time, thankful for Maya’s words. As it was though, she needed to get Sydney out before he said something incredibly stupid. Something like …
“I’m Cany’s fiancé. Respect that , please.”
Something like that.
Ryder stared at his sister, hoping she’d kick that guy out. He wanted to kick that guy out. Fury like he’d never known before befell him and it was Kaden who surprised him by pushing down a fist Ryder had no recollection of rising.
“Sydney, I am not sure you are aware whom you are speaking to. I find your tone inappropriate.” Bam, Ryder’s sister was replaced by the best damn Queen they’d ever had. “This room was supposed to be for meeting people on equal ground, not to come in here, staking a claim as if we were still back in the Middle Ages. Even if she’d be your wife, shouldn’t you remember your manners and greet the owner of the house before rebuking anyone within these halls? As it is, I feel generous tonight and I’d be happy to allow you to properly greet me out in the hall.” Maya took a step forward and surprise flashed across the skinny guy. Ryder probably could take him with one hand bound behind his back. The Sydney-dude sure hadn’t seen a real fight in his life yet.
“Cany, leave,” Kaden suggested, watching Red follow Maya and the guy.
“Yeah, he might come back in and I don’t think you want to see him,” Lex added towards her, yet Ryder knew that the mind reader was aware of Ryder’s fury.
“Someone should have Maya’s back,” Ryder ground out, but Kaden pressed a hand against his shoulder.
“How about I look after my Origin while you tone down your temper? He didn’t do anything wrong but being a jackass. It’s Cany who maybe should have mentioned he’d be coming.”
“I didn’t know.” Ryder inwardly groaned at how small Cany’s voice sounded. She usually was so full of life and now it was twice that he had the feeling he had never met her before.
“How you could you not have known?” Ryder asked, his tone sharper than intended. Cany actually flinched and he wanted to pull her into his arms. What the hell was wrong with him? He knew he wanted her, but she wouldn’t be the first girl that commanded his attention like that. Usually the fever he carried for them vanished the moment he had them between his sheets. Cany couldn’t be trophy for him though or Maya would hang him by his balls. Nope, the little courtier was off-limits for him.
Yet he couldn’t deny the stab he felt as he realized that Cany wasn’t an Origin.
“My parents promised me to him. I saw him three times so far. They wait for me to get close to my transition so he can change me and …”
Another low growl unwillingly left Ryder’s lips and he felt someone tug on his shirt. “We are leaving, buddy. Now.” Kaden pulled him out of the room and then to the side so they wouldn’t have to cross through the foyer where Maya and the jerk still stood.
Away from Cany Ryder finally calmed down, stopping Kaden. “You should go and be with Maya there, not Red.”
The twin closed his eyes. “She doesn’t want me there,” he murmured.
“Bullshit, and you know it. She’s just not heartless. Jumping you after Jaden left might not be exactly the best thing to do if she wants to prove something to him. Kaden, she doesn’t need to hurt for you this time around since you’re here. You haven’t seen her. I did.”
“And I’ve seen you. Ry, I think you had pretty strong reactions to that little announcement there,” Kaden pointed out, clearly trying to change the topic. Sadly, Ryder was ready to go along with it.
“How he talked to her! I wanted to…”
“That’s exactly how Jaden reacted when I tried to talk to Maya the first time I saw her,” Kaden commented and Ryder leaned against the stairs, resting his head back.
“Impossible. They were already bonded the first time you saw her,” Ryder protested. Cany was promised. Her parents wouldn’t do that if she
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