hers, moving them slowly, tentatively, while letting his hand go between their bodies. It was obvious what Ryder’s destination would be once he found her wet and ready, she noticed the first lines of tension and a trembling in his shoulders. Resting his forehead against hers, his hand just cupping her mound, he exhaled slowly.

  “I thought we could take this slow, Cany, but you are so wet, and I’ve been wanting this so bad…” She felt him shake his head and didn’t give her head to catch up with the decision of her heart while she moved. Her lips skimmed his cheek, passing his ear.

  “Don’t make me wait any longer,” she whispered and then struck his shoulder, making it exceptionally clear what she wanted.

  He groaned her name, wrapping a big hand around his dick and aligning himself with her while she couldn’t believe how heady his blood was on her taste buds. She couldn’t remember ever having had something so breathtaking in her mouth. Sucking harder, she felt how he pushed against her opening before carefully impaling himself in her.

  “Slow down, Hurricane,” he pleaded in a strangled voice, the restrain almost being her undoing. He did this for her. He took it slow for her. Ryder was shaking with pent up need and he was still trying to do right by her. She could feel it all: his need, his hope, his happiness and his longing. She would never get enough of that feeling.