Chapter 4

Stevie and I were dragging our bags down the stairs, when we heard Chase yell out.

“Yo! Cab’s here! Move your asses, ladies; we need to go.”

Stevie and I glanced at each other, grinning in anticipation. We hurried the rest of the way down the stairs to the front door. I followed Alex out with my suitcase trailing behind me, and Stevie stopped just outside the door. I turned to see her holding her hand over the door handle whispering something, and then I saw her hand glow.

I gasped and almost tripped on the path by the taxi. I thought I was the only weird one—a freak, as my mom used to say. Stevie began to walk toward me with her bags in tow, eyebrows raised as she saw my expression.

“Ry, why do you look so shocked?” Stevie asked

“Your hand! I saw what you did. I saw your hand glow,” I screeched.

Stevie shared a look with the boys before bringing her eyes back to me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You did bump your head the other night, so you could be seeing things. Now hurry, before we miss our flight.”

Stevie continued on to the cab like nothing had happened, but I know what I saw. There was no way I had imagined that. The strangest part was that her hand had glowed like mine when my emotions got out of control, my glow was blue, but Stevie’s was purple. This obviously wasn’t the time to get into all that, though, so I shook it off and decided to corner my sister on the long plane ride.

We arrived at the airport twenty minutes later. Once all the bags were out and the driver was paid, we all made our way into the airport to check our bags and go through security.

---

Once seated on the plane, I finally started to relax. I was actually going on my first-ever plane ride! On my first trip abroad – I was beyond excited to be leaving New Zealand.

Once the plane took off, everyone started to get comfortable. We had a long flight ahead of us: sixteen hours to Los Angeles and a further seven hours to Anchorage, Alaska, followed by an almost five-hour drive to Wonder Lake, to reach our destination. It was going to be a long-ass few days of travel. The first part of the flight went quickly.

I watched a few movies and caught some shut-eye. I couldn’t relax during the last leg. I needed to talk to my sister about what I saw back at the house. She was asleep beside me, but it was about time for her to wake up, anyway. I gave her a few shoves to wake her.

“Now would be a great time for you to drop the act and tell me what that really was, back at the house.”

She looked at me like I had three heads, but the look on my face told her I wasn’t going to let this go. With a long exhale, she finally responded.

“I promise you, Sissy, when we get to where we are going, I will explain everything. I can’t do that now—there isn’t enough time for the answers you seek. So please, just wait.”

“I can’t let it go for that long! I don’t even know where Wonder Lake is. All you told me is how long it takes to get there.”

“I know, Ry. Can you just wait, please?”

“Can I ask one thing?” She sighed.

“What is it, Ryan? I will answer it if I can.”

“What I saw back at the house, how your hand was glowing. I can do that too, can’t I?”

“I am so sorry, Ryan. You should have known about all of this so long ago. We couldn’t get near you. We tried to come for you, Ry, I swear we did. Mom wouldn’t let us. She is such a bitch for denying you the right to know the truth of—” I cut her off —I had zero interest in this wait-and-see game. I just wanted a straight answer from her. The longer she took, the more anxious I got. I just wanted the truth, for once in my damn life.

“Truth about what, Stevie? I have a right to know. Just answer me, for God’s sake.”

Alex leaned across the aisle and eyed us both.

“Now is not the time for this conversation, cousin. If you both could please keep the noise down, so we don’t attract any more attention from the other passengers, it would be appreciated.” As he finished, he shot Stevie a warning look that look shut us both up.

We spent the remainder of the flight quiet, occasionally making small talk with each other. I was still feeling antsy, needing answers from my sister. After the plane made its descent into LA, we left the aircraft to search for the boarding gate for our connecting flight to

Alaska.

Once aboard the aircraft, we found our seats. Due to it being a smaller plane, we sat apart. Alex and Stevie were seated next to one another, with Chase and me a few rows behind. Once we got settled in our seats and fastened our belts, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, intending to get some shut-eye. After the plane was in the air, Chase leaned over and whispered.

“You will get all the answers you seek, cousin, once we get to Wonder Lake. I promise if Stevie does not tell you, I will.”

I opened my eyes and moved slightly so I could look my cousin in the eye. There was no deceit behind his words; I knew Chase would spill the beans if Stevie didn’t. I appreciated Chase so much at that moment.

“Thank you, Chase. I just don’t want to be lied to anymore. I deserve to know.” He gave me a warm smile and nodded. We spent the remainder of the flight in comfortable silence.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had seen my sister do. I would glow blue if my emotions got the better and I never understood why. I need my sister to help me figure this all out and soon.

After departing the plane, we made our way out to the parking lot. Stevie had organized a hire car for the time we were here. We stuffed all our bags in the SUV then headed out for the long drive. We were a couple of hours into our journey when I dozed off. I could feel the pull of my dreamland awaiting me.

***

I was walking through the woods, smiling up at the sky, when I felt the sensation of being watched. I stopped walking and scanned the area. He was here. I could feel him. I can’t explain it, but I could always tell when Kai or Nico was near in my dream.

“I know you’re out there, Kai. Why don’t you just come out?” I turned when I heard a bush rustle behind me, then I saw him.

One of the most beautiful men I had ever seen in my life was stalking me. His skin was flawless, his body a work of God himself. He was shirtless and had the kind of abs that men spend years trying to achieve. On him they just looked natural…meant to be. He had the most perfect set of teeth on display, and as I looked up to meet his gaze, I was drawn in by the most beautiful gray-blue eyes and was unable to look away. His hair was rumpled, a rich mix of brown with hints of blond.

“I have missed you, mi amor,” he said as he lowered his head to kiss me. I opened for him immediately, like I always did, and he slipped his tongue inside my mouth. He pulled away after a few minutes with a smile on his face, leaving me breathless and panting.

The sexual tension was palpable; I could feel my body heating with the need to have him inside me.

“That’s one hell of a hello, Kai.”

“I have missed you and have not seen you as much I would like.” My dream guys were always so demanding. I never understood why—I mean, they were just dreams, after all, but it was so nice to feel needed and wanted by someone. Nico was the dominant one who always demanded my submission, while Kai was gentle and soft.