6. Oria

6

ORIA

T he shower was running as I leaned against the sink trying to think of a way to contact Gray. The hot water was steaming up the mirror as I took my clothes off and stepped into the almost scalding water. My chest ached for Gray, and I was ready to go looking for him myself if Maxton hadn't followed me out.

My grumpy cat comforted me in ways I desperately needed. He purred against my chest, but it also felt like I had my friend back. I knew I needed to sit down to hash things out with him, but right now, all I wanted was Gray back. Once he was safe, we could talk about whatever we needed.

I scrubbed my body, washed my hair, trying desperately to distract myself from thinking about Gray, but nothing was working. My emotions were too high, and I started to cry. It felt like the weight of the past few weeks had hit me once again and the stress of missing my mate was making everything worse.

"Blondie." Soren opened the curtain climbing in with me even though he was fully clothed.

I climbed into his lap, holding onto him for dear life. He held me tight, murmured reassurances and rubbed my back. He felt familiar, like his twin, which only made me cry even more. I was worried about the amount of energy it took for me not to let my mind wander. Once I had finally calmed down, nothing but hiccups were left. Soren stood us up. He took off his soggy clothes and washed both of us off in silence with the occasional kiss here and there. Thankfully the water stayed warm until the end and Soren wrapped me up in the fluffiest towel, sitting me on the sink while he dried himself off.

"Don't give up on us," Soren said, standing in front of me. "I know life has felt like it won't get better, but I promise it will."

He tilted my chin up, placing a soft kiss on my lips.

"It's always us, Blondie," he said, against my lips.

I pulled him closer, sealing my lips against his. As much as I wanted it to lead into more, Soren stopped us before we could take it further.

"Come on let's get you dressed. We can watch a movie while we wait for Ryder to come back," he said.

"Did he leave? Where?" I said, getting off the counter to head into the room to change.

I looked in my bag, grabbed fresh clothes, and dropped my towel to put on my clothes when Soren sighed. Maxton was sitting on the bed watching me, but Soren stepped in between us.

"Oh stop, he's seen it all," I said, pulling up my underwear and putting on a dreadful bra. "Plus, I saw him naked the first time we talked."

My cheeks heated remembering his sculpted body, while I was freaking out that my cat was this hot giant of a man.

"Blondie." Soren tried to scold me.

"Oh, please," I said, throwing on more leggings and a large shirt.

I couldn't help but glance at Maxton who also had pink cheeks, that made him look so adorable. My heart twinged as I looked at him. I hated whatever was happening to us. I hated that he had to suffer because of me, and he was stuck as my pet cat. What I wouldn't give to remember him because it truly felt like I had known him.

"Oria, where do you think you're going?" Soren asked, as I put on my shoes and threw up my hair in a messy wet bun.

"Ryder isn't going to leave without me," I said, while he put on some pants.

"Blondie, he's gonna be back," he said, before I hit the stairs. "He's just making phone calls."

I glared at him. "You better not be saying that just to get me to stay here because I swear to the goddess, Soren, I will kick you in the nuts."

Maxton chuckled, the sound gave me butterflies as I remembered hearing him laugh all too often. My body flushed as I remembered him in silver armor looking like a fierce warrior, who looked at me like he wanted to rip my clothes off, but his boisterous laugh made my body tingle even more.

Sol, stop looking at me like that. He won't like you looking at me like that.

My body didn't listen, and I ached for Maxton. The memory of his hand on my cheek made me shiver.

"Blondie?"

My memory vanished, leaving me to look at Maxton who looked just as fierce, but he looked different. His hair was braided on the side with a bigger braid giving him the look of a mohawk. He looked very similar to Tay in my memory.

"Taylin," I whispered, and I saw the subtle differences,

A shiver took over his body.

He clenched his jaw. "My brother." He confirmed my suspicion from my memory.

"Excuse me?" Soren snarled.

"It's also why he didn't want us to take you," I said, ignoring Soren's anger in my chest, walking up to Maxton. "Was he also a guard?"

"No, he wasn't," he said, looking angry. "Taylin was a spoiled brat given everything, even you."

"Me?"

He nodded and I wished I had made him tell me everything he knew.

"What the hell is going on?" Soren's agitated voice made me look at him.

"I had a memory of Maxton and he looked so similar to Taylin," I said, walking over to Maxton.

"You were supposed to be mine, you were always mine since we were little and he took you away from me." His voice was full of anger. "I don't know how he did it."

My lip trembled as the pain in his voice intensified.

"On our twenty-first birthday our bonds emerged. Since I was a year older than you, when I didn't have the pull to anyone, I knew it had to be you. Then?—"

"Ok, I found someone to do a locator spell, I'm leaving, and I'll be back soon," Ryder said, as he walked into the room interrupting Maxton, grabbing his bag.

"Wait, I want to go with you," I said, desperate for any information on Gray, but I also wanted to hear more from Maxton.

"Absolutely not," he snapped, running a hand through his hair. "We can't risk you being seen or —"

"Please let me go, I can't stay here when I could be doing something," I pleaded with Ryder, but glanced at Maxton, feeling torn.

"Oria," he said, unsure.

"Let her go with you," Soren said.

"We can talk when you get back, Sol," Maxton said.

Just hearing those words made me feel at ease with going.

"Ryder, please," I said, hoping I was wearing him down.

"You will be safer here," he said, but I could feel his hesitation. "I can work quicker if I'm not worrying about you."

"I'll use my charms," I said quickly. "I'll listen to everything you say, and I promise I won't argue with you. I'll do whatever you say."

Soren whistled. "Damn, Ryder, you better take her offer, you might never get it again."

I couldn't help but blush at his innuendo as Ryder scoffed. Images of us together made me blush even more.

"Soren, not helping." Ryder's cheeks were also slightly pink, and I found it endearing.

"Ryder, take her with you," Maxton said. "Let her help you. If she stays here, I can guarantee she will try and leave to help you or go find him herself."

Ryder and Maxton shared a look that made my heart warm because it seemed their connection had transferred and I loved it. It felt like Maxton belonged with us… belonged with me.

"Fine, but if you don't listen to me or make things harder, I will bring your ass back here," he said. "Got it?"

I felt his alpha power; it was strong, but also comforting and I nodded. "I promise."

"Don't make me regret it," he said, grabbing his bag.

I searched for my necklace and looked in my bag for a few artifacts I thought we might need. I stood up, seeing Soren going through his bag too.

"Take this," he said, handing me an artifact that was powerful. "Add this to one of your gems and it will amplify it."

I looked over the object, feeling the intricate design of magic.

"This is an interesting amplifier, it's not just objects, but it can enhance a person too," I said, loving the feel of it in my hand.

"A person?" he asked, confused. "I was told it was just an object. How could you tell that from just holding it?"

"I've always been able to feel magic," I said feeling sheepish. "That's why I'm so good at replicating things and figuring out artifacts. It's how I made the potions and the other things we sold along with the Oria."

"Wow, you are fucking amazing," he said, before he brought me in for a kiss that took my breath away. "I'm in awe of you, Oria."

The guys cleared their throats, reminding us that they were still in the room.

"Go find my brother and your mate," Soren said, kissing my nose, then resting his head against my own. "But please be careful."

"I will," I said, pulling away, feeling conflicting emotions about wanting to leave and stay.

I looked over to Maxton. He gave me a nod, but that didn't seem like enough. I hugged him, his body went rigid, but he relaxed, wrapping me in his big arms, triggering a memory.

I miss you, Sol.

I miss you too.

Can we please talk?

It won't change anything, Max.

It can change everything.

I leaned back, looking into his captivating eyes.

"We need to have a long conversation," I said, as a surge of emotions hit me.

"We do," he said, pushing a stray hair behind my ear.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, go get your mate back." He kissed my forehead as a rush of butterflies danced in my abdomen. "Be careful, watch your surroundings and trust yourself. You are extraordinary, a princess who was going to be our queen. You are more than what Laima said you were. Don't forget that."

I nodded, not trusting my emotions from spilling out.

"We'll be back," Ryder said, opening the door.

I took one last glance at them before walking out of the door. Ryder closed the door behind him, and it felt like a metaphor for my life. My life was closing the door on my naivety and helplessness. I wasn't going to be that girl anymore. No one was ever going to control me, and I wasn't going to rely on someone else to take care of me. I couldn't rely on anyone, not even my mates.

I was a fucking princess, and it was time I started acting like a queen.