Page 105 of Demons & Damnation

“I’ll stop at a shop and pick him some stuff up, don’t worry,” he said, smiling at her and patting her knee. “I’m just glad you’re alive. I thought you were lost for a moment.”

“So did I,” she whispered, tears hazing over her vision. “I’ve never felt so helpless.” She turned her head to look at Dylan. “I thought I was done for.” She swallowed the lump in her throat then said, “I heard you telling me to come back. I’ve never felt so relieved to hear your voice.” Squeezing his hand, her heart backflipped. “Thank you for being there.”

Dylan’s heart swelled with a heady mix of hope and love. “I told you I’m always going to be there for you. No matter what.” He licked his lips and let out a sigh. “I love you, Kyla. You’re my world.”

Hearing those words come from him twenty-four hours ago would have sent her into a whirlwind meltdown. Now, however, hearing those words come from him made her tears spring free and her heart fill with joy and endless possibilities.

“I know. Thank you.” She gripped his hand tighter and wiped her cheeks with her free hand. “I can’t say it back yet, Dylan, I’m sorry. I’m just...” she let out a breath which came out as a huge sob “...I’m so overwhelmed I don’t want to say anything because I’m emotional. I want to say it because I genuinely feel it, in a normal moment.” She gave a half laugh, half sob. “If that makes any sense.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I just don’t want to hold back any longer on how I feel about you,” he said. He pulled up to a stop outside a pet shop. “I don’t care if you never say it back, I want to tell you every day, remind you, that I love you and you have someone in your corner. Always.”

Kyla closed her eyes and nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll leave the car running. Turn the heater on, you still feel so cold.”

Kyla shivered and switched the heated seat on before cranking the heater up to high. Minutes later, Dylan reappeared with a massive frozen bag of tripe and a huge bag of dried food. Dumping it in the boot, he sat back in the driver’s seat, taking Kyla’s hand once more as he pulled away.

Dylan made senseless chit chat about the latest on his TV show The Tudors. Kyla listened, grateful for the distraction that kept her from losing herself in her head again. By the time they arrived back at hers thirty minutes later, Kyla felt relaxed and like nothing had happened today. It all seemed like a lifetime ago.

Listening to Dylan chat about King Henry the eighth and Anne Boleyn’s passionate love for each other kept Kyla in the present just enough for her not to think about today. By the time he pulled up on her driveway, she actually found herself wanting to watch the show herself.

Dylan took her keys and unlocked the house, taking a tentative step in as he prepared himself to meet Kyla’s familiar. When nothing appeared to be launching itself at the door, he opened it fully and stepped inside, ushering Kyla in.

“Here, boy,” she called out, letting out a whistle.

Instantly, the sound of scrabbling nails on tiles filled the air. Seconds later, a huge chunk of muscle bounded through the kitchen, galloping towards Kyla. As he reached her, he sat down, his dark eyes bright and filled with happiness, soft whines coming from his throat.

“Hey, boy,” Dylan said, leaning down and offering his hand for the dog to smell.

The dog jumped back a step, his previously wagging tail now still and quivering between his back legs. He took several steps back, cowering behind Kyla as he kept his eyes pinned on Dylan.

Kyla looked up at Dylan and frowned. “What the hell?”

Dylan froze. His and Sam’s secret had been outed to everyone—whilst Kyla had been unconscious. She still didn’t have a clue about their true identities.

Glancing down at the floor, Dylan lifted a hand and scratched the back of his neck, buying time as he tried to form the right sentence to say to her.

Kyla reached down and stroked the dog’s head, giving him some kind of reassurance. Feeling the tremble through his whole body, she looked back up at Dylan again. “Dylan, what’s going on?”

Letting out a huge sigh, Dylan dropped his hand, lifted his head, and met Kyla’s enquiring eyes. “You’re going to find out sooner or later so it’s best you hear it from me first, right?”

Kyla frowned again. “Are you asking me or you?”

Sucking in a deep breath, Dylan replied, “Sam and I...well...our whole family actually, we’re um...kind of like...werewolves.”

Kyla stared at him, seconds ticking by as she processed his words. The Kyla from yesterday would have exploded at him for lying to her and keeping secrets. Would this Kyla be any different?

Kyla let out a long breath and then nodded, pursing her lips. “Of course you are.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It explains a lot.” Turning to look down at her familiar, she scratched his ears and smiled before looking back at Dylan. “For the rest of today, no more supernatural shit. Deal?”

Dylan grinned. “Deal.”

---