Page 13 of Into the Dawn
Dressed in dark leather pants and matching vests, their muscular arms were left bare, allowing her to see the dark, intricate scrollwork tattoos that covered their left arms and part of their chests. The tattoos continued up the sides of their necks, ending directly under their jawlines. Their bronzed skin glistened in the soft light and falling rain, making it seem like they were glowing.
As her gaze lifted to meet theirs, she sucked in a harsh breath. The twins had an arresting beauty that made them look like they had walked straight out of one of her wildest fantasies.
Their faces were a study in contrasts, with sharp, chiseled features that conveyed both strength and raw masculinity while still being almost too beautiful to be real. High cheekbones and strong jawlines were softened by the fullness of their lips. Their piercing gold eyes added to their allure, making them appear otherworldly.
The males were massive, both in height and stature. Since she was used to being around large bodyguards whenever she went out in public, she immediately sensed these males were a cut above the rest. They had lethal auras that were more than just a little intimidating, yet strangely, she wasn’t as terrified as she should have been.
The symmetry in their movements was mesmerizing to watch. It was as if they were two halves of a single entity.There was a fluidity and grace to their motions that belied their immense size. Each step seemed deliberately measured, precisely matching one another as if they were soldiers in formation.
The air around them seemed to crackle and shimmer with energy, like a tangible manifestation of the lightning that had just struck the yard. It was clear that these were no ordinary human beings, but creatures of immense power. As fanciful as it sounded, it was as if they had just been born out of the storm itself.
The only discernible difference she saw between them was that one had shoulder-length brown hair, while the other male’s hair cascaded down his back to his waist. Both of them could grace the cover of one of those ménage or reverse harem novels and make thousands of readers fantasize about them. That genre was a particular favorite of hers, and she binge-read a ton since she’d gotten sick.
No matter how delectable these big boys were, they were still strangers. Strangers with big swords strapped to their belts and more weapons sticking out of their vests. She should have asked them who they were and why they were there. Should have told them they were trespassing and demanded they leave. Better yet, she should run inside, lock the freaking door, and call the police.
Instead, what came out of her mouth was, “Oh, your poor Mama.”
Wow, she really must be high.
She swallowed hard as both male’s lips curved into slight smiles. They were breathtakingly handsome with stoic expressions, but their smiles were absolutely devastating to her heart.
Feeling slightly out of breath, she was finally able to pull her gaze away from theirs when she started coughing. She reached for a tissue, then flinched back when both of the males weresuddenly right beside her. She hadn’t even been aware they had moved onto the porch, yet there they were, kneeling at her feet.
It was one thing to admire them from afar but having them so close made her feel self-conscious. She felt herself withering under their intense scrutiny and pulled her blanket tighter around her like a shield.
“Who are you?” she finally whispered.
“We are your mates,” one of them said in a deep, melodic voice. “And we have traveled the stars to come find you.”
Kylie wasn’t sure how to respond to that statement. It sounded absolutely bonkers, but a small part of her couldn’t help wishing it were true.
The other male sighed. “I thought we agreed to ease into that, brother.”
“There is no time,” his brother growled. “She is obviously not feeling well, and it is our duty to help heal her as quickly as possible.”
She never knew a male could actually growl before, but she found the harsh sound incredibly enthralling. She couldn’t help but wonder if he sang. They both had deep, rich tones, and she wanted to press her ear against their broad chests to hear the bass resonate through their bodies.
Shaking off that crazed thought, she tried to focus on what they’d said. Perhaps she had fallen asleep, and this was all some elaborate dream brought on by the pot she’d smoked and the last romance book she’d finished. That sounded like a more plausible explanation rather than two gorgeous males appearing out of a lightning strike.
Tugging the cap on her head a little lower to make sure it was covering her forehead, she tried to smile. “You have a way to cure terminal cancer?”
“Aye, we do.” The male pulled a small, jeweled flask out from inside his vest and flipped open the top before offering it to her.
“What kind of rabbit hole is this?” she murmured in complete shock.
The other male’s brows furrowed. “I do not understand your question, mate. We are not in a hole.”
She shook her head and let out a startled laugh. “I didn’t mean—never mind.” Then, she focused on something he’d said. “Why are you calling me that?”
“Because you are our mate. Destined to be ours. It is our duty to love, honor, and care for you, so we have come to save you before your illness claims you.”
“We owe you a better explanation, but we have time for that later. You must drink some of this tonic to start the healing process,” the one holding the flask stated.
She wasn’t sure she believed him, but a part of her was intrigued enough to make her reach for the flask. “You are telling me that there is some sort of magical tonic in this flask that will cure me?”
When both males solemnly nodded, she let out a breathless laugh.
Maybe she wasn’t asleep, after all. In fact, she was now a little convinced she had actually died when the lightning strike had happened, and these two males were guardian angels ready to take her into the afterlife. Regardless of whether it was real or not, she was being offered an opportunity she couldn’t turn down.
