Chapter 42
“I think we all need a good cup of tea and a rest before we try to wade through what’s just happened,” Lily said. “And Kyla especially needs some time to process everything.”
Kyla nodded, the events of the past couple of hours running riot in her mind. “Can we reconvene tomorrow or something? I just want a hot bath, a pizza, and to think about nothing.”
“You can have whatever you want, Marmalade,” Malcolm said, running a hand up and down his granddaughter’s back. “Do you want to stay at ours tonight? So you feel safe?”
Kyla shook her head. “No, thank you. I want to be in my own space. Besides, the dog is at home.”
Sam frowned. “Dog? What dog?”
Kyla sighed. “Long story. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
Sam nodded. “Ok. Go home and get some rest.”
Kyla glanced across at Dylan. “Can you take me home please?”
Dylan’s heart skipped a beat, warmth and pride filling him in an instant. Whilst her saying Azazel’s name as she came around had hurt like hell, he knew she’d been drowsy and also in his arms as she woke up. However, after the demi-soul bombshell, he couldn’t shake the little niggle in the back of his mind that it was something more.
Despite all that, Dylan couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms and keep her safe by his side. The memory of slitting her throat played over and over in his head like a horror movie mini trailer on repeat. He knew he had to do it, it was a means to an end, but he’d never imagined he would have to do something so horrific to the woman he loved more than anything else on earth.
Upon hearing Kyla’s words to Dylan, Azazel’s heart sank, disappointment flooding him. Realistically, he knew she would turn to the safest comfort but the fact she’d said his name when she woke had planted a seed of hope inside him.
Trying his best to ignore his feelings, he walked over to one of the red roses and picked it up, twirling it around in his fingers. “We need to have a conversation about this tomorrow.”
Kyla stared at it for a few seconds then looked over at her grandad. “Do we?”
Malcolm nodded. “Lucifer has just handed the pair of them a death sentence.” He held his hands up and smiled. “But don’t worry about it now. Go home, rest, and we’ll revisit all of this tomorrow.”
“We’ll, erm, take care of this,” Azazel said, motioning his hands out at the room.
Kyla offered him a genuine smile, truly grateful at his offer. “Thank you.” She dug her hands into her pocket and fished out the keys for Sam’s car. “I’m sorry, I’m just not up to driving. I can barely process my own name right now.”
Sam took the keys from her and then wrapped her friend in a warm, crushing hug. “Don’t you apologise for anything. Now go home and chill. And I do mean chill. Not Netflix and chill.”
Kyla laughed. “Definitely not Netflix and chill.” Kyla looked over at her gran and smiled, tears glazing over her vision. Rushing to her, she embraced her in a bear hug as she whispered, “Thank you. I love you.”
Lily hugged her granddaughter back, her own tears already falling. “No need to thank me. I love you, too.”
Taking a deep breath, Kyla broke the hold and headed towards the door, forcing herself not to look back at her mother’s carcass. Dylan pressed his hand to Kyla’s lower back, guiding her out of the house.
Dylan rushed forwards to the car, opening the passenger door for her. Kyla slid inside, offering him a tight smile as a thank you. He shut the door, giving her a precious few seconds of time to herself before he joined her in the car. In those few seconds, her only thought was Should I have asked Azazel to take me home?
Settling in the driver’s seat, Dylan struck the car up and pulled away, desperate to get her as far away from her demi-soul as possible. He knew that eventually Kyla would find her way to Azazel, it was written in the stars, already designed in fate. How could he stand in the way of that? If anyone tried to be in the way of him and Kyla, if she were his demi-soul, he would end them without a thought.
Yet, here he was, about to spend the night with another man’s demi-soul. How must Azazel be feeling right now, watching Kyla walk away with him?
Dylan shook his head and reached over, placing his hand on Kyla’s knee. He couldn’t afford to get lost in his head right now. Kyla needed some stability and comfort, not him second guessing himself and putting some demon’s feelings before his own.
Kyla sat her hand on top of Dylan’s smiling at the warmth seeping through her skin from his singular touch.
Leaning her head back against the head rest, she began to process everything right from the moment Mildred had invaded her.
She’d never felt so scared or lost in all her life. In those minutes she was trapped in utter darkness with a psychopathic old hag, Kyla had never felt fear like it. Fear of helplessness, fear of life being done, fear of looking back on her time and not feeling satisfied or accomplished with what she’d spent her time on. In those moments, Kyla felt nothing but grateful that she’d never managed to achieve her aims of suicide.
Kyla realised that in order to live life to its fullest, to succeed in a happy, successful life, she needed to trust. She needed to open her heart and let people in, or someone at least. To live a life scared, full of anger and bitterness, would get her nowhere. That wasn’t the way to be. After all what is life if not but a state of mind? A mere perception of being?
“Are you ok?” Dylan asked, glancing over at her. “You look lost in thought.”
Kyla sighed and smiled. “Just a lot to process. I don’t really know where to start.”
“You don’t have to process anything right now. You just need to rest. Worry about all of that after a good sleep.”
She nodded and fell silent, losing herself in thought again.
“What’s this dog?” Dylan asked, trying to keep her mind in the present.
“He’s my familiar,” Kyla replied. “Gran said witches get their familiar when they go through a traumatic event.”
Dylan frowned. “But you went home before you came here, right?”
She nodded. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. He’s nameless at the moment. He’s a Dobermann.”
“Nice. They’re good dogs. Very intelligent, agile, protective. He could be a good friend for you.”
“I hope so. I have no food for him though. I kind of just abandoned him at home before I drove...here.”
“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.”