Page 17 of Into the Dawn
Chapter Six
The following day, Kylie still remained in her magical slumber.
Ronan and Dominic weren’t sure if she was aware of their presence, but they took turns staying with her anyway. They wanted to support her through the magical healing process, though there was very little they could actually do for her.
It was fascinating watching her getting better at an accelerated rate. At first, it was small changes, but now, she looked exactly like she had in the framed image she had on the wall of her studio. Her bright red hair was growing back long and thick, and her pale skin had a healthy glow to it. She still looked delicate, but without the unhealthy frailness that she’d had when they first saw her.
The night before had been a little harrowing after the lights had shut off. Their eyesight was pretty good in the dark so they didn’t end up bumping into things. However, getting to know their surroundings in the dark was challenging. The level of difficulty increased because they didn’t understand half of what they were seeing. A few of their discoveries had been fascinating, though. They had marveled at the convenience of the bathing room attached to the bedroom, though it had taken them an embarrassingly long time to figure out how to use everything.
They had also been amazed by the amount of clothing she had stored away in not one or two but three huge closets. Wanting to get to know her preferences was nearly impossible when she had so many different styles stored away. Added to that, one of the other bedrooms had close to a dozen boxes marked for donations stacked in it.
It must have been painful for her to give her personal items away knowing she would no longer be able to use them. Then again, she wouldn’t be able take it with her to Arcadia either.They could try to take a few things back with them since their weapons had obviously made it through the lightning strike, but they would have to limit it based on what they could carry.
Since they both wanted to remain close to their mate, they had gathered some extra blankets from the closets and took turns sleeping on the floor by the bed while the other remained awake to guard them. They’d slept in far worse places than the floor, but a little discomfort was nothing compared to the compelling need to be near Kylie.
The rainstorm had lasted until the next rising, but their mate hadn’t stirred once. While she remained resting peacefully, that was both a comfort and a worry for them. The sleep was unnatural, but she was healing.
Taking care of her needs while she was unconscious was difficult. Although they didn’t mind doing what they could for her, they were pretty sure she wouldn’t be too happy with them once she found out what they’d been doing. Still, they were prepared to face her ire if it meant they could help her sleep more comfortably.
The rain continued throughout the day, varying from a light mist to a steady downpour. Despite the drizzle, both of them took turns walking around the perimeter of the residence, familiarizing themselves with the property so they could protect their mate properly.
The green landscape was so unusual compared to their own home world, as was the blue sky and bright sun that finally made an appearance once the rain stopped. Wherever they were on Earth was vastly different than the stories they had heard. They had been expecting sprawling cities with high-rise buildings and endless seas of people. Their mate’s residence seemed like it was in an isolated area.
After Ronan had hoisted himself up on the roof, he had been able to confirm that from the view. The remote location suitedtheir purposes since they didn’t have to worry about blending in or saying something that might cause a problem. They only hoped that they wouldn’t be discovered before their mate finally woke from her magical slumber.
They managed to throw a few meals together for themselves and approved of the flavors of the food they consumed despite how strange everything looked. Feeding Kylie and making sure she remained clean had been a little more challenging. Because of her unconscious state, they hadn’t wanted to overstep, but the necessity of providing proper care surpassed the need to maintain her privacy.
They slowly fed her some broth to make sure she ate something and also administered a few sips of the tonic every few hours. Each time she consumed a little more of the magical tonic, they could visibly see the healing process working. Her hair continued to grow longer and her breathing grew steadier. Her skin even took on a luminous sheen that made her even more beautiful.
Unfortunately, the tonic, while potent in its healing properties, also prolonged her magical slumber. Since it felt slightly awkward sitting next to her silently watching her sleep all day, they had started talking to her and sharing stories about their lives back on Arcadia. At first, it was slightly odd talking to her prone form, but they had quickly gotten used to it.
Sharing their past would be much easier once they formed a blood bond with her since she would have access to their minds and memories, but that would have to wait. Brothers born in sets shared minds as easy as breathing. They also had an automatic sharing of memories while they slept which deepened the bond between them. There could be no secrets between them, which was one of the main reasons they were comfortable sharing everything with one another.
Including a mate.
Ronan and Dominic had always considered sharing a mate to be a blessing. Not only was there more than one male to protect their female, there was also more than one to love her. It also made sense on a practical level because females were so scarce on Arcadia. The collective bond of brothers just made sharing that much easier.
A blood bond could be formed with other people if enough exchanges were made, but that type of bond was vastly different than the one they would form with their true mate. Recently, they had discovered that bonding with their true mate would help them unlock the magic that had once been gifted to all Arcadians. Not only would that allow them to wield magic like the gods, being a true Arcadian also meant they would finally be able to merge with their dragon spirits.
Once they were fully bonded, they would go through a conversion process which would allow them to shift into their dragon forms. Ronan and Dominic had seen their bonded friends shift several times. Not only was it the most incredible thing they had ever witnessed, it was also a sad reminder of what had been lost to their people for centuries.
As the large dragons soared through the skies and breathed out plumes of deadly fire, it was easy to see why their enemies feared them. A single Dragon Warrior had the ability to destroy an army. Even better, the reputation of a bonded group could end a war before it even began.
Having magic and being able to transform into a dragon were glorious abilities, but it was nothing compared to being with their mate for eternity. The idea of immortality was slightly overwhelming, but if it meant they could continue to love their mate forever, then that was all that truly mattered.
Thinking about blood bonds, Ronan remembered the drops of blood he and his brother had added to the tonic. He wasn’tsure what the purpose of that had been, only that the God of the Sun had required it of them. It might have helped her heal, or perhaps it had assisted them in finding her once they arrived on Earth. Either way, whatever she required of them, they would gladly give.
Once she was awake, they would have to figure out a way to get her to agree to a bond with them. Courting a human female was complicated, especially due to their current situation. Their friends had told them that their human mates hadn’t felt the same mating pull they had when they’d first met. There was a deep sense of attraction, but it hadn’t been a compulsive need.
They would have to woo her by proving their sincerity and devotion. Getting her to agree to leave the planet with them and return home to Arcadia would be impossible if she didn’t trust them. The only problem was they weren’t sure how much time they had to win her over before the next storm hit.
As Ronan completed his patrol of the property, a strange noise caught his attention. As it drew closer, he realized it was the sound of a motor. Immediately notifying his brother, he debated whether to head back to the residence or stay outside and face whatever was coming.
Deciding it was better to remain outside and protect his brother and mate, he crouched down and waited until a large black vehicle came into view. The vehicle sped down the private road leading from the closest residence in the area. He’d never driven anything with wheels that could move that fast, but he had a hover-cycle back home that he loved to fly as fast as it would go. He was definitely interested in trying out some of the Earth vehicles before they left the planet.
“That is not what you should be focused on,”Dominic growled through their bond.“Get your ass inside.”
“Too late.”
