Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) by Sam Destiny Page A

were an Origin. And her mother would know, right?
    “Yeah, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Or maybe it is. I’m not exactly a pro when it comes to this whole mating business. After all, I didn’t even manage to … hey little star.” Ryder hadn’t even heard Maya approach, but of course Kaden would be aware of her.
    She looked exhausted.
    “He’s gone. Red and Lex will make the people leave. I just hope next week will work much better than this did,” she mumbled and ran a hand through her curls. It struck Ryder then that this was the second time in as many days that Maya wasn’t scowling at him or even ignoring him.
    “I’m gonna help them,” Kaden said quietly and Ryder noticed how he exchanged a glance with his mate. She reached out and squeezed his hand before letting him go.
    “Give her time, Ryder. I don’t think Cany knows what’s going on any more than you do. This whole situation is too much for her. The way I got it, that Sydney-dude came because her parents somehow hope to hurry the change along and because you’ve been staking a claim. We don’t know anything about Cany’s family because she doesn’t want us to. She will open up in time, I’m sure, but we have so many other things to solve, we need your patience.”
    He wasn’t sure what Maya was trying to tell him, but it couldn’t be, right? If Cany were his Origin, Maya most likely would have said so. At least that was what he hope d .

Cany carefully slipped out her room. After the Sydney disaster the night before, she had hidden in her bedroom, too afraid to face Ryder. The anger on his face and the disbelief had been a shock to her system. She knew there was something between them, but the strength of his reaction to Sydney had still surprised her, especially because all she had wanted to do was to comfort him.
    She moved around the mansion, realizing how eerily silent it was. Making her way up the stairs, Cany passed the library, only to jerk back. Maya was sitting on her favorite stuffed red armchair, resting her head in her hands. She was utterly beautiful in her sadness, Cany had to admit. The Queen wore light blue flared jeans, a white knitted sweater that left a shoulder free, and her dark curls tumbled around her face, her bare toes peaking out from the denim swallowing up almost all of her feet.
    Approaching carefully, Cany cleared her throat. Maya wiped away a single tear before turning to her. “Hey,” Maya's voice cracked and Cany wondered what best to do. She figured it was obvious what bothered Maya, she still asked.
    “What's up?”
    “We need to talk,” Maya just replied, pointing at the sofa next to her. Cany seriously hated that they wanted to talk about her, but she understood it as well. She sat down and then waited. Somehow Cany wasn't ready to disclose more than she needed to.
    “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re promised, Cany?” Maya finally asked, leaving the stuffed arm chair to pace. The disappointment was almost tangible and Cany wanted to fall to her knees to ask for forgiveness. Instead she straightened her spine and shrugged her shoulders.
    “It doesn't matter,” she mumbled. It was a common occurrence in her circles and she never once had questioned the decision. At least not before Ryder had come along.
    “It does. Besides the fact that I think it's backward to take the decision from your daughter, what did they think would be use of promising you?”
    Cany exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words. “They want me to have the best match possible. Parents do it so their kids don't have to worry once the change comes. There's no need to start looking for a suitable match,” she explained and Maya picked up a brow. Cany went on, simply ignoring the protest she knew was coming. “Not everyone is as lucky as Origins are. You aren't free to chose, and neither are the females from the high class...”
    “We aren't free to chose,” Maya corrected, kneeling in front of