by Sam Destiny
Ryder turned to him, his eyes pleading. “Don’t, Jay. I’m begging you,” he whispered and Jaden never had seen his best friend like that. It broke his heart and still, his mind was set.
“She’ll survive and she won’t go insane! Don’t you see? A child that is not first born, but still an Origin? Not yet insane even though she’s nearing the thirty years?” Lara’s voice was intense as she squeezed herself in between the males and all their testosterone.
“Dearest Creator, she’s…” Ryder gasped.
Jaden still missed out on what he needed to know unless… “She’s the Queen?” It was impossible, so unreal that he could just shake his head.
“If you commit to it, she won’t be much of a responsibility for you at all. The Queen is turned and then moves away into a different mansion, opening her house to all Origins who need it; for example the widowed ones and the mistreated; the ones with kids. She’ll provide a safe haven for whoever needs it. You just would have to drop by there every now and then for the blood exchange. You wouldn’t even have to worry about her because she’ll always be protected.” Still Colbin sounded worried. Did he fear Jaden would turn him down? Or did he worry his conclusion wasn’t right after all?
“If she becomes my mate she’ll be out of my hair? That doesn’t sound logical,” Jaden fussed, still feeling how a certain peace came over him. He wasn’t ready for a mate and a baby that might come with it, but for some reason it sounded nice to be bound to her. No one else would ever bother him about finding someone again and he’d be finally truly free.
“The Queen never has a family of her own and you won’t be responsible for protecting her, so yes, she’s out of your hair,” Colbin explained and Lara took his arm.
“A new generation of Morningstars. This is truly a day to celebrate,” she all but sobbed. Women just were too damn emotional.
“She won’t die,” Ryder whispered, then he spun on his heels, being out of the room in no time. Jaden couldn’t help but envy him for being as far away from this conversation as possible.
“Are you sure it’s the right decision to not turn her right away?” Lara asked after Jaden had left. They had agreed on keeping Maya’s status a secret for now in a talk that made it more than clear where Jaden’s heart was.
“It’s better if she trusts someone other than Jaden first. You, for example. Turning her now would send the wrong signals. As if we wouldn’t care for her as a person, just for her as our new Queen,” Colbin explained. “I can see on your face that you like her. I could see it on Ryder’s face that she mattered. I think whatever you and Jaden told her was enough for one day anyways. No need to put any pressure on her now.”
Lara nodded slowly. “She’ll be a better Queen if she works with the Order instead of against it,” she agreed.
“I feel better knowing she’ll accept whoever we promise to be by her side to protect her. Turning her now would make her carry a grudge against all of us and I can’t put Jaden with her. Plus, you heard him. He doesn’t want her,” Colbin went on, but Lara could tell that he didn’t believe his own words. The young warrior had no idea yet what it meant to have a true mate.
“You never wanted an Origin. You never thought you could be fine with one, either. You told me you’d fuck me so we could get over it and…”
“I know, I was there,” he growled while Lara only grinned, feeling good that she had made the big bad warrior feel chagrin.
“Difference between him and me is that I never had to let you go once you were mine,” Colbin said, turning to look at her. He looked tired, exhausted, as if he had already fought the battle they both new still lay ahead of them.
“In the light of his and her heart I think this is the absolutely wrong way because he’ll just fall all the harder in love with her if we keep her around, but I can’t think of him and her first. I need to think of our race, and for that I need to keep her around. Additionally this needs planning and strategizing… Where will she go? We should have the new court here somewhere so she is close by. Until she leaves we’ll try to keep him away from her by keeping him busy with fighting and the rest of the warriors…”
Lara knew what he was aiming at. If she stayed around here, spending a lot of time with them all, they’d fall under her spell. There was just something about Maya that made people trust her fully. They’d all have a hard time letting her go.
“We’ll just hope that once the time comes to say goodbye Jaden won’t be fully broken,” Colbin finished and Lara hated both, the thought about a broken Jaden and the cold, calculating tone Colbin had used to say that sentence.
It made for good leadership and sucky interpersonal relationships. Not with her, but with others, she knew that. He loved all of his warriors, cared for them, but still a few years back they had lost one fighter exactly because of this cold leader attitude.
Lucas, the lost one, had met an Origin some five years back while the warriors had been on a mission up north. No matter what Colbin had said, there simply was no talking to Lucas and so, instead of protesting, Colbin had let him be an example. Lara had never met that Origin, but Colbin had allowed Lucas to bring her back after a rather long discussion. All warriors had met her, knowing she’d die eventually. Only a few had been there for her last breath.
Even though it hadn’t been Colbin’s fault that she had died, they still blamed him. Lucas had left the Order and a few others had considered following him, wondering how Colbin could have been so cruel as to let them get attached. No one had brought another Origin in though. That was until Jaden had walked in with Maya.
“Thinking of Lucas again?” Colbin asked, obviously feeling her regret through their bond.
“We could lose another warrior and I think that could be bad for the moral of the Order. Especially since Kaden wouldn’t stay if Jaden leaves and Ryder… She’s his sister! This could seriously backfire. Almost everyone in this game is being kept out of the loop,” Lara remarked, just then paying attention to the feelings that poured from Colbin into her. Pain and worry were the dominant ones.
“We can’t lose the Queen’s trust. A new generation or Morningstars will be born and raised. That is what needs to matter to me and to them, babe. If I tell Jaden now that he’d one day love her so much he wouldn’t be ready to let her go, he wouldn’t believe me anyways,” Colbin whispered, trying to find justification and, maybe even absolution.
“No, he most likely wouldn’t believe you, but once the day comes and he realizes you were right, there’d be no one to blame but him. It’s a way better option than him blaming you,” Lara insisted.
Colbin sighed, looking out of the window for a long moment.
“Jaden’s feelings of duty and honor will make him do the right thing, so even if you warn him of falling in love with her, he’ll do it. He might just have enough to time to actually get used to the idea of loving and losing her,” Lara suggested, going over to Colbin, who took her in his arms instantly. Somehow it felt as if she was lending him strength when he was the one who supposedly was always strong. She liked being the only one who knew his soft side.
“Telling Maya now what is going on would probably scare her off, so that isn’t a good idea, either. Think about it! The responsibility she’ll have without anyone around that she trusts or knows! I don’t keep people uninformed because I don’t want them to know, but because I have no other choice!” He ran a hand through his hair and Lara could tell that he was reconsidering his options no matter what he said. Only which part he reconsidered she couldn’t tell.
“You don’t know her, she might surprise you,” Lara whispered.
“Fine, I’ll try to warn Jaden about what’s in the stars for him, but she stays oblivious until we decide otherwise. Sweetheart, I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise anything,” he whispered, giving her a pleading look.
She nodded slowly. “Losing anymore fighters would be like losing my own children,” she said quietly against his shoulders, feeling how Colbin kissed her
hair.
“It would feel like that to me, too,” he admitted.
She couldn’t ever imagine a life without him, but sometimes she wished more people would see the gentle male behind the cold leader.
Chapter Three
Kaden sat next to Maya’s bed, watching his brother’s mate sleep. He felt connected to her on a level that scared him, but he had his theory about that. Jaden and his DNA were too similar for Kaden to not be influenced by Maya. He felt responsible for her on a basic level, making him wonder what it was like for Jaden.
Her expression turned fearful and he reached out, brushing his knuckles gently over her cheek. The contact seemed to calm her instantly. Obviously his DNA called out to her, too.
“Oh Cupcake, you sure stir the people here,” he whispered, hearing someone enter. He turned to look at the newcomer.
“Leave, Ry. No one’s supposed to be here,” he explained once he saw who it was, but Ryder’s eyes were on the sleeping girl. Kaden got up, purposefully blocking Ryder’s view, making sure he couldn’t look at Maya anymore.
“She’s pale. She looks horrible. I mean … wow, she grew up amazing. Look at her, Kaden!”
Was that wonder in Ryder’s voice?
“You are not making any sense, but trust me, Ry, you do not want Jaden to hear you call her beautiful,” Kaden insisted, trying to keep his voice low in order to not wake Maya. Ryder wanted to pass him, but he grabbed his arm. Problem was, Ryder ignored that move as if Kaden wasn’t even present in the room.
“We need to wake her. I need to talk to her. She might survive! I wouldn’t be alone in the world anymore.”
Kaden could only stare. Ryder was one of the fiercest warriors they had, and yet he sounded like a lovesick fool – and Kaden feared hell would be coming down on the base soon if Jaden ever heard Ryder talk like that. Hell, Kaden wanted to beat Ryder up for that himself and Maya wasn’t even his.
“For the love of the Creator, get away from her. Jaden is your best friend! Please, just…”
Ryder spun around suddenly, fury in his eyes.
“Whoa, man, easy!” Kaden took a step back. A fight beside Maya’s bed was the last thing on his mind. Especially with Ryder.
“Did you share her, too? Is that why you are sitting here when your twin isn’t? She’s not one of your fucking toys! Neither for you, nor for Jaden!” Ryder didn’t even bother to lower his voice, obviously not caring if Maya awoke or not.
“Slow down, Ryder! No one slept with her! And the moment I saw how Jaden acted around her I knew she was off-limits. Plus, I saw his tattoo, Ryder. I can add two and two together. It took me a few minutes, but when he went crazy about her earlier, I knew. I am here because she feels like a sister to me now and I wouldn’t let anything come onto my brother’s Origin!” He’d protect her with his life; that much he knew.
“She doesn’t need you to watch out for her, Kaden,” Ryder snarled. “She has me. I’m her brother and believe me, from now on I’ll take that position no matter what.”
Maya couldn’t get herself to interrupt those two fighting guys, but with her vision going high definition again, she could clearly see the guy Kaden had called Ryder.
He was as tall as the twins, dark hair hanging slightly into his eyes; a little longer on the top and shorter on the side. His green eyes were blazing with fury.
Anger, hot and bright, surged through her, making her glare at him.
“From now on? Where were you, brother, the moment my mother started hunting me? The moment I realized I was not one of the Morningstar family I lived with?” She got up, walking over to the two warriors that now stared, speechless. “Where were you when my mother had me captured by her hunters, letting them bite me? Where were you when she tried to starve me to death in her basement? And where were you when I did my first kill on one of her hunters? Where were you then, brother?” She was beating her little fists against his massive chest, knowing she didn’t hurt him one bit, yet not being able to stop herself.
“And why didn’t you tell me that I wasn’t human? When we first met you asked me if I knew what my parents were and what I was. I said human and you didn’t correct me. You let me believe I was normal. I’m not though, right? I’m like all of you… I am…” She trailed off as a thought hit her. If she wasn’t human and Ryder was her brother, then she was one of the monsters. She was a Hellraise. All strength left her and she almost stumbled as her legs threatened to give out.
“Cupcake, you are just yourself, okay? You are exactly how you are supposed to be.” Kaden tentatively went closer until he could reach out and pull her into his arms. She willingly went, feeling the need to hide, shaking with emotional overload.
“But will I be a monster?” she asked, her voice breaking at the last word and she hated herself for her weakness.
“Let her go, Kaden,” she heard a voice from behind them say and it made her step back. She’d recognize that low threat everywhere. Kaden almost jumped away from her, making her wonder if he feared his brother.
She turned to Jaden. “Did you know?” If he had known and had not bothered telling, her heart would break. She couldn’t say why, but if he had betrayed her by keeping that knowledge from her, she wouldn’t be able to stand it. Even though she didn’t know him she trusted him.
“Did I know what, babe?” he asked, his chocolate eyes focusing on her with something hidden in them. It was hard putting a name on what she saw. Regret? Pity?
“Don’t call her that,” Ryder growled and she glared at him.
“You are the last person that should talk to me. I don’t need you to protect me. You didn’t before and you sure as hell don’t need to start now,” she fussed, turning back to look at Jaden. Her body screamed for her to reach out; to touch him just a few seconds. She hoped against everything that he wouldn’t disappoint her.
“Did you know I would end up a monster? That I am a Hellraise?”
The look on his face told her all she needed to know. It was a mix of gentleness and regret. He framed her face, kissing her forehead in a way that made her stomach flutter.
Just stay quiet or lie, she silently pleaded.
“All Hellraise have shining red eyes. Do you?” he asked and she looked up at him. It was as if she could feel his body begging her to trust him.
This was her life though and she never wanted to be like her mother. Ever. Trusting him might make her end up exactly where she didn’t want to be, but seeing how Jaden and her were embraced in that mysterious purple glow again, and the way he held her face in his hands, made it impossible for her to push him back.
“Can you see this glow?” Maya asked, needing to focus on something different for a few minutes. Kaden cocked an eyebrow though, shaking his head in question.
“It’s everywhere, how can you not…” Jaden forced his eyes from her to his twin and back. She could see the little smile playing over his lips.
“They can’t. They would if…” He stopped, his expression going somber again.
“I don’t have those red eyes,” she said, picking up the Original topic. She felt weird having Kaden and Ryder watch the moment between Jaden and her, but for some reason neither of them seemed ready to move.
“If I ever do get them though, then you need to…” Pain crossed his face and he pressed his thumb against her lips, keeping her from finishing that sentence.
“Everything you heard about her, know about her,” Jaden started, staring intently first at Ryder, then at Kaden, “is to stay secret for now. Colbin ordered it.” He turned back to Maya, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks. “One of us will check on you regularly and even though I trust all warriors, I’ll make sure they stay away from you.” He stopped before saying more, obviously wondering how much she was able to guess up until now.
The twin expression of guilt on Kaden and Ryder’s faces told him all he needed to know: She knew. Realization spread over her beautiful features though as she connected the last of the dots.
“A ta
ttoo from your Origin, something that hints to you or her. Flames because… You have flames because I am a Hellraise. Flames because I am yours,” she whispered, feeling a sudden sense of peace coming over her. She belonged somewhere. No matter what he did, no matter when she died, Jaden was connected to her. There was finally someone she irrevocably belonged to.
“Between your brother and mine, make sure it’s your brother watching me,” she pleaded, feeling Jaden nod after he had pulled her in his arms.
“Told ya, Cupcake, you are safe with me,” Kaden promised, stepping close to kiss her hair.
“We need to get out. Ryder, you and Kade come along. We have a few nighttime hours to maybe find a trace of her mother. Things need to be done. Cupcake, you’ll stay with Matt…”
“Matthew knows, Jaden,” Ryder said barely hearable.
Jaden froze, looking ready to kill while Ryder seemed tortured with anguish.
“When I failed to … you know,” he started and Jaden growled, proving that he knew exactly what Ryder meant. Maya though had no idea what he was talking about.
“No, we don’t know,” she hissed, but one look at Kaden’s face made clear that this was a lie. She was the only one out of the loop.
“I sent Matthew. He was new, supposed to prove himself. He came back, saying he had been successful. So he knows. He might not have made the connection right away and I guess he feared repercussions from me, but he certainly realized now what’s going on,” Ryder explained softly.
“I can’t believe you,” Kaden snorted in disgust, the disbelief clear in his tone and Maya saw anger flash across Ryder’s face, but she didn’t let him speak.
“Neither can I! Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” she all but screamed, trying to get the attention of the three warriors surrounding her.
Jaden leaned in, thoughtfully pressing his lips against her forehead as if they’d known each other for years instead of just a mere forty-eight hours. For a moment the gesture distracted her and she looked at his handsome face before she shook her head to clear her thoughts.