35. Oria

In theory I knew what a car was, but actually driving in one felt unreal. Loki was sitting in my lap, restless, like he detested the car ride. It was a weird feeling to be moving, but you were sitting down and able to relax and enjoy the scenery.

The sun was setting, and the beautiful trees were turning different shades of the sun. It was absolutely gorgeous. The guys didn't let me sit by the window, but I leaned over to take a look at anything that caught my eye. We were driving up a winding road into the mountains.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"We are in the mountains in Colorado," Soren said, still looking grumpy that I was going with them.

I had no idea where Colorado was, but I guess I had a lot of things to learn about.

"A lot has changed since you've been in hiding," Gray said, grabbing my hand to kiss it. "Do you remember where you were from?"

I shook my head. "I don't remember much of my childhood or my younger years. Mother said we were hunted for years before she was able to get us a safe place to live."

Loki growled, looking at me as I tried to remember anything from that time.

"Sounds like he didn't like those years," Gray chuckled.

"I don't even remember when we first got him, just that one day, I remember him being there," I said, still trying to remember anything, but like usual, nothing came.

Loki leaned up on my boobs, rubbing his face on my cheek like he knew I needed comfort.

"I love you too, buddy," I said, kissing his nose.

"I'm glad you had him," Soren said, looking like he was getting less grumpy.

"I don't think I would have survived without him." I gave him another kiss before scratching his ears. "I don't know what kind of spell mother cast on him, but I hope I never have to lose him."

The thought of losing him brought tears to my eyes.

"I'm sure we can ask around, but have you thought that it"s you that's keeping him around?" Ryder asked, looking at me in the mirror that was sticking out of the front window.

"I uh… I never thought it was me, I don't heal him like I do Mother," I said, wondering if just being near me kept him young.

The car stayed quiet, and I thought about what Ryder said. Would I do the same for my mates? Would they live as long as I did? The sky grew dark when Ryder slowed the car down taking a road that looked hidden. The road was bumpy, but we got closer to what had to be the castle. It was enormous, gothic in detail and ominous.

We stopped not too close to the castle, but also not too far.

"I need you to stay in this car." Ryder turned around to look at me. "Your life depends on this, and they depend on you."

My heart dropped when he said they, instead of we. I knew I didn't do a good job of keeping the disappointment off my face when Gray held my hand, squeezing it.

"I need you to agree," Ryder said, his gaze too much for me.

I nodded as I looked away. He didn't need to see my disappointment or how much his words had affected me.

"Ok, we meet back here in thirty minutes and if you aren't back here when the time is up, we leave and you can meet us at the safehouse in Glenwood. Understood?" Ryder's voice was commanding, and from what the guys said about him, this was his element.

"Let's do it," Gray said.

"The sooner we leave the sooner we can come back," Soren said, turning my face towards him, giving me a kiss that stole my breath.

"Please stay here. I love you," he whispered against my lips.

I nodded as I tried to keep my emotions in check. They didn't need to feel my worry.

"If anything seems suspicious, please call for us, even if you think you can handle it," Gray said, turning my face towards him.

"I will," I agreed.

Gray pulled me close, touching our foreheads together.

"Don't do anything that could tear us apart; I will not survive without you." He kissed me fiercely.

He didn't have to tell me he loved me, I felt it all the way down to my toes. He kissed my nose before he opened the door. I looked out the front window to see Ryder staring at me. Was that longing in his gaze?

"Take care of our girl, Catzilla," Gray said, before closing the door.

Loki looked up at me, exhausted. I kissed his head before holding him against me as we waited for my men to come back.

It had been longerthan thirty minutes and that damn clock just kept staring at me, annoying me more and more every minute. Sitting here, waiting, was making me even more anxious as my mind went wild with all the possibilities. None of them were good.

When my body couldn't take sitting still any longer, I was about to open the door when figures came into view. My body sagged in relief until I realized there were only two of them and a third person was being carried and she was a woman..

They set the girl down as I watched her try to get away. Ryder"s face was fierce as he talked to her while one of my twins looked like he was trying to reason with her. Her face was etched in sadness, and I swear I could feel it. She fell onto her knees and I knew I had to do something.

"Blondie, you should stay in the car." Soren walked towards me.

"Is this the sister of the woman you loved?" I asked, looking at Ryder.

Ryder nodded looking forlorn.

"And Gray is missing?" I looked between my mates.

"I didn't see him on my way here, but that doesn't mean he didn't get away," Ryder said, sounding confident.

"You of all people know how mates work, what she is feeling." I walked towards the beautiful woman with the most vibrant amethyst eyes I had ever seen.

Soren and Ryder tried to reach for me, but I gave them a glare. "See, how can you ask her to do what you are not willing to do."

I walked to the beautiful woman who was full of sadness. If Serena was even half as beautiful as her, I understood why he was still hanging onto her. I knelt in front of her, feeling a connection with her that I didn't understand. She felt familiar. I grabbed her hand, trying to formulate a plan to get her back to her mates. Taking a few vials out of my pocket, I gave them to her, telling her that she needed to run while I gave her the distraction, and to possibly get Gray back to us.

I didn't know if she would be able to hear me, but she nodded, crying harder.

Thank you. I hope one day I can return the favor.

I smiled, patting her hand before getting up and turning towards my men.

"I think we should all go with her, we can take…"

"Absolutely not!" Ryder growled, his eyes flashing yellow.

"Blondie, bringing you here was dangerous as it is," Soren looked like he was panicking.

"She deserves a chance with her mates," I yelled.

"If someone finds out?—"

"No one even knows what I look like!" I yelled, hoping for a big reaction.

The woman got up, walking away from us.

"No, end of discussion." Ryder snarled, grabbing me by the upper arm.

As soon as he pulled me, Loki jumped at him, transforming into a bigger cat. An enormous cheetah. Ryder snarled, as Soren tried to intercept Loki, but he growled as we looked at him in shock.

Loki walked to me, growling at Soren and Ryder. His head came up to my chest and he nuzzled against me. My thoughts were going a mile a minute when a twig snapped, putting everyone on edge.

"Did you think I would not find you, Oria?"

A man walked out of the shadows, looking bored, but the moment he looked at Loki, his eyes grew wide for a fraction of a second before his gaze hardened.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Soren muttered.

"Now, before you make this any more difficult, you need to come with me before you get your mates killed." He stopped crossing his arms across his big chest.

"No," I said with conviction. "I will not go with you or anyone else! And if you touch one hair on their head, I swear to the goddess that I will do everything in my power to make you regret it."

He scowled as the air electrified.

"Don't make this harder on yourself, Ria," he said, exasperated. "I can't let you parade around with these men while putting yourself in danger. Please, come with me."

"She already said no," Ryder growled.

Who is he?Soren asked.

I don't know.

"Your mother is worried. Don't make her come for you," he growled.

Loki gave a loud roar and everything went crazy. Men came out of the shadows. Ryder shifted immediately while Soren stayed by me. I pulled a few stones off my necklace, activating them and stunning a few men. Soren pulled me out of the way when a gust of wind swept us up and we fell hard on the ground.

The wind was knocked out of me when a man grabbed me from behind as two more came after Soren. The man dragged me back as I broke another gem off my necklace, activating and slamming it on the man. A gust of wind hit him and a few others.

We have to leave, there are too many of them!

I dodged a man who reached out for me, his hand electrified, but Loki grabbed his other arm and the man shouted as he was yanked back. A disgusting, squelching sound made me gag when Loki stood in front of me.

Gray, meet us at the rendezvous point!

Soren ran towards me, throwing a potion before a portal opened. He grabbed me as he ran for the opening with Loki on our heels.

"We can't leave without Ryder and?—"

We went through the portal and fell out onto some grass. Soren yanked me out of the way as a wolf and cheetah jumped out as it was closing.

"We need to go back for Gray," I said, getting up as panic bubbled under the surface.

"He'll be fine," Soren said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Who the hell was that?" Ryder shifted. "And how the hell did you shift into a cheetah?"

"I don't know who he is," I said, trying to remember him.

"He's Laima's right hand." A deep voice came from behind Ryder.

We all looked at an enormous man. He was taller than my mates, his muscles were huge, but his face was that of a Greek statue. His blonde hair was perfectly swept away and he had brilliant baby blue eyes.

"Loki?" I was stunned.

"Yes," he took a few steps towards me. "My real name is Maxton."

"How—How?"

"I was your guard, captured by Laima after I went looking for you," his deep voice was surprisingly gentle.

"What? I don't understand."

"You've been lied to for most of your existence, Oria." He stopped when he was right in front of me, and I had to crane my neck up to look into those beautiful eyes.

"Is this why Tay didn't want to bring you?"

"Yes, he knew I would tell you the truth and resume my duties," he answered.

"Duties?"

He kneeled in front of me. "My job was to protect you, the princess."