Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (25 page)

Kaden dared to look at Cia and the other woman had tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Maya,” she mumbled and Kaden could feel how he and his brother waited with a held breath.

“As I said I'd be happy to keep you here because with the ball I'm planning, we could use a lot of help around here. You could be like an event planner until you figure out what want. If you respect my and the twins' decision.”

Cia just nodded and Maya turned back from her, looking at Kaden expectantly. Sadly, he had no idea what she was waiting for.

“You did good, Cupcake. Exactly right,” Jaden mumbled and then brushed his lips across the side of her head before walking away.

“Huh.” Kaden looked after his twin and Maya picked up a brow.

“What?” she wanted to know and then cupped his cheek, brushing the pad of her thumb across his bottom lip.

“Jaden always claims he doesn't know what you need. But this time he knew.”

“He had six months of practice,” she reminded him and then lifted her face, obviously waiting for his kiss. Kaden was only too happy to comply. He embraced Maya, molding her into his body until he almost wish he could get her naked right now.

“I love you. You know I'm absolutely happy with you, right?” he asked, reassuring himself and brushing some brunette strands out of her face. There was a knock on the front door and Kaden looked over Maya's shoulder, but she didn't even turn.

The officer was back, looking sheepishly at them after Lex opened the door.

“Hey, Tristan,” Maya called and Kaden blinked in surprise. She hadn't even turned and yet knew who was at the door?

The mind-reader and the officer joined them. Kaden sure didn't like Lex's expression. Tristan didn't know about Lex's ability the way it seemed. Maya blindly reached out and squeezed the officer's hand before turning to him with a smile.

Kaden couldn't help but grin. Maya clearly liked the officer no matter how much Jaden probably would disapprove.

“Hi,” she said softly, moving so she could look at the newcomer and yet had her body touching Kaden's almost full length.

“You look good, my Queen,” Tristan mumbled, bowing slightly. “I see things settled down again?” He didn't look around though, his eyes staying fixed on Maya. Kaden lowered his eyes, biting his cheeks. With 'things' Tristan obviously meant his twin.

Just then his brother joined them again, looking at Lex for a moment before placing his hand on the small of Maya's back and nudging her to the side, towards the game room that somehow had turned commanding center. Maya nodded subtly and then made gesture, wordlessly asking everyone else to join them.

Kaden couldn't help but grin as all the other warriors broke free from where they had been and came to follow them into the small room.

“We need a different office,” Jaden growled next to Kaden and he had to agree. It just was too crowded.

“I had the same thought a few nights back. It's something we'll think about later,” Maya decided and then turned to Tristan. There was tension in the room and it was pretty obvious that the officer wished he could get out.

Jaden sighed in exasperation. “You want to take her away again, don't you? What is it this time?” Tristan instantly looked caught while Kaden and Jaden moved closer to Maya. If Tristan didn't feel like talking, this wasn't exactly a safe mission. No wonder Jaden was apprehensive of the involvement of the Morning Star Police.

Maya felt tension coil in her twins and it didn't exactly make the whole situation easier. Lex stood stiff next to the officer, distaste clear on the mind-reader's handsome face. Silence spread in the room, thick like fog, almost its own entity as everyone waited for Tristan to come forward with whatever it was.

“You know I'm the human liaison at the station,” he started eventually, fidgeting with a thread on his jeans. Maya's heart swelled for him and she wished she could do something. Taking a deep breath, she held up her hand, making Tristan stop with that.

“You, come with me. The rest stays here.” She gave Lex a pointed look and the mind-reader nodded. It satisfied her and she turned away, squeezing Jaden and Kaden's hands before leaving the room and leading Tristan away. He instantly relaxed next to her.

“They wanted to tear me apart,” he muttered under his breath and she laughed.

“They wouldn't do that. I'm sure they'd ask of my okay first,” she teased. Gathering her dark waves up, she pulled them into a messy bun to keep them away from her face. She noticed how Tristan's eyes roamed over her tattoo and it caused her to smile.

Wondering where best to take him, she opted for the kitchen. She felt like preparing some food for the twins, if only for the sole purpose of knowing that she provided for them. The thought gave her a weird satisfaction even as twin outrage exploded through the bond.

“Sit,” she commanded softly, then walked around to the fridge. Everyone who had occupied the kitchen had left the moment they had entered, leaving them in private.

“You know, there is a rumor about ... actually let me start differently,” Tristan explained, taking a deep breath. “I assume by now you know that not only vampires exist, but so do werewolves,” he tried and slowly nodded. She had read that in one of the diaries. If she understood it correctly though, the two species avoided crossing paths. There was not exactly a war going on, but whatever fragile truce had been agreed upon was probably easily broken. So far Maya hadn’t gotten any info on whom to contact to gain more knowledge about the other races out there. With a nod she prompted him to go on. “You know as well that an Origin can come from every damn race walking this earth, right?”

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.