Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (9 page)

“Good,” Lex whispered and Jaden still heard it. “Now imagine saving your brother’s Origin, bonding with her the way you are bonded with Maya, even while she constantly tells you that she’s choosing your brother. Can you see yourself wanting your brother to be alive and happy so much that you step back and live with your own pain? Watch those two together all the time, watch their love bloom because
you
loved them both so much and you figured two people happy was better than none? That is what Kaden is going through.”

Jaden roared in anger. He hated people that talked logic and he hated that Lex was privy to his thoughts because there was no lying to either of them that way. “Why didn’t she pick Kaden then?” It was probably the only thing he really wanted to know. He couldn’t afford to be mad at everyone for knowing their secret because he needed friends, or at least people he could trust.

“Maybe you should go and ask her about that,” Lex suggested and Jaden felt pain piercing him, not sure if it was himself or Maya’s feelings. As it was, he wanted to draw her up against his body and never let go again, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to handle the rejection.

“Oh boy, you really don’t know Maya at all,” Lex groaned from where he stood and Jaden turned back to him.

“She misses you. When I say your name, her emotions spike. She used to trust you. I need you to…” Jaden shrugged, not knowing how to end that sentence. He just wanted someone to be with her in case Kaden checked out again.

A dark chuckle made its way past his lips as he realized that without Kaden’s little problem, he might still not know. “Life sucks sometimes,” he mumbled and Lex nodded, worry written all over his warrior brother’s face. There was so much Jaden should be telling the others, plans they should make to find out what was wrong with Kaden, but for one night the world had to wait, he decided.

“Go. Eternity doesn’t end tonight,” Lex agreed and Jaden shrugged.
Sadly it doesn’t
, he thought darkly, knowing deep down that he didn’t really mean it.

Ryder made sure to keep his hands in his pockets so no one could see how he fisted them in anger. If he wouldn’t know it better, he’d say Cany’s mother was afraid of her own daughter. The fire he so enjoyed in Cany was almost extinguished and Ryder had a mind to grab the girl and kiss her until fury made her return to her own self.

“At the Queen's behest, I have come to personally deliver your invitation to the Royal Masquerade. I would be most happy to convey your response to Her Majesty. Of course, you may wish to first consult your calendar of engagements to ensure your availability. Still, we would be delighted to welcome you in the mansion that night. It is still some months in the future, but I know you prefer to be notified far enough in advance to make adequate preparations.” The little courtier sat straight, as if she suddenly had a stick up her ass and even though she usually was a stiff, Ryder had noticed how she let lose more often. Cany had stopped wearing dresses every day and she smiled a lot more. He was even sure he had heard her curse. Her happiness made him smile as well.

“Can your guard please sit down?” Cany’s mother asked and Ryder wondered if he had missed it, then he realized that Cany’s mother never even had the decency to introduce herself.

“Ryder, remember?” he growled. He had told her his name the moment he had stood behind Cany on the steps leading to the door. He’d been furious because no child should bow to their mother. Ever.

Cany stiffened at the tone of his voice and Ryder moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. He had meant to be reassuring. Instead, he felt how she tensed even more, making him worry that she’d shatter if he made a wrong movement.

“That’s very inappropriate, Hurricane, don’t you think?” her mother asked, making a face as if someone had shit on her beloved carpet and then told her to suck it up.

“What is?” Ryder inquired, tempted to piss Cany’s mother off even more by letting his hands go into Cany’s curls and gently cup her neck to make the courtier’s eyes meet his face.

“Hurricane…” the mother started, but Ryder just stepped closer. The mother flinched and Cany stood, surprising him by placing her slender hand on his back.

“Ryder, please,” she cried out and then pulled him back. He shouldn’t be as protective of her as he was, but somehow he couldn’t help it.

“Please what,
Hurricane
? Let her treat you the way she does?” he asked, turning to the now even paler girl. There was fire in her eyes again and that was something he recognized.

“You tried to kill your own sister and then sent someone after her. I’m pretty sure you don’t know proper family etiquette,” she snapped and Ryder heard her mother gasp.

“Clarice, what happened?” So that was the woman’s name? A guy that didn’t look older than forty, wearing a crisp suit and honey - colored combed back hair, joined them and placed a hand on his mate’s shoulder, similar to how Ryder had done it earlier. He now understood what that maybe had implied. The resemblance to Cany was fully missing, since his face was round and plump, unlike his daughter’s. The little courtier seemingly had gotten her looks from her mother, no trace of her father anywhere.

“George, your daughter is treating our guest quite rudely. She seems to have lost her manners ever since moving in with that odd Queen.” Ryder needed to leave right now or he’d show Cany’s mother exactly which manners he
didn’t
possess. Speaking to Cany the way they were was one thing, but calling Maya odd was an entirely different story.

“Mother, father, I’m sorry. I never intended to stultify you in front of your guest. He sometimes forgets whom he’s speaking to. I apologize profoundly. I will take Ryder and we will leave. I came to bring you the invitation and I did. Please, let us know your answer in time,” Cany said and then did that tiny bow thing she did whenever her mother rebuked her.

“Leave, Ryder, I need to speak to my daughter alone.” And just like that, he was dismissed. Fuming, he left the house, hoping the night air would cool him dow
n
.

“Nox!” God, how he hated that name, especially since Destra called it twenty-four-seven these days.  Forcing a smile, he moved closer, finding her in a blue dress, her dark tresses tumbling down her pale back until almost hitting the curve of her ass. From behind she looked so much like her daughter, Nox had to clear his throat.

“What's this for?” he asked and she spun in front of a floor-length mirror, clearly liking the way she looked.

“It's my dress for the Masquerade, of course,” Destra announced and Nox gritted his teeth.
Of course.
How could he not know that? Right, because she hadn't mentioned it before.

“What masquerade?” he asked, trying to reign his temper in.

She turned back to him, coming closer to wrap her slender arms around his neck, shaking her hair out before meeting his eyes. “There will be a ball at the Queen's mansion and everyone will be there,” she explained with a malicious grin. “This time we'll get directly to her and I'll wrap my hands around her neck until she takes her last breath.”

“Maya was turned, Destra. She's no longer dying that easy. Plus, there won't be a moment when she's unguarded. We've seen her warriors and her mate won't be stupid a second time,” Nox remarked and Destra's happy expression faltered, her red eyes dulling with disappointment.

“I forgot,” she admitted, touching her lips with the tip of her finger. It gave Nox an excuse to step away from her. He had waited for a psychic breakdown on Destra's side for more than six months, since he no longer was performing the spell she counted on. Of course, he didn't exactly tell her that. She thought he still helped her and it killed Nox to know that placebos weren’t just something that worked with humans. Destra was the perfect example. Every time he mumbled unintelligible, senseless words when she thought her sanity was taking over, Destra claimed to instantly feel better.

He was biting his time, hoping she'd go on a killing spree, but so far she was testing his patience. “Besides, Mistress, you don't want people to hate you, so attacking the Queen in her own home would ruin your great reputation in the community.” He almost snorted at his own comment, knowing that people feared Destra. He had seen the stiff way they behaved around her whenever Destra invited them over for tea. It was probably where she had heard about the ball.

“You‘re right. We will get her killed one way or another. If I could think about a way to draw her out, we could just do it right here in our home, and no one would ever find out.” Luckily Destra didn't find out that right then Nox didn't feel as confident or happy as she did. However, he knew exactly how to draw the Queen out.

“We should send a message to the Morning Star Police, letting them know that the Queen's dead father obviously isn't as dead as she thought.” Nox couldn't even say why, but he absolutely loved the look of devastation crossing Destra's face.

“That's not funny,” she snapped and he walked closer, cupping her cheek.

“I know, but it's the only thing that will make her come alone. Anything else and she wouldn't protest one bit if a warrior wanted to go with her. Maya loved her father. You know that,” Nox nudged and then ran a finger over Destra's bottom lip. He had the perfect plan and couldn't wait to set it in motion, but he needed Destra. Maya had to see with her own eyes who freed her from her tyrant mother.

After all, it was time that Nox exchanged his broken vampire toy for a lively one.

There was a ballroom at the mansion that Maya never before had bothered to walk in. The marble floors were decorated with gold ornaments representing this or that family. The walls were laced with the same tones and even the huge windows were covered in curtains portraying the same colors. That night, Maya didn’t see any of it, either.

It was the first dancing class they’d hold in the house and Jaden had promised her to take the class with her. Of course, that had been before the big confession. Maya regretted that she hadn’t told him about her and Kaden before. Not that there really was something to talk about. The second twin hovered around her, ready to catch her if she should break. Maya felt him in every step she did and it gave her satisfaction, not because he was there, but because it wasn’t the shell she had encountered the night before.

“Maya.” She recognized the voice and wished she could give them all a smile, but it was just not possible.

“Miles,” she whispered, going over to hug him tightly. She hadn’t seen him in a while and guessed it had nothing to do with him not wanting to see her and everything with her being so occupied. He was tense under her hands and she remembered how hard it had to be for him to be around so many people. She took a moment to look him up and down, taking in his short-cropped light hair, his shining red eyes and the way he gritted his teeth. She had no doubt that the Hellraise would so just fine; he had a strong mind after all.

“Thank you for coming,” Maya told him, kissing his cheek, then she turned to the next guy in line. “Devon!”

She let the Highlander wrap her in his strong arms, taking comfort in the people she almost had considered friends before this craziness started. How had she allowed them to stay away for so long when, in truth, she could have needed them more than she was ready to admit? She took in his shoulder length red hair and the hazel eyes, taking comfort in his Highlander looks. He was huge compared to her, but she never had felt threatened by him.

Last, but not least, Maya faced the mind reader she hadn’t seen since the last official warrior meeting three months ago. Lex looked uneasy, biting his lip with his brows furrowed over his aquamarine eyes. Seeing him brought a relief to her that had her almost in tears. “Hi,” she breathed and then threw her arms around his neck. He held her tight, whispering apologies into her hair, making her smile. Somewhere on the way she had lost all anger at the warriors. She wanted them by her side, no matter who it was or what they had kept from her. Forgiveness was her greatest strength and biggest weakness in the fight to make her race better and stronger, yet for now she knew she could count on them. The only warrior missing in the room was Jaden and even though that sucked her good mood away like a black hole, she still turned to the murmuring males and females that stood with their backs to the door, obviously ready to escape. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the middle of the room, slowly raising her hands in a gesture to silence everyone.

“Hello!” She smiled, meeting a few glances. “I’ve met most of the females before tonight. I’m delighted to see that many of your brought partners along. As it is, I provide the most handsome guys as stand-in if you came alone.” She winked at the girls standing alone, then pointed at the five warriors standing to her right. She knew she embarrassed them, but she counted on it lightening the mood.

“Thanks for making me feel like a piece of meat,” Lex mumbled and Maya heard a few giggles.

“Sorry, Lex,” she said, mouthing a ‘so not sorry’ to the girls in front of her. More laughter. “For those who haven’t met me yet, I’m Maya. I don’t want to be called Queen or majesty. Maya is totally fine. If you feel more comfortable with my title, expect to call it more than once since it’s hard for me getting used to it.” She shrugged her shoulders in apology and then nodded towards the dancing instructor they had hired. Cany had suggested him and Maya instantly had taken a liking to him since he didn’t have any reservations or opinions about what he wanted to do.

“Please, everyone, welcome Kendrick, who will be our instructor in this class.” Their guests clapped and Maya nodded at him, stepping back.

“Everyone, grab yourself a partner, preferably one you like to look at because we’ll be here for two hours,” Kendrick winked.

Maya couldn’t help but smile before stepping back. She wanted to dance, but she preferred waiting until every girl there had a partner. Maya saw Kaden come closer, but a girl with raven hair intercepted him. Surprise and happiness coursed through him and then he hugged the female, taking her hand to lead her away.

Nervousness overtook her and she looked up in utter disbelief as Jaden made his way over to her, looking too handsome for his own good: his trademark black jeans hung low on his hips, his chiseled abs hidden beneath a white button-down, the top button open. It made Maya want to run her tongue over the free piece of skin. Jaden actually had pulled a suit jacket over the shirt and Maya’s hands itched to take him out of the room and then very slowly undress him.

“Hi,” he whispered, leaning in the press an achingly sweet kiss to her forehead, then stepped back. It wasn’t what Maya wanted, but it was better than not having him there at all. “Look at the crowd,” Jaden then added, not taking his eyes of her face.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she smiled, nodding. “I’m happy with the outcome. There are a few Origins here, so maybe I’ll soon be able to extend my court.” This had been the basic idea underneath the ballroom dancing class: She wanted to find those Origins and bring them together.

“The guys came, too,” Jaden noticed and Maya nodded again.

“You came,” she finally brought out and he nodded, taking her hand as the music started. She had no idea how, but he instantly fell in the rhythm and led her to perfection.

“I promised I’d be here, and I’m done breaking promises,” he assured her, gently leading her in circles. Only faintly she heard Kendrick’s explanations about starting with the left foot and then moving on with stepping forward. She just followed Jaden’s lead, a little hurt about the fact that they stood exactly at arm’s length.

“What’s with the face?” Jaden wanted to know and Maya met his eyes. She could see the doubt and hesitation in them, felt the distance between her and her mate, but she was glad he was there. She counted it as a start.

“You’re too far away,” she pouted, actually making him laugh. It was such a nice sound, her insides tingled and she felt a grin split her face.

“It’s the position you hold while doing ballroom dance, cupcake,” Jaden smiled, shaking his head. “Look around.”

She did, and instantly her eyes landed on Kaden and the raven girl. He looked genuinely happy; something Maya hadn’t seen in quite a while. It drove a spear into her own happiness.

“She’s simply a girl he used to know,” Jaden said ever so softly and Maya felt even worse because she couldn’t just be happy that he came. Looking back at him, she smiled.

“That’s fine. I wasn’t … actually, I won’t lie to you. No more half truths or secrets,” she announced quietly and then shrugged. “The way she looks at him it’s pretty obvious she’s more than someone he used to know. But it doesn’t matter.” She was terrible. She should be relieved Jaden was there, and she should try to make things right between them. Instead, she felt like crying by the way this woman looked at Kaden, the man who Maya had refused time and again.

Jaden now stepped closer, enveloping her in his warmth. “He loves only you,” he assured her, kissing the side of her head. “After this is over, we need to talk, Maya,” he then added and Maya groaned. She hated that sentence more than she hated broccoli, and she really didn’t like that vegetable.

He chuckled, wanting to say something, but Kendrick suddenly stood next to them, squeezing his arms between the two. “Distance, your majesty. The waltz is an elegant dance, not some reason for couples to grind together,” Kendrick told them with a disapproving glance. Jaden stepped back, smirking at her over Kendrick’s head. “I don’t care how royal you are, etiquette counts in those circles,” he went on and Maya nodded, lowering her eyes before she burst out laughing. It was sweet having Jaden there to joke and laugh with, but she could see the tense lines on his face and felt the strain in his muscles. She had no illusion about them being okay, but she knew there, that moment, that they would be.