Ch.34 A Whole New World

Chapter 34

"Tell your wife if she ever talks about my parents or my family I will roast her alive over an open fire," Maya narrowed her eyes as Heyder smiled with amusement.

After carrying her to the lab, he placed Maya on one of the tables. Positioning his hands on either side of her, he leaned forward to stare into her wild angry eyes. To him, she was breathtaking.

"I can't stand her!" Maya shook her fists in front of her face. "I tried. I promise I tried to be nice to her. But she's like a rash."

Heyder listened patiently. He nodded his head as he bit down on his bottom lips to contain the wide grin.

"She's so.....UGH!" Maya groaned. She dropped her face into her hands and shook her head. "Please take her away."

"We're sending her back soon, sweet baby," Heyder said as he ran his hand through Maya's hair and pressed a kiss on the crown of her head.

Maya stilled under his touch as the air between them crackled like an open fire. She lifted her head and looked up at the jinn through her lashes. Heyder kept his hand on the side of her face as he pushed his fingers deeper into her hair.

"You have the most beautiful eyes, you know that?" He whispered.

Maya felt her throat dry up. She nodded her head as the corner of Heyder's lips perked up. His brown eyes were like a wild cat, watching every fraction of reaction that crossed Maya's face. With his hand in her hair, Heyder moved his thumb over Maya's bottom lip.

"The things I want to do to you," he leaned forward until their foreheads touched. Maya felt her head start to spin as her breathing grew uneven.

"I bet we could go at it for days," Heyder gently tugged on Maya's hair until her head rolled back, exposing her neck to the jinn. "Just you and me, in between the sheets."

Maya shivered from the way his breath tickled her neck. She moved forward as her eyes went from angry to needy. Heyder bit down on his lips once more as his eyes moved up and down her perfect body. Maya raised her hand and hooked her finger around the top button of his shirt. She tugged him forward and undid the thing, revealing the beautiful dark ink underneath.

Heyder's dark eyes watched as Maya tightened her thighs around his waist. A cocky smile played on his lips as she lowered her mouth to the base of his neck. The feel of her soft lips shot through his body like a billion blazing stars. Maya pushed her hands up his chest and around his neck. She moved her mouth an inch higher and planted another kiss. From the way Heyder's skin buzzed and his body swayed towards her, she knew she had him right where she wanted. With a slight pause, to make the man really beg for her touch, Maya removed her legs from around him and pushed him back gently.

A look of great confusion washed over Heyder's face before he looked as if someone had just drenched him with a bucket of cold water. Maya flipped her hair over her shoulder and leaned forward. She pressed her arms closer to her chest to give him an eyeful of her low cut sweater as she smiled sweetly.

"Boundaries, remember?" She said.

"You don't play fair," Heyder shook his head.

Before Maya could respond, the doors to the lab opened. Exton and Gemma walked in, pausing slightly to stare at Maya and Heyder.

"Damn," Heyder said. "We were so close to making you that grandbaby."

Exton gagged as his whole body recoiled from the idea. His face twisted as his spin shivered.

"Shut up, Heyder," Maya rolled her eyes as she hopped off the table.

"It would have a great Christmas gift for them, don't you think sweetheart?" Heyder asked.

"I am not making babies with you!" Maya snapped over her shoulder. "Remember my boundaries."

"What do you think of the name Heyden?"

Maya narrowed her eyes and shot Heyder an irritated glare before she turned back to her parents. Gemma's eyes bounced back and forth between the jinn and her daughter as Exton turned many shades of green.

"Thank the gods Adeline and Ben live halfway across the world," he said. "I couldn't deal with this on a daily basis."

"It's life man," Heyder shrugged. "Your little girls grow up and they become someone else's baby girl."

"Oh my god," Maya covered her ears. "Stop it."

Heyder laughed watching the tip of Maya's cheeks turning red. He noted it was the first time he had seen her blush. It didn't suit her personality but damn that shade of red looked delicious on her.

"Can you please behave for one second?" Maya asked. "We have lots to do. What happened to the dark and moody Heyder?"

"Am I supposed to answer all those questions at once?"

Maya groaned as she looked at her mother, "Please ignore him. Clearly the fey magic hit his head too hard."

"You shot me out of the sky, Birdie," Heyder teased. "Got me down on my knees."

"Do you two have any purpose for being here?" Exton raised a brow. "Some of us would like to go back to work and not have the urge to bleach our eyes and ears."

"Yes, yes," Maya rushed forward. "We need to know about the silver in my necklace."

"What about it?" Gemma asked.

"What's it made of?" Heyder asked from where he stood leaned up against the table.

"Ah.....silver," Gemma said.

"Well, yes. Obviously genius," Heyder rolled his eyes. "I mean what did you mix with it? Why didn't Maya's magic pull the iron through it?"

"It's a special type of silver we've been manufacturing here in the lab,"

"We need some of it," Maya said quickly.

"Why?"

"We're going to steal something," Heyder said calmly. "What are you mixing with the silver?"

Gemma looked at Exton. Heyder watched them closely as the witch supreme shifted her weight.

"Scales," she said.

"Scales?" Maya asked in confusion.

"Mavi's scales?" Heyder raised a brow.

Maya looked over her shoulder before turning back to her parents. The confusion in her eyes was clear as day as Gemma took a deep breath.

"Mavi's scales are not only good for healing. We've been studying it. They are multifunctional," Gemma said as she walked over to one of the cabinets by the windows.

"How?" Maya asked.

"We mixed her scales with silver," Gemma pulled out a glass tray. "When the scales were crushed and mixed into the liquid silver, it created a new metal that was pretty industractiable."

Heyder moved closer as Gemma pulled out a sheet of silver from the glass tray. Over Maya's shoulder he watched as the witch turned the slab of metal in her hands.

"Stronger than any metal on earth," Gemma said. "I think if we increase the amount of scale, it could even be used to make armors for our soldiers."

"Won't the silver hurt the wolves?" Heyder asked.

"That's the best part," Exton said. "The scale messes with the silver. The new metal is practically harmless to us wolves."

"Every part of her is a blessing," Heyder said. He looked up at Exton and smirked. "I'm sure you could even turn your sister's hair into something."

"What are you calling it?" Maya reached out as Gemma handed her the stab of silver.

"We don't have a name yet."

"How much of it do you have?" Heyder asked.

"Enough to protect our family," Exton said.

"Good," Heyder nodded. "I'm going to need some of it."

"No." Gemma didn't miss a beat. "We have no idea what this could be used as. We do not want the news of this to get out before we know enough about it."

"Mom," Maya lifted her eyes from the silver to her mother. "I understand we need to keep this on the down low. But Heyder is right, we really need this."

"Why?" Exton asked.

"We.....we are going to get something and this thing is made of iron," Maya explained. "We think that since the silver in my necklace protected me from the iron then it could possibly keep us safe from the other thing we are trying to get."

"What are you trying to get?" Exton raised a brow.

"Seti's whip," Heyder said. "Don't worry, we're not planning on using it in the bedroom."

Without any control over her body, Maya felt her hand rise and her fingers flicker in the hair. Behind her, a loud thump echoed as Heyder grabbed the back of his head.

"Ow!" He hollered in irritation. "What the fuck?"

"I don't know how I did that," Maya turned to the jinn with her eyes wide open.

"Baby," Gemma rushed forward. "Are you feeling the fey?"

"......No?" Maya said in confusion as she looked down at her hands. "I feel completely normal."

"You probably took it out on me," Heyder said as he cracked his neck side to side.

"Did it hurt?" Exton asked Hyder from where he stood.

"Yes," Heyder rubbed the back of his head.

"Good."

"Be careful Eggs," Heyder said. "Did you forget you are bound to me? If anything happens to me, you're in danger of being sucked back into your time."

"The fates are cruel," Exton shook his head.

"You need to practice more," Gemma's voice cut in between the two men. She held Maya's hand as she looked into her daughter's eyes. "The more you get familiar with the fey magic, the more you will be able to control it."

Heyder turned his head to see the flicker of uneasiness in Maya's eyes. He wanted to reach out and take her hand to sooth her. But all he could do was watch her as her mother held her hands and rubbed circles on her wrist.

"My mother has some books on Feys," Heyder said slowly.

"She does?" Gemma looked over at the jinn as her eyes lit up with hope.

"Thank you for the books you left for me," Maya took a deep breath. "They helped."

"There's more," Heyder said. "You can get as many as you want when we go for the whip."

"That's a good idea," Gemma nodded. "We need to know as much as we can about the Fey."

"Perfect, we're all on the same page," Heyder clapped his hand together. "Now just give us this Mavi silver and we will be on our way."

The smile on Gemma's face wavered. Her blue eyes shifted to her mate as Heyder patiently watched her.

"Mom," Maya tugged at her hand. "Please...."

"Baby, I want to help you," Gemma frowned. "I really do, but I -"

"You owe Heyder," Maya suddenly said, catching even the jinn off guard. "For years you used his magic without his permission. And now that he has come to you for help, you're not going to help?"

Gemma's face drained of all it's color. The deep frown on her face made Maya hate herself for what she had just said, but if it meant getting the silver, then so be it. Beside her, Heyder stood back silently as his ever so watchful eyes bounced from the mother to the daughter and then to the father.

"Maya," Exton took in a slow deep breath. "You don't know what happened. You don't know why we had to take magic from Heyder."

"Think of it as a thank you present then," Maya said. "If the circumstances were that severe then you really do owe him."

Exton's eyes flickered to Gemma. From the way she held herself straight as a rob, he knew anxiety was running through her body with every ounce of blood she had. He walked around the table to stand beside her.

"Angel," Exton's voice dropped. He leaned closer and brushed his lips over her cheek. Maya watched as her mother took in a long deep breath. Behind her, Heyder looked around the lab curiously as he picked up a few test tubes and swirled their contents around.

"I admit what we did was unethical," Gemma said quietly. "I was desperate and taking the life of one to save a thousand was my only option."

Maya flinched from her mother's words. The image of Heyder bleeding out in the pixie palace and then in her arms flashed behind her eyes. She tasted bitterness in her mouth as the pit of her stomach warmed. Her palms began to sweat as her body went through a turbulence of hot and cold.

But suddenly, as Heyder moved beside her and placed his hand on her lower back, Maya felt the heat drain out of her system and down her belly. It was like the tides pulling back. She could breathe again as he silently pushed her shirt up just a tiny bit so that the tips of his fingers brushed over her bare skin on her back.

"Heyder," Gemma looked up at the jinn. "I am sorry. For everything."

"Would you have asked for my permission if you could?" Hyder asked.

"Yes," Gemma nodded. "Would you have agreed to help?"

"Probably not," Heyder stated. "Worrying about others and saving the world was never really my cup of tea."

Gemma glanced at Maya and then at the jinn beside her. Her eyes asked for her daughter's understanding, but she knew Maya was too young to know now everything working in the world. She had no idea the weight that came with the crown that would one day sit on her head. It would be like holding up the skies.

"We have the modified silver in slabs," Exton said with extreme calm and slowness as he straightened up beside Gemma and took her hand. "How would you like it to be molded?"

"Yes, that would be helpful," Heyder said. Beside him, Maya continued to stare at her mother. Gemma avoided her gaze as she looked at Heyder or at the bookshelves behind the pair.

"What do you need?" Exton asked.

"Something that will protect the hands," Heyder held up his hand.

"We can hold it to be like the gauntlets Rose used to peel off the curse on your parents," Gemma turned her head slightly to look at her husband.

"Ah, yes," Heyder nodded. "A gauntlet."

"When do you need it?" Exton asked.

"The sooner the better," Heyder said, just as Maya suddenly began to head for the door. Everybody paused to stare after her as she slipped out the lab, letting the door close behind her silently.

"Maya-" Gemma tried to call to her, but Maya didn't stop.

Heyder looked up at Exton and then at Gemma. They wore identical expressions of sorrow and guilt as they stared at the door, hoping their daughter would come back.

"I'll talk to her," he found himself saying as he began to move toward the door. "Let me know when you have the gauntlet ready."

Exton gave him a nod as the jinn pushed back the fallen strands of dark hair on his forehead and exited the lab. Heyder stepped out into the halls before looking both ways in search of Maya. She was nowhere to be seen and a part of him worried, wondering if maybe she had vanished like the last time. The thought of not being able to reach her didn't sit well in his chest. He called to his magic and waited until it seeked her out in the enormous palace.

Aimlessly, Heyder turned himself over to his magic as it led him to Maya. She was like a magnet, pulling at him no matter where he was in the world. Finding her over and over never failed to maze him.

On the third floor, as Heyder's senses grew stronger, he knew he was getting close to Maya. He passed many empty rooms as he began to grow impatient. Just when he thought he would break into a run, Clare rounded the corner with her little sister. For a split second she looked up and her eyes met the jinn. Heyder didn't pause or stop to acknowledge her as they passed each other.

"Is that him?" Cleo whispered as she looked over her shoulder.

"Yes," Clare said. She stared straight ahead and tightened her hold on the bunny she carried.

"So many tattoos," Cleo observed.

"They tell a story," Clare said before she increased her speed and forced Cleo to run after her.

Heyder shook his head as he rounded the corner. For a split second he wondered why Clare was the odd one out of the Radacovick bunch. Her brother and sister seemed perfectly fine. What had happened to her.....

But any thought of the strange girl escaped his mind as he sensed Maya nearby. Turning his head in a wild search, Heyder was finally able to catch her faint scent. He followed it out into a sunroom overlooking the palace's frozen grounds. The air inside was heavy and hot. Maya sat at one of the empty tables, her knit sweater hanging on the back of her chair. She didn't bother looking up as Heyder approached her and took a seat beside her.

The bright sunlight coming in through the window played with her blonde hair, showing off the many shades of it hidden between the strands. The high points of her shoulders were starting to turn slightly red from the overbearing heat. Heyder wondered what her smooth skin would look like with a lovely tan.

"If you want to tan properly, shouldn't you be topless for that?" He teased her. "Tanlines can kill a look."

Maya didn't react. She turned her head to the right and gazed out the glass walls as her eyes squinted in the harsh outdoor lights. Heyder waited a few seconds to see if she would stay anything, but when it was clear she wouldn't, he moved his chair closer and rested his arm over the back of her hair. He pulled her seat closer and in between his legs. Maya pulled her knees up and rested her chin upon them as her hands tucked in under her bare feet.

With a tender finger, Heyder swiped back the little pieces of hair from the side of her head and tucked it behind her ear. Maya's long lashes fanned over her cheeks as she stared at the ground.

"Birdie," Heyder called to her after a small pause. "You can't stay mad at your mother forever."

"I'm not mad," Maya said.

"And I'm a saint," Heyder rolled his eyes.

"I mean it," Maya lifted her eyes. "I'm not mad at her."

"Then?"

Maya straightened up. She shrugged as she lowered her legs and then fiddled with her hair. Heyder watched her as she gathered her thoughts. His brown eyes never missed a single thing she did.

"I feel......I feel like I don't know her," Maya said slowly. "Growing up, I had an idea in my head of who my mother was. But now I feel like I'm meeting her for the first time."

"Very selfish of you to assume she's just your mother," Heyder said. Maya frowned as she turned to look at the jinn.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Gemma isn't just your mother," Heyder said. "She's the witch supreme before she is your mother. She grew up on the run because her parents wanted to kill her, death possessed her, she was engaged to the god of the underworld, and she lived through begging trapped in Pandora's box."

"I know all that," Maya rolled her eyes.

"Do you?" Heyder asked. "Do you know the Gemma she is or do you know the mother she chose to be for you?"

Maya stared at Heyder as the frown on her face deepened.

"In your head your mother, no doubt, is kind and loving. That is who she chose to be for you, but there is more to her. In life we have to have many faces to take on the person and situation in front of us. We can't always be just one one."

"Gemma, the mother you know, would never hurt a soul," Heyder continued. "But Gemma, the witch supreme who had to secure the survival of her people, did whatever was necessary to save as many lives as she could."

"But -" Maya started but Heyder stopped her.

"She put one life on the line to save a thousand," he said. "Any good leader would have made that call. Who knows, maybe one day you might need to make that call too."

"Was there really no other way?"

"Do you think your mother didn't search for an alternate?"

Maya shrugged, "I don't know..... I just.....it feels wrong."

"It was wrong," Heyder said. "But sometimes we need to do the wrong thing for good things to happen."

"Can you forgive her?" Maya looked at him.

"I kind of have to," Heyder said with a cheeky smile. "She's my mother in law."

Maya immediately rolled her eyes. She shoved his shoulder back as Heyder began to chuckle. Before Maya could pull her hand away, he grabbed her wrist and brought it up to his lips to plant a kiss on her finger. Maya's lips parted as she tried to pull her hand back. But Heyder held on as he laced his fingers between hers and united their hands.

"Would you be just as upset with Gemma if she had used another jinn?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Maya frowned.

"Are you upset because you are thinking of the poor soul who could have been in my position or are you upset because it was me?"

"So full of yourself, aren't you?" Maya shook her head.

"It's a healthy obsession," Heyder smiled. He's eyes roamed over Maya's sun kissed face as she gazed upon their hands. Heyder lifted his other hand and placed it underneath to hold her hand between his. He stretched his long fingers out to touch her wrist.

"So...." Maya began in a quiet voice. She didn't bother looking up and pretty soon Heyder had his eyes glued on their hands too.

"Kids, huh?" Maya asked.

"Yeah," Heyder grinned as he began to trace lines across Maya's wrist. "He's going to be just like you."

"How do you know it will be a boy?"

"I do."

"What's his name going to be?"

"Heyden."

Maya smiled, "I like that name."

"He likes to paint."

"Like father like son."

Heyder suddenly laughed. The pleasant harty sound made Maya's heart rattle and vibrate. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips.

"I didn't take you as the family man," she confessed.

"Oh god no," Heyder shook his head. "I will kill myself before I drive a minivan."

The two had unknowingly moved closer. Their foreheads rested against each other as Maya slid her hand back just enough to challenge Heyder in a thumb war. Heyder eagerly accepted. Their eyes watched their thumbs duel it out as their lips smiled.

"How else will you drive around Heyden to his soccer games?" Maya asked.

"I'm thinking of a sweet sports car," Heyder smirked. "Preferably black."

"All the soccer moms will go crazy," Maya said.

"What about Heyden's mom?"

"Isn't gonna take more than a sports car to impress Heyden's mom."

"A magic carpet ride?" Heyder asked. "Tell me Princess, now when did you last let your heart decide?"

Maya threw her head back and laughed. The beautiful sound filled the sunroom as Heyder thumb held Maya's thumb down.

"I win," he grinned, mesmerized by the way Maya laughed.

"What? No!" Maya protested. "You distracted me with the magic carpet line."

Suddenly, Heyder pulled on Maya's hand. She gasped as she felt her chair tilt over sideways, but Heyder's leg stopped it from falling over as she crashed against his chest. Maya looked up with her heart racing as Heyder lowered his head. Their eyes locked and Maya forgot how to breathe.

"I can take you," Heyder said, his eyes locked on Maya, his voice low and velvety.

"Where?" Maya asked, breathlessly.

"Wonder by wonder," Heyder smiled. He leaned closer as his finger ran down Maya's spin. The sensation left her feeling like a firework.

"Over.....sideways......and under," Heyder teased Maya as his breath tickled her cheeks.

"Heyder-"

"Shhhhh."

Maya shivered as Heyder pulled her out of the chair and held her body against himself. She had no idea what he was up to as the air around them shimmer and the sunroom disappeared. Maya looked around in surprise as they materialized in the jewelry shop of a busy bazar.

The scent of exotic spices and perfume filled the air as the men behind the counter showed the woman boxes upon boxes of jewelry. No one noticed Maya or Heyder as they stood in the middle of the store, wrapped in each other's arms. Maya turned to Heyder, not knowing what to say.

Heyder, unwillingly, let go of Maya. He took her hand and began to lead her through the customers. Suddenly, everyone in the store could see them. Maya heard the whispers of the woman from behind their veils as they eyes the man with the many tattoos and the girl in tight jeans and a simple plain t-shirt.

Heyder didn't seem to care at all. He walked Maya to the back of the store and sat her down on one of the red cushioned stools. Maya remained silent as she observed everything with great curiosity.

"How may I help you, sir?" One of the salesmen asked as he came to aid Heyder and Maya.

"I need to speak to Ridwan," Heyder said.

"He's finishing up his evening prayer," the man said. "I'll let him know you asked for him."

Heyder gave the man a nod. He watched until the tall guy moved onto another customer before he turned to Maya.

"Where are we?" She asked, with her brow raised.

"A jewelry shop," Heyder smiled.

"I can see that," Maya said. "Why are we here?"

"I have to pick up an old order," Heyder's eyes flickered to something behind Maya.

She watched him frown before she followed his eyes and looked over her shoulder. A few of the women sitting a few feet away were whispering in hushed voices as their eyes flickered to Maya. She didn't know what they were saying as they averted their gaze upon being caught looking. Beside her, Maya felt Heyder shift. She looked back at him to find him taking off the sweater he wore and revealing yet again another black shirt.

"Put this on," he said, handing it over to Maya.

"Why?" Maya asked in confusion.

"Just please do," Heyder frowned. "I don't like the way the men are looking at you."

Maya didn't argue as she spotted the many eyes that were on her. She quickly took Heyder's sweater and pulled it over her head as he looked at the men bluntly eyeing Maya's ass.

"You want me to give you something to stare at?" Heyder stood up from his seat. Maya quickly grabbed his hand as the embarrassed man moved away. "The fuck you looking at?"

"Heyder," Maya tugged at his arm as they began the center of attention. Everyone in the store stared at them as Heyder grilled the man and Maya tugged at his hand to sit him down.

"You can't bring a diamond in here and expect people not to look," a voice suddenly spoke up. Maya cursed under her breath as Heyder whirled around to face an old man.

"As-salamu-alaikum," the man smiled at Heyder.

For a brief second Maya feared Heyder would go off on the man. But as the second ticked by, she felt him relax under her touch.

"Ridwan," Heyder gave a nod.

"Long time no see," Ridwan said as he moved closer. "I had your order ready years ago."

"I was.....tied up," Heyder said, taking a seat beside Maya. "I'm here to collect my order."

"One moment please," Ridwan said as he snapped his finger at one of the men. His green eyes smiled as he looked from the jinn to Maya. "Good evening, Madam."

"Good evening," Maya said.

"First time in Wijdan?"

"Wijdan?" Maya looked to Heyder.

"I'll bring you some tea," Ridwan said as he made his escape. Maya watched the man move to the other side of the store before he turned her eyes back to Heyder.

"Where are we?" She asked once more. "Where is Wijdan?"

"It's a small city," Heyder said as he played with Maya's finger. "Mostly occupied by Jinns. Humans have started to mix in the last few hundred years."

"Did you live here?"

"For a while, yes," heyder said. "You've been here before too."

"I have?"

"The balcony? That was our family home in Wijdan. The sea and the desert."

"Oh...." Maya looked around at the shop once more. She spied the busy market life outside with its many stalls and cafes. The sun had set and the decorative lamps were turning on one by one.

"Here we are," Ridwan suddenly appeared in front of the pair once more. Maya turned around as he placed a small red box in front of Heyder. "It matches your sketch 100%."

"I'll be the judge of that," Heyder said as he reached out and opened the box. Maya watched him as he examined the content before giving Ridwan a nod. Her curiosity was killing her and she was just about to lean forward and see what was inside when Heyder pulled out an earring.

Maya blinked in surprise. The beautifully crafted piece of jewelry hung from Heyder's hand like a chandelier. The many priceless stones caught the light in a hundred different ways as it shimmered. Maya lifted her eyes to find Heyder smiling at her.

"Let's see how they look," he said as he leaned forward.

Maya was speechless as Heyder pushed her hair back and hooked the earring onto her ear. He did the same with the other one before pushing her hair over her shoulder and sitting back to admire them.

"Any complaints?" Ridwan asked Heyder, watching Maya. "I followed your sketch line by line, stone by stone."

Heyder reached out and flicked the left earring playfully. Maya felt the jewelry dangle from her ear.

"What do you think?" Heyder asked her as he handed her one of the hand mirrors.

Maya slowly took the mirror and held it up to her face. She had never worn chandelier earrings before. It was a pleasure to see how good she looked in them. The icy blue of the stones was so pale, it almost looked white under the bright lights. Heyder sat back and admired her as Maya looked at herself in the mirror.

"You did well, Ridwan," he said.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you," Ridwan bowed before walking away.

"Do you like them?" Heyder asked Maya.

"Yes," Maya nodded. "You designed them?"

"Yes," Heyder leaned forward. He rested his elbow on his knees as he reached out and tucked her hair back. "After the night I saw you on the balcony, I drew up the sketch and sent it to Ridwan. I wanted to give them to you when I officially met you."

"Are we officially meeting now?" Maya lowered the mirror.

Heyder held her gaze as the seconds stretched on. The light from the multicolor lamps in the room reflected off of his eyes as he slowly rose to his feet. Maya waited to see what he would do.

"Hello," he said as he bowed his head slightly.

"Hello," Maya smiled as the simple word came out of her, leaving her feeling giddy.

"My name is Heyder," Heyder held out his hand.

"I'm Maya," Maya placed her hand in his.

"Have we met before?" Heyder squinted his beautiful eyes. "You look so familiar."

"In another life perhaps," Maya slowly stood up from her seat.

"So I guess it was always meant to be," Heyder slowly pulled her closer until she was in his arms.

"Always," Maya said, her voice almost a whisper.

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