Page 17 of Into the Dawn (The Arcadians #4)

Kylie jolted awake as the faint hum of the air conditioner suddenly sounded like the roar of a jet engine landing in her bedroom. With her enhanced hearing, the barrage of noise was so loud that her head began to pound and throb with pain, making it difficult to think.

Thrown into sensory overload, her entire body felt oversensitive. The cold air blowing on her exposed flesh felt as biting as an Arctic wind. And the soft cotton material of her blankets and sheets that usually felt like silk against her delicate skin now felt as rough a sandpaper.

Although her eyes were closed, the light behind her eyelids seemed as bright as the sun.

She was aware that it was merely the light coming from the bedside lamp, yet her closed eyes still burned from its intensity.

Before she could turn her head away, the light suddenly disappeared and the bedroom went blessedly dark.

“The light is off,” Ronan said softly. “Tell me what else you need, mate.”

What she really needed was to figure out what the hell was going on before her head exploded.

“Our blood bond seems to have enhanced all of your senses. I tried to adjust it for you, but you seem to be blocking me. You must gain control over your senses and bring them back to a normal level.”

Damn it, she forgot that he could read her mind now.

She tried to do what he suggested, but it was difficult trying to control everything at once.

Especially since she could barely focus past the pain in her head.

Trying to remember how she had lowered the volume earlier, she imagined a panel of dials.

She tried to envision that each dial controlled one of her senses, and she adjusted them accordingly to bring them all back to normal levels.

Once the cacophony of noise and the onslaught on her other senses ceased, she breathed out a sigh of relief.

When she tried to open her eyes, she was surprised when she was able to so with very little effort.

Even in the dark, she was able to see her bedroom clearly.

Night had fallen, and she was lying on the bed next to Ronan, who was sitting with his back propped against the headboard.

She tried to tilt her head back to get a better look at him and felt a slight cramp in her neck.

As if sensing her discomfort, Ronan immediately shifted to lay down next to her.

He gently pulled her against his side so she was partially draped across his bare chest and stroked his hand over her hair.

Despite feeling like she’d gotten to know him pretty well over the past few days, it was different being with him when she was awake. She felt a little awkward being so close to him and had to remind herself that there was no need. He was her mate, and he’d already seen her at her worst.

At least, now her appearance had improved, and she had on a green silk nightgown rather than the layers of clothing she usually had to wear. She loved wearing pretty nightwear even though she slept alone.

“Not anymore,” he pointed out.

That reminder made her flush with heat. The only thing he was wearing was a pair of gray sweatpants that had to be more comfortable than the leather pants he’d been forced to live in over the past few days. While she had ample clothes available in her closets, nothing would have fit him.

She’d known he was physically fit but wasn’t prepared to see the sheer perfection of his bare chest and abs with her own eyes. He really looked like he’d been sculpted by the gods themselves. When she finally worked up the courage to glance up at him, she blinked in surprise.

“Oh, wow. Your eyes are glowing. And you really have fangs! I thought I had imagined that part.”

His eyes widened. “You can see them? But the God of the Sun hid them from view.”

“Maybe our new bond allows me to see them?”

He considered that for a moment, then nodded. “That would make sense.”

Without thinking, she used her fingertip to trace the pattern of the tattoo inked onto his chest. The tattoo was made of a dark shimmery metallic ink that looked like it was moving on his skin up close.

She thought the marks were beautiful and appreciated them even more knowing they represented his lost brother and former mate.

Ronan sucked in a deep breath. “You know of Eron and Imra?”

She poked him, and teased, “I know all your secrets, mate.” Her voice sounded husky from disuse over the past few days.

“I wasn’t conscious all the time, but I heard a lot of the stories you and Dominic have been telling me.

” She paused before confessing, “I’ve been drifting in and out of your heads since I took the first sip of tonic. ”

“That is…unexpected, though I guess we should have realized. The God of the Sun asked us to add a few drops of our blood to the tonic, but I never thought that would be enough to initiate a blood bond with you. Forgive us, mate. We wanted to tell you everything once you woke—”

She cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips. “Don’t worry about any of that. I apologize for invading your heads without permission. But honestly, I have no clue how I did it in the first place.”

He pulled her hand down, then pressed a chaste kiss on her inner wrist.

“You have nothing to apologize for. You are our mate, and we have nothing to hide from you.” He pressed her hand against his chest. “You should rest a little more. There is only a little of the tonic left, so you should be able to finish it tonight.”

Oh, goodie. Now that the torture sessions were coming to an end, she would be able to fully wake up soon. Before she finished the tonic, she wanted to spend a little time with him, though.

He stiffened against her. “Explain.”

The harsh sound of his growl should have terrified her.

Instead, it made her feel all tingly inside.

She didn’t want to tell him the agony she had been put through every time she drank the magical tonic but knew they would find out sooner or later anyway.

She gave him a brief explanation, trying to minimize the severity of what she’d experienced.

Unfortunately, since he could hear her thoughts now, there was no use in prevaricating.

Turning, he wrapped himself around her as if trying to shield her from the pain. “We did not know. I am going to murder the Sun God once we return.”

Smiling, she snuggled closer to him. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. If I’m going to be returning to your home world with you, I would prefer that you don’t start a fight with a god. I’m pretty sure that would end badly for all of us.”

He sighed. “You are probably right.”

“I’m sure the Sun God didn’t tell you because he knew you would react this way. I had to drink the tonic to get better anyway, so it was best that you didn’t know what would happen.”

“We could have helped if we knew.”

She knew there was nothing they could have done to help her through the healing sessions, but there was no point in saying that out loud. She could already feel his remorse that he hadn’t known she was suffering.

“I’m healing. That’s all that matters, right? That makes it all worth it. Besides, you saved me by coming to Earth to bring me that tonic. Without you, I wouldn’t even have this second chance.” Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “Were Buddy and Abby really here earlier?”

Ronan smiled. “They were. Buddy passed out after drinking with us, so Dominic is helping to carry him home. He also volunteered to help Jude resolve a problem they have been having with some coyotes that have been bothering their horses. Though, I believe that is simply an excuse to go for a ride in their big trucks.”

That made her giggle. Buddy was a big man, but Ronan and Dominic both seemed to have the strength of a dozen men.

She didn’t want to think about how Dominic was going to take care of the coyote issue but figured that kind of thing was right in his wheelhouse.

Jude’s horses were like his babies, so any help he could get to protect them would be welcomed.

“Is Layla still here?”

“Aye, she also drank too much and is now resting in one of the bedrooms upstairs that she claimed is hers. Jude had to return to take care of the horses, and Abby refused to let Benny and Jessi stay since the younglings have school in the morning.”

That made her groan. “They were all here?” She sighed before he could answer. “At least Caro was spared the madness.”

“You mean Caroline, Buddy and Abby’s eldest daughter? She was also here with her mate and her baby earlier, but they left after the meal.”

Her jaw dropped open. “You really had dinner with the entire Ross family?”

He nodded solemnly. “They are your family. It is only right that we meet them. They brought us a lot of food and also provided clothing for us that will help us blend in. They have been very accepting, though we only told them the bare facts regarding why we are here. The rest is for you to decide whether or not to share with them.”

Kylie thought that was sweet. She was very close to the entire Ross family, so she was prepared to tell them everything before she left. She couldn’t bear the idea of them grieving her when she was going to be living a full, happy life somewhere else.

She barely held back a gasp when her body suddenly felt like it was on fire.

It wasn’t the same sensation that she felt each time she drank the magical tonic.

Instead of pain, it was a relentless burning ache that seemed to invade every cell in her body.

It felt like she was suffering from a severe fever that overheated her and made her shiver with chills at the same time.

The air instantly felt charged with electricity, and the heat within her burst into a wild inferno. Moving against him restlessly, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. However, the closeness only made the fire burning within her grow even hotter.

“What is it, mate? What is wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. Only that she felt an overwhelming hunger for him that she couldn’t deny. It was the same feeling she’d had when she had bitten him in the shower, yet stronger.

But this time, she could actually do something about it.

She pushed him onto his back, then gripped his shoulders and crawled on top of him.

Her every sense felt heightened again, but this time, everything within her was focused solely on him.

She listened to every beat of his heart, savored every breath he took.

Feeling his hard body beneath hers made her feel an overwhelming sense of possessiveness.

She wanted to claim him so everyone knew he belonged to her.

When she leaned down and brushed her lips against his, she felt his surprise through their bond.

The touch of their lips was gentle at first, a soft exploration into unfamiliar territory.

The kiss was filled with curiosity and tenderness, but it deepened into something darker and more primal in an instant.

As their lips met, a spark ignited between them, sending a shiver down her spine.

She could feel the softness of his lips and the warmth of his breath mingling with hers, creating a heady mix that made her heart race.

Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him closer and anchoring herself against the storm raging inside of her.

The connection between them intensified until the rest of the world simply faded away.

She took the kiss deeper as she moved against him, desperate to ease the ache building within her.

When she used her tongue to stroke over his lips, he let out a low growl that thrilled her.

She could taste the sweetness of his lips, the hint of something familiar yet thrillingly new.

When he opened his mouth, she stroked her tongue against his.

His heartbeat quickened beneath her palm, mirroring the wild rhythm of her own.

The kiss turned into a fervent dance of lips and tongues, each stroke fueled by the desperate need she felt for him.

Every touch, every caress, sent waves of pleasure coursing through her body, and when his fangs gently scraped against her tongue, she shivered.

He growled again when she sucked his lower lip into her mouth, and any trace of warmth and softness disappeared when he took control, flipping them over until he was on top of her.

He was careful not to put his full weight on her, but she tried to pull him tighter against her.

She wanted to feel him. When he broke their kiss and pulled back to stare down at her, she wanted to whimper in disappointment.

“You are still healing, mate. We should wait before we complete our bond.”

But Kylie couldn’t wait.

She needed him now.