Page 20 of Into the Dawn
She beamed a relieved smile at them. “Then, I have nothing to worry about. Look, I know Kylie’s time is running out. If you can make that sweet girl happy for whatever time she has left, I’ll do whatever I can to help you while you are here. Just…please, don’t hurt her.”
Dominic hesitated for a moment, then admitted, “Kylie is no longer dying. We healed her.”
Layla simply stared at them with a blank expression, then she surprised them both by bursting into loud, heaving sobs. “Are you serious? Please tell me this is real. I prayed for something like this to happen!”
The brothers shared a look as she covered her face with her hands and cried.
“Say something to make her stop doing that,”Ronan demanded.
“Like what?”Dominic asked, aggrieved.“Comforting crying females who are not our mate is not something I am capable of.”
“Never mind. She seems to be stopping on her own.”
The female was taking deep breaths to try and calm herself down. When she lowered her hands, she seemed to have regained her composure. “You said Kylie isn’t dying anymore.”
“That is correct.”
Her eyes filled with tears again, and she swallowed hard. “I want to see her—”
“She is resting. It is a magical slumber she will not wake from until she is fully healed,” Dominic told her.
Using her arm, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and took a few more deep breaths. “I would still like to see her. Please, just for a few seconds.”
Hearing the desperation in her voice, Dominic reached out to his brother“Brother, she will not believe we are telling the truth until she sees for herself.”
With a nod, Ronan relented with a sigh. He led the way up the front steps with Dominic and Abby trailing after him.
“Go with her,”he ordered.“Keep it brief.”
After giving the command to his brother, he headed into the kitchen to set down the pot of food while Dominic accompanied the female into the bedroom. He knew it wouldn’t take long. One glance at Kylie would be all that was needed to convince her that what they said was true.
Ronan heard Layla’s loud gasp of surprise, then he turned and watched as his brother led her back out of the bedroom. She was holding her hand over her mouth, and there were tears streaming down her face. When they joined him in the kitchen, she sat down in one of the high chairs by the counter, set her head down on her folded arms, and wept as if her heart was breaking.
They tried to give her a little privacy as they took turns going back and forth to collect the bags and packages she’d left in the vehicle. By the time Ronan came back inside with the last load, Layla had gotten up from the counter and was now in the kitchen. She set two large, steaming bowls on the counter and gestured to them.
“Sit. I warmed up some of the stew, which should hold you over for a little while. I’ll call my parents and have them bring over some more food in a little bit. Especially some stuff we can throw on the grill. I’ll also tell my dad to round up some casual clothes for you until we can get you some new stuff. He’s not as muscular as you, but he’s a big bear,” she said, patting her stomach.
“You have bear shifters on this planet?” Dominic asked as he slid one of the bowls in front of him.
She let out a loud, startled laugh. “In real life? Not that I’m aware of. It’s just an expression.” Her eyes widened comically. “Lordy, are you saying you are shifters? That’s so fucking cool! I knew all those paranormal books and movies had to be based on some truth. Are werewolves real, too?”
Ronan sat down and glared at his brother, who had shoved a big spoonful of the stew into his mouth so he wouldn’t have to answer her questions. He didn’t understand half of what she’d said, but he knew they were crossing into dangerous territory. They had chosen to trust her enough to prove Kylie was healing, but he wasn’t sure how much information they wanted to share before they had a chance to tell their mate the whole story.
“We might as well tell her some of it,”Dominic said.“She is in favor of our relationship with our mate, and she can aid us while we are here.”
That was true enough.
“But should we allow her mother and father to come here?”
“It sounds like they will come anyway,”Dominic pointed out.“And they are bringing more food.”
Ronan snorted.“Of course, that would sway your decision.”
“Just being truthful.”
“We are dragon shifters from a planet called Arcadia. One of the gods sent us here using the lightning storm, so we can save our mate,” Ronan explained.
Silence followed his confession.
