Ch.13 Chef's Kiss

Chapter 13

Maya took a deep breath before she turned the knob on the door and pushed the wooden panel open. Her eyes immediately landed on Mavi who sat behind her desk and then at Owen who occupied the seat on the opposite side of the table. Taking a step inside, she realized her parents and grandparents were all in attendance. They waited for her as she took another deep breath and closed the door behind her.

"Have a seat please," Mavi said calmly as she directed the girl to the sofa where her parents were. Maya gave a small nod as she moved towards her father. Mavi rose from her chair and followed her over.

Gemma moved aside to make space for Maya as she approached. She looked up at the girl through her lashes and kept quiet as Mavi sat on the armrest of the chair Rye was settled into.

"How are you feeling?" Xavier asked as he flipped through some papers on his lap. He sat leaned back against his seat with one arm draped over the back of the sofa.

Maya's eyes carefully observed the many faces in the room. She needed to know how strongly she had to defend herself and Heyder before they blinded sided her with anything.

"I feel fine," Maya shrugged. "But my thigh is a bit sore. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a bruise."

Rye quietly rolled her eyes, "It's not that serious."

"May I ask why I was tranquilized?" Maya looked around. "Like some kind of a threat."

"At that moment, you were a threat," Mavi said. "You had just released Heyder. We had no idea if he was controlling you. We had to understand the situation first."

"He wasn't," Maya said. "Heyder wasn't controlling me."

"From what Maksim and Adeline have told us, we have started to piece the story together," Exton cut in. "We also spoke to Sofia and sh-"

"Sofi is a liar," Maya snorted. "She's been lying to us about Heyder for years."

"How did you come to know of this?" Xavier asked.

Maya looked over to her grandfather, "Because he told me."

"You've seen him?"

"Yes," Maya took a deep breath. "I spoke to him right before I was summoned here."

Xavier's eyes flickered to Exton and then to Mavi. Maya followed his gaze.

"What?" She asked. "What is it?"

"Are you aware that he broke out of his cell?" Exton asked.

"I'm not surprised," Maya confessed. "Did you honestly expect him to stick around?"

"Why did he go?" Mavi asked.

"I don't know," Maya said.

Mavi was not convinced. She looked at her niece skeptically and tilted her head slightly to the side.

"I'm serious!" Maya said in her defense. "I honestly don't know where he went."

"That's not important right now," Owen sided from where he sat at the desk. "We can have Clare find him if need be."

Mavi nodded her head slowly. She looked over to her father and gave him the nod to proceed. Maya turned to Xavier as he let out the breath he had been holding and dubbed his jaw.

"Maya," he began. "What you did yesterday was not only dangerous and reckless. But it was also a criminal offense. You conspired with Maksim to attack a councilwoman and set a prisoner free. Do you understand where our concerns are?"

Maya slowly nodded, "Yes. I understand your concerns."

"Anything else you want to add to that?" Rye asked. "Maybe like....why on Earth you took it upon yourself to be so stupid?"

"I'm sure Ada and Mackey told you everything," Maya said. "I'm sure you know how Heyder and I are connected."

Exton shivered in his seat as his carefully guarded face showed signs of distress and dislike.

"I know you all are not the biggest fan of Heyder," Maya continued with her eyes on her father. "But for better or for worse, he is my mate. And I had to get him out. Please don't sit here and lecture me on what a big mistake I have made because I know that if any of you were in my shoes, waiting to meet your mate for ten years, you all would have done the same thing."

The room fell into a stretch of silence. Maya could hear herself breathing as her family all stared in different directions. All except Xavier. He had his eyes glued on Maya, watching her every little reaction. When Maya turned her blue eyes to him, he cleared his throat and sat up straight.

"In our family we have a history of finding mates who........are not always our family's favorite at first," he said carefully. "But from experience, I can tell you that trying to keep couples apart has never been successful. It has proven to be disastrous at certain times."

Maya sat silently listening to her grandfather speak. She could tell from everyone's expression in the room that before she had even entered the office, they all had been discussing this for hours.

"It's no secret that we do not like Heyder," Xavier continued. "And I'm sure you understand why."

"Yes," Maya said. "I understand why."

"He wouldn't be our first choice for you. But...... he is your mate. And we can't do anything about that."

"What are you saying?" Maya moved forward in her seat a little bit.

"We're saying that we will not interfere in your relationship with Heyder," Xavier explained. "You are an adult. And there is no force in this world that can mess with the mate bond."

Maya couldn't believe her ears. She had mentally prepared herself to come in gun blazing and screaming. She expected to argue and fight for her family's understanding.

"You have our support in whatever you decide to do with Heyder," Xavier finished.

"But," Exton spoke up. "That doesn't mean we are not watching. I still don't trust that slick bastard."

"Dad," Maya frowned.

"I am not apologizing," Exton said. "We want to meet him. Formally. As you mate."

Maya looked at her mother then at the rest of her family. They all had the look of agreement in their eyes.

"He needs to come and convince us he is not pulling some trick," Exton continued. "For the sake of my mind, I need to make sure you are making the right decision."

Maya slowly nodded, "Okay."

Her heart raced with the information about the curse. She knew the right thing to do would be to tell her family everything Heyder had revealed to her. But how could she? They were trying to take a step towards trusting her about him. If she released the information, all of their high castle walls would be built right back up and they will lock her away behind them too. She needed to wait it out. Look for the right opportunity.

"Alright" Xavier gave a nod. "That takes care of one problem. Gemma...."

Next to Maya, Gemma cleared her throat. She had been sitting so quietly the whole time. Maya knew what was about to come. And this time, they might not all be so understanding.

"The Fey books," Gemma said. "You took one again."

"Yes," Maya felt like a little girl under her mother's gaze.

"I don't think you are aware of the consequences of such magic," Gemma's voice was ice cold. "You were almost taken over the first time, but then you went ahead and used the books again."

"I'm sorry," Maya frowned. "I know they are bad, but I-"

"Bad?" Rye raised a brow. "Sweetheart, werewolf novels are bad. The Fey books are dangerous. Not just for you, but for this whole word."

"Nothing happened to this whole world," Maya said defensively. "Everything is fine."

"According to you," Mavi said.

"What do you mean?" Maya looked up.

"Owen," Mavi looked over her shoulder to her husband. "Do you want to explain?"

Maya's eyes moved to the silent Beta as he rose from his chair and walked over to the group. He put down a file on the glass coffee table and then crossed his arms over his chest.

"Since you last used the spell book, there have been strange activities detected by the Vikings."

"What kind of Activities?" Maya paled.

"Ever since we closed all the timelines, we put the Vikings in charge of watching over the gates to our realm," Owen explained. "They have always been in charge of keeping record of who comes in and out of our time."

Maya's blood began to chill. Had she accidentally opened up the timeline? It would be disastrous if she had. Her father would be in danger and so would Mavi.

"Since you started to do spells from the Fey book, there have been ripples across the sheet of time," Exton said.

"What does that mean?" Maya asked.

"Maya, when you travel back you stay in our universe. You just go to the past," Exton leaned forward. "But you are still disturbing time. Your moving around is disturbing the flow of time."

"I.....but I can't control it," Maya said. "I don't want to travel anymore. But it's automatic now."

"That's because you are my daughter," Exton sighed. "For anyone else, they would have to intentionally cast the spell to go back in time. But because of me you have traveler genes in you. When you did the spell for the first time, they activated."

"How do we make it go away?"

"You can't," Exton shook his head. "It's a part of you."

"There is no getting rid of it," Gemma said. "But you can learn to control it."

"Yes," Exton sighed. "You have to control it. We can't have the time lines opening up again."

"And until you do," Gemma said as she pulled out a silver necklace from a velvet pouch. "Wear this."

"What is it?" Maya asked.

"It's iron," Gemma explained.

"But iron can hurt a witch,"

"The iron is inside the silver," Gemma said. "It will keep you grounded and limit your access to your magic by some degree."

Maya sat still as her mother locked the necklace around her neck. The little silver heart hell against her chest. For a small thing it sure felt a lot heavier.

"Just don't let anyone touch it," Gemma said. "It's pure silver."

"Okay," Maya reached up and touched the chain.

"Are we all on the same page now?" Mavi asked. "We all agree Heyder has to come speak to us and that Maya must train with Exton to control her traveling?"

"Yes," Maya nodded along with everyone else in the room. "One question...... I don't know where Heyder is. How do I find him?"

"That's your problem," Rye said, getting up from her seat. "Find him and bring him here."

A flicker of irritation lit up in Maya's chest. She wanted to complain and protest but she knew it was her task to complete. Her family was testing her and she needed to prove her relationship to them.

Once the meeting was over, Maya quickly made her way to Clare's room. She gave a little knock before she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Hello, trouble," Clare said from where she sat by the window reading a book.

"You bailed on me yesterday," Maya said as she approached her cousin.

"Too much anxiety from all you idiots," Clare said, scanning the pages in front of her. "I could barely get out of bed."

"Oh," Maya frowned. "How are you feeling?"

"You're feeling excited," Clare smiled looking up. "I guess so am I then."

"Yes," Maya gave a short laugh. "I have Heyder now."

"I'm happy for you," Clare closed the book in her lap and made space for her cousin to join her by the window. "Is he everything you've ever hoped for?"

"Yes," Maya let go of her breath as she sank down beside Clare. "He's rough around the edges but has a good heart underneath everything."

"What a cliche," Clare rolled her eyes. "Isn't that every bad boy ever written?"

"Let me have my moment, Clare!" Maya laughed.

"What's that?" Clare asked pointing to the silver necklace around Maya's neck.

"Oh this?" Maya followed her eyes. "It's supposed to keep me grounded and limit my magic."

"Why?"

"So I don't travel and fuck everything up."

"How was it made?"

"I don't know," Maya said, turning the locket in her hand. "Ask my mother."

Clare let her eyes linger on the necklace for a bit longer before she shifted her eyes, "You came to ask me something."

"Yes," Maya chuckled. "Oh great oracle of house Dorin. I require your visions."

"I'm not an oracle," Clare scrunched up her nose.

"You could be," Maya teased. "You have a gift."

"What do you need?'

"I need you to help me find where Heyder went," Maya sighed.

"He didn't tell you?"

"No," Maya frowned. "He said he needed to do something before we were officially together and then he left. But mom and dad want to meet him and interrogate him so I need to get his sexy ass back here."

"He does have a nice ass," Clare smirked.

"I know, right!" Maya laughed. "Wait, but how do you know?"

"Did you just say I was an oracle?"

"A perverted one if you're looking at ass all day long."

"You know, I don't have to help you," Clare laughed.

"Sorry, sorry," Maya smiled. "Please, Clare bear."

Clare stuck her tongue out before smiling and running a hand through her thick chocolate brown hair. Her large gray eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips and thought for a few seconds. Maya waited patiently by her side, holding her breath.

"He's somewhere with water...." Clare began slowly. "A house."

"What else?" Maya asked. She needed more than just water and a house. That could be anywhere.

"Snow.....lots of snow........a small village near a river. There are a lot of boats."

"A little more," Maya pushed.

"I don't know," Clare blinked. "That's all I can think of right now.....snow, water, boats, village, cherry blossom."

"Wait!" Maya perked up. "Cherry blossom?"

"Yeah," Clare nodded.

"I know where he is," Maya jumped up. She grabbed Clare's face and kissed the girl's forehead. "Thank you, you are amazing."

"You might want to take a jacket or something," Clare said as she wiped off the kiss.

"No time for that," Maya said as she summoned a portal. "If anyone asks, tell them I'm with Heyder."

"Will do," Clare waved her off.

Maya gave a sharp nod before she turned to the portal and stepped through. Within seconds, she materialized on the other side. The cold winter air bit into her skin like needles as she looked around at the winter wonderland. She stood in front of a grand house dressed in fitted jeans and a long sleeve gray sweater. Her blonde hair blew in the wind as the snow crunched under her boots.

The Victorian style house seemed out of place in the middle of a snow covered forest. It sat in the middle of a large clearing with a path lined by dormant cherry trees that lead to an iron gate about a half a mile away. To one side of the house was a small pond with steam rising from it as fat koi fish swam around. Maya looked in all directions before her ear picked up the sound of someone chopping wood. She carefully walked over the slippery frozen ground to the back of the house where she found Heyder swinging an axe.

"I see the swing on the porch is still not set up yet," she said as she approached him.

Heyder looked over his shoulder and frowned.

"You know when a guy tells you to stay away, you should really take that as a giant red flag," he said.

"Hello to you too, sweetheart," Maya gave him a tight lip smile.

"Go back," Heyder said in a stern tone. "Now."

"No," Maya straightened her posture.

"I have work to do, Maya,"

"I'm not stopping you," Maya said. "Carry on."

"I told you to stay at the palace," Heyder took a step forward.

"And I told you I wouldn't," Maya pushed back. "You can't tell the women in my family what to do."

Heyder's jaw tensed as he turned away and swung his axe through the air. Maya watched as he chopped up a log and placed the smaller pieces into a wagon. She rubbed her hands along her arms and wondered how he was not cold in his thin black sweater.

"Heyder, I'm cold," Maya complained after a while.

"Oh you poor baby," Heyder mocked.

"I'll go inside," Maya began to walk up the back porch steps. "Come in when you finish."

Heyder flickered his hand and the back door locked before Maya could turn the knob.

"I'm so cold!" Maya complained whirling around. "I'll catch a cold out here."

"Then go home," Heyder said each word very slowly as he glared at her. "This is not a joke, Maya."

"Whatever," Maya rolled her eyes as she blasted off the lock on the door and swung the door open. She heard Heyder groan behind her but she didn't bother to see if he was really angry or just irritated.

Before he could do anything else to stop her, she waltzed into the house and pulled the door shut. The warm kitchen air greeted her with kindness as her senses filled with the smell of Heyder. His sandalwood and forest pine scent made her heart flutter as she walked around the kitchen, running her hand along the countertops and chairs. Behind her she heard the back door open and felt the cold wind come in with her mate.

"I like what you've done with the place," Maya said, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room. The hardwood floors cracked beneath her feet in a charming way as if to tell her just how long this home had been waiting for her and Heyder.

Behind Maya, Heyder quietly followed her around. Maya peeked glances over her shoulder as she roamed around all over the house touching and admiring things.

"I was here," Maya said slowly. She had stopped in front of the wood burning fireplace and turned to look at Heyder. "The day you bought Fiza to see the house."

Heyder's face was unreadable. His brown eyes gazed at her without offering up a single hint at what was happening in his mind.

"Did she ever come here to see the cherry blossoms?" Maya asked.

"No," Heyder said. "She died before spring."

"Oh....."

"Who else did you meet?"

Maya took a deep breath, "Willow.....Theodora. And someone else. But I never got her name."

"What did she look like?"

"Well....like me," Maya laughed as Heyder rolled his eyes. "She was with you when you were Nick."

"Diana," Heyder frowned.

"Oh I love that name!" Maya exclaimed. Heyder narrowed his eyes slightly but there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

"Where there more?" Maya asked.

"No," Heyder sighed. "I think you met everyone."

"Who came first?"

"Fiza,"

"So when you kissed her.....you didn't ....."

"No," Heyder looked out the window. "I didn't know about the curse."

"Why did you change your name so many times?"

"I was moving around," Heyder said. "Had to change my name for wherever I was."

"Is Heyder your real name?"

"Yes."

"So in the end it's Heyder and Maya," Maya smiled as she walked over to the jinn. His brown eyes watched her as she came around the sofa and stood in front of him. "I like that."

Heyder raised his hand and tucked a strand of Maya's hair behind her ear. He left it to linger around her face as she pressed her cheek into his warm palm and closed her eyes.

"You should go home," he said, his voice low. "I can't promise you I won't do anything reckless."

"But I just found you," Maya took a step closer. "I have been patient for so long. Please don't ask me to go now."

"Maya, Maya, Maya," Heyder sighed saying her name as if it were a prayer. He leaned his forehead against her and closed his eyes.

"Couldn't I say just for one night?" Maya asked with hope in her heart.

"You really shouldn't."

"But I really want to," Maya pushed. She leaned her weight against Heyder and pushed him back until he was against the doorframe. "Please. Just for tonight."

Heyder knew he shouldn't listen to her. She didn't understand just how easy it was for him to lose control around her. For the first time, he had a chance at not messing things up and he wanted to make sure he did everything right. But when Maya was playing with his hair and his arm was resting on her waist, it was damn near impossible to send her away. With a heavy sigh, Heyder pulled his head back.

"Just tonight," he said. "Tomorrow morning you leave or I'll drag you back."

"Okay," Maya smiled. Before Heyder could pull away she grabbed his face and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't do that!" Heyder said in irritation. Maya blinked in surprise. Heyder felt a wave of guilt that he hadn't felt in years come over him as her wide eyes stared at him. "I'm sorry....I don't want to accidentally kiss you while you're trying to do something like that."

"No, it's okay," Maya said. "I get it."

"Are you hungry?"

"A little bit," Maya pulled her sleeved over her knuckles and cleared her throat.

"Come help me make dinner," Heyder motioned for the kitchen.

"I don't know how to cook," Maya laughed.

"You can help me cut the vegetables."

Maya stared at the jinn with a small smile.

"Don't tell me," Heyder stopped. "You can't cut vegetables?"

"I mean I can," Maya laughed. "Just not how most people want to eat it."

"Thank god we're not having any guest over then," Heyder rolled his eyes as he walked into the kitchen with Maya following him. She stopped by the counter and watched as he moved around and gathered all the ingredients and dumped them onto the small island.

"Do you like spicy food?" he asked as he tied an apron around his waist.

"No," Maya shook her head.

"Too bad," Heyder said. "Because I do."

"What are you making?"

"Stuffed peppers," Heyder said as he got busy washing the bell peppers and onions.

He had asked Maya to help, but as the girl stood by, he did most of the work himself. It was almost as if he was doing it without even thinking about it. Heyder moved the knife over the onions like a pro, chopping them up in seconds. His brown eyes stayed locked on the cutting with great focus as he peeled garlic and gave them a tough chop.

Maya let her eyes linger on his face as she watched him. She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about how much she had wanted this moment. She would have countless dreams about having him in front of her. She craved for the days she could just reach out and touch him.

As an overwhelming sensation of bliss came over Maya, she walked behind her mate and wrapped her arms around him. Heyder stilled as Maya looped her arms under his and held onto him tightly. She pressed her lips in between his shoulder blades and pressed a kiss.

Heyder's body began to relax from Maya's touch as he sighed and hung his head. His hands dropped the knife as he turned around and cupped her face.

"No kissing, right?" she asked looking up at him as her pupils dilated.

"No kissing," Heyder gave her a lopsided smile.

"What about....other things?"

Heyder raised a brow at the promiscuous princess in his arms. The corners of his lips turned up as he leaned back and pulled Maya closer.

"What are you suggesting, birdie?" He whispered as he ran his nose along her jawline.

"I want you," Maya said boldly as she pressed herself closer to Heyder. "I've wanted you ever since I knew a couple did behind closed doors."

"And what do couples do behind closed doors?" Heyder teased her. His hands had pushed up her sweater slightly exposing a slither of skin above the waistband of her jeans. His thumb ran over her skin, raising goosebumps.

Maya's ragged breaths made Heyder's hands grip onto her hips as he swung her around and lifted her onto the countertop. He spread her legs apart and stepped in between them as Maya parted her lips and gripped the hair around the base of his neck. Heyder lifted his hand and ran his thumb over her bottom lip just as he had done the other day. His eyes darkened as he leaned forward slightly.

Maya's heart began to hammer in her chest as Heyder moved closer and closer. He lowered his mouth and placed a lingering kiss on her neck. Maya's thighs tightened around his hips as she scooted forward on the countertop. She began to tug at his hair as he covered her neck with kisses and soft bites.

As Maya's world began to spin out of control, she let go of his soft hair and gripped his arms. Her nails dug into his ink covered biceps as she lowered her head onto his shoulder. Heyder continued to tease her with kisses down her neck before he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

Maya was breathless as she stared at him with lust in her eyes. Heyder placed his hands on either side of her on the counter and took a deep breath.

"You see," he said. "That's why you can't be around me."

"It wasn't so bad," Maya smiled.

"What's your definition of bad?"

"When we go upstairs and all our clothes come off," Maya bit down on her bottom lip.

Heyder's eyes darkened as he watched Maya. the playful smile on her lips did things to him he would never be able to explain.

"You've never been this naughty before," he said chuckling.

"There's a first time for everything, right?"

Heyder smiled. He picked up a sliced piece of red bell pepper and held it up in front of Maya.

"Open your mouth," he said. As Maya complied, he fed her the pepper. "Good?"

Maya nodded her head.

"More?"

"Yes," Maya cleared her throat. She watched as the jinn dipped his finger in the sauce and turned to look at her. Their eyes locked as Heyder waited to see what Maya would do.

Never taking her eyes off of him, Maya leaned forward and opened her mouth. Heyder raised his finger and watched her put her lips around it. Her tongue darted out as she licked the sauce clean.

"A bit spicy," Maya said as she moved back.

"I like it like that," Heyder smirked.

"I'm starving," Maya batted her lashes.

Heyder took a deep breath as he smirked, "Maybe if you hadn't attacked me I would have finished dinner."

"You didn't like it?" Maya smiled.

"I didn't say that,"

"So you did like it?

"Of course," Heyder laughed. "I've been locked up for 23 years. A man has needs, woman."

"What a pig?" Maya rolled her eyes.

Heyder stepped out from between her legs and moved back to the cutting board. He picked up the knife and went back to work with a smirk on his lips. Maya hopped off the counter and adjusted her shirt.

"Where's the bathroom?" She asked.

"Upstairs to the right," Heyder said.

Maya turned on her heels and ran up the stairs. She reached up and touched Heyder's kisses along her neck as she felt her cheeks blush. Her body was craving him more and more. It was becoming impossible to be near him and not have his hands on her.

As Maya climbed up the stairs, lost in her thought, she passed by a room with it's door slightly ajar. She thought nothing of it until she spotted the shadow of a figure moving inside. Curiously, Maya pushed the door back and stepped inside.

A tall figure stood by in the center of the room rummaging through the papers on the table. As Maya gasped, the man turned around.

Mirza.

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