“What happened to your scratches?” Lyle asked, examining my lower arm and wrist.
“I tend to heal rather quickly.” I answered.
“Nobody heals this fast, love.”
“Well, I do.”
Lyle was silent for a few moments. I couldn’t quite place his expression. I’d never been looked at in the way that Lyle was looking at me at that moment. I blushed.
Since when was I able to blush?
“What?” I asked, embarrassed at how I must seem.
“You’re just...” he exclaimed, “amazing.”
My newfound blush was darker and deeper as he kissed my hand, his eyes closed. I felt my heart bubble up to my throat. Tears fell from my eyes as the uncontrollable shame flooded back into my consciousness. The tears became whispered sobs.
Lyle didn’t ask. He just held me close. He stroked my hair as my tears stained the green shirt that I picked for him. I barely noticed Dr. Curran and the nurse, Amelia, leave the room.
“Lyle?” I croaked through a sob.
“Yes, honey?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“You can tell me anything, love.”
I took a deep breath, preparing for Lyle to leave the room, never to talk to me again. My heart broke at the very thought of it.
“Do you remember...Gatlin Harris?”
Lyle flinched at the memory. Just stating the question gives me images of Lyle, a different Lyle, shoving sweet Gatlin into the rusty lockers. I could tell he was as appalled at his past self as I was. Never in a million years would I have guessed that Lyle Ford was my Bond, at least not the Lyle Ford that made my little brother’s life miserable for months.
“Wh-what about him?” Lyle stammered nervously.
“Did you know he had an older brother?” I asked in response.
“He did?” he asked, “Why hasn’t he beaten me up yet?”
“He considered it, many times,” I told him, “but after Elizabeth’s funeral, he ran off, watching over Gatlin from afar, vowing never to interfere.”
“Where’s he now?”
“Well, he’s lying in a hospital bed with the man he never thought he’d love at his bedside.”
I squeezed his bulging, muscular hand. His forehead wrinkled slightly, contemplating my statement. It took him a few seconds before his eyes widened.
“Oh.” Lyle whispered, “Oh.”
Lyle gave me a soulful, pleading gaze. He leaned in to kiss my forehead. I reached out to stroke his firm, yet thick and bulging bicep.
“So...I’m guessing that doesn’t change much on your end?” I questioned.
“Not too much, no,” Lyle responded, “but it does mean one thing.”
“What?”
“Meeting at the time we did was no accident. I think that falling in love with you is supposed to make up for the way I treated Gatlin.”
“So, basically, I’m just your redemption, and when you’ve been forgiven you’re just going to cast me aside like an old toy?”
“No, Emmy! I could never do that! Once I’m forgiven, you’re never getting rid of me.”
He gently but passionately kissed my lips. I had never been as happy as I was at that moment. He knew I was Gatlin’s brother, well, as close as I could get, and it didn’t change the way he felt about me. In fact, it gave him yet another reason to stay with me. That moment won’t last for much longer though.
“Lyle Alastair Ford!” a woman’s voice yelled, “What is the meaning of this?”
“Mom, please!” Lyle protested after he pulled away at the sound of her sneering voice characteristic of the woman in this town.
“Would you care to explain how you’re turning into...a monster?”
She didn’t say monster.
“Mom, leave!” Lyle growled.
“Not until you explain yourself!” she replied.
“I love him, Mom!” Lyle answered, “I don’t have to pretend with him! I don’t want to be a jerk anymore, and if you have a problem with that then you can pack my stuff and throw me out on the street. I don’t care!”
“You have no idea who he is, do you?” Molly Ford asked, “He was the witch’s assistant!”
“That’s Xanthe, ma’am.” I informed shyly.
“Whatever, the point is, he was associated with the Wicked Witch!”
“The Wicked Witch? Wow, are you mature!” Lyle and I said sarcastically in unison.
“I could help you, Lyle.” Molly offered, “We can fix you.”
“Love doesn’t need to be fixed.”
Molly’s scream nearly shattered every window in the building. I had to cover my ears to prevent permanent hearing loss. Her eyes, the same emerald as Lyle’s, were hard and glassy.
“I hope you reciprocate these sinful feelings,” Molly growled at me, “because he’s your problem now!”
As soon as Molly slammed the door behind her, Lyle burst into tears. I ran up to him, cast and all, and held his head to my chest. With every heavy sob my heart broke to pieces. I stroked his white blonde curls, twirling the loops around my fingers. Soon, tears fell from my eyes, his pain radiating through me.
"Why would my mom do this to me?" Lyle croaked through his tears, "I thought she loved me!"
"She just needs some time to cool off, to come to her senses," I comforted, "but until then, you can stay with me as long as you need."
Lyle gazed up at me, his emerald jewels flickering from his tears. I tucked an unruly blonde curl off his face. Everything around Lyle's face blurred into blackness. He was all I saw.
YOU ARE READING
The Nightingale Code (Monsters Series #2) (COMPLETE)
Romance"The Nightingale Code, the rules for every Guardian to follow, and the list of important people in a Guardian’s life. There are many minor rules, such as never cross a threshold with a crucifix above it; it’s an omen of discovery. The one major rule...
