Page 27 of Reclaimed
“That’s good, Dylan. Just keep breathing through it. Pull them down.”
Dylan groaned. More blood spilled from his gums, and he squeezed my hand in a death grip. I kept encouraging him, telling him that he was doing great and to keep breathing. Harley kept her hand on Dylan’s thigh. Distress creased her forehead, but she stayed quiet. She and Dylan were both so strong.
“There you go,” I praised. Tears spilled down Dylan’s cheeks. He whimpered, then his fangs were gone. He’d retracted them back into his gums—and into his dragon. He’d controlled it. He’d done so well. And before I could tell him any of that, Dylan slumped forward onto me with a sob.
“Dylan!” Harley swooped in and grabbed her son’s lax body. Dylan groaned and wound his arms around his mom’s neck. She got her feet under herself and stood up, easy as anything. Even though Dylan was nearly as tall as Harley, she lifted him as easily as she’d lift a sack of potatoes. She shifted his weight until he was on her hip, and Dylan rested his head on her shoulder. Harley took a few steps toward the porch.
I got to my feet. They looked good together—the strong curves of Harley’s body, her thick auburn hair, and Dylan’s blond head and gangly limbs.
My heart pounded. I wanted to be part of this. I wanted to wind my arms around Harley’s shoulders and pull her close to me. I wanted to be the one to carry Dylan. I wanted to be in their lives.
But had I missed my chance? Had I screwed things up before they even began?
Harley looked over her shoulder. She brushed her dark hair aside and raised an eyebrow. “You coming in?”
7
HARLEY
“Mom, m’fine,” Dylan mumbled against my shoulder.
I hiked my son higher onto my hip. He definitely wasnotokay—but he didn’t seem too hurt, either. Just exhausted. I was still worried about him, but not nearly as worried as I had been before I’d followed Dylan outside.
Never in my life had I been so happy to see Stephan. The mere sight of him standing next to his beat-up old project car had sent a wave of relief crashing over me. I’d had no idea what was happening with Dylan, but I knew Stephan would be able to help.
And I was right.
Exactly when Dylan needed him, Stephan appeared. What would I have done if he hadn’t showed up?
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t get used to this. Stephan was going to help Dylan with his first shift—that was all. There was nothing more to our relationship than that.
I eased Dylan onto the couch. He groaned and rubbed his chin. His eyes were still half-lidded, like he wasn’t all the way there. I glanced toward Stephan. “Is this normal?”
Stephan lingered in the foyer, hands in his pockets, like he wasn’t sure if he was actually allowed to come inside. “It’s normal.”
“I’m okay,” Dylan mumbled. “Little dizzy.”
That made Stephan take a few steps into the living room. “That’s normal too, bud. The first time your fangs come in hurts, doesn’t it?”
Dylan nodded. “Hurt a lot.”
“It won’t hurt like that forever,” Stephan assured him gently. “Soon, it’ll be as easy as breathing.”
Dylan frowned a little, still rubbing his chin. He didn’t look totally convinced, but it was a start.
“The fangs come first,” Stephan said. “After that, the tail usually shows up.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “Is my tail going to come out of my butt?”
Stephan let out a loud, surprised laugh. He leaned down and tousled Dylan’s hair. “Nope. You’re safe there.”
With a big, relieved sigh, Dylan slumped down deeper into the couch. “That’s good. I dunno if I could handle that.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m gonna get you some water, Dyl.” I stepped into the kitchen, then busied myself making a fresh pot of coffee in Mom’s beat-up old coffeemaker. As it burbled, I braced my hands on the edge of the counter and took a deep breath.
I still couldn’t believe Stephan was here. He was so sweet with Dylan. That smile of his… so big, so gorgeous, so earnest. I downed a glass of water myself, and then filled one for Dylan. I turned around and saw Stephan leaning against the armrest. His denim jacket stretched across his broad shoulders, and his blond hair was getting a little long, like his full beard. Crow’s feet appeared at the corners of his eyes as he smiled.
My heart ached when I saw them together. God, they looked so alike, and I got a glimpse of Stephan when he was a little kid when I looked at my son.
