CHAPTER 51 : PAST HURTS, PRESENT JOY

Walking into the room, Bryan and Aiden saw that Kira was still awake. She just laid down on the bed, the light on while reading a book and eating some snacks.

"You never change, do you? So stubborn," Bryan chuckled and shook his head, making her smile as she continued to read her book.

"Just want to finish this chapter, then I will attend to you both," she informed them, her eyes still fixed on her book, as if she had not been the one waiting for them.

"Isn't that interesting," Aiden chuckled as he and Bryan cleaned up and got into something comfortable for the night, joining her in bed.

They gave her time to finish her chapter and in some minutes she was done. She marked the chapter, closed her book and put it down on the drawer, giving them all her attention.

"So how did it go? Is everything okay?" She asked them, wanting to know what had happened.

"Yes, everything is fine now, but we know you will still want to know what happened, so this is what happened."

They started explaining everything that had happened with Jeremy, the rogue and how it was handled.

"He must be really shocked," Kira murmured after they were done filling her in.

"Yeah, he was," Aiden said, his voice laced with agreement. "But he will be fine, he has to be."

Kira let out a soft sigh, leaning against the headboard as her eyes clouded with memories. "You know… my case was not so different from Jeremy's," she said quietly, remembering how everything had gone down.

Bryan and Aiden exchanged a glance but remained silent, giving her the space to continue. 

"When I triggered my curse… I was alone," she admitted. "It was in self-defense too, just like Jeremy. I thought I would not make it out alive actually, but I ended up surviving. Back then, there was no one to guide me. No one to tell me it was going to be okay."

She swallowed hard, looking down to her hand. "I had to turn for the first time all by myself. And it was terrifying."

"I'm just glad Jeremy has people around him," Kira continued, "I personally can understand how shocking this can be and feel, but I know he will pull through. He will." 

Bryan reached over and gently took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze while Aiden's jaw tightened as he listened.

"I'm not saying this to make you both feel bad okay?" She turned and looked at them, offering a small smile.

"Even though you are, we deserve it for everything we have put you through." Aiden told her and reached out to brush her cheek. "You are the strongest woman we know. You don't need to be physically strong to be strong," he added, his tone gentle.

Bryan nodded in agreement. "You have survived things most people could not even imagine. And that's strength. You don't have to be alone anymore either, you have us now."

"Always," Aiden followed suit.

"Except I would not have survived the last one if the both of you didn't save me," Kira recalled, laughing softly. "I was so shocked and angry when I found out it was you both that saved me, I wanted to just arghhh." She squeezed her fist laughing louder.

Bryan and Aiden joined her laughing hard, remembering the anger and hate they saw in her eyes. 

"We were pretty sure you would have killed us, if we were not stronger than you." Bryan declared all the while still laughing.

"Oh, you bet," Kira admitted, "But look at us now. Be careful though." she wagged her finger at them. "Who knows, I might strangle both of you in your sleep."

"If it is to die by your hands, that would be the greatest honor," Bryan whispered to her.

"I agree with my brother," Aiden stated clearly, "It would truly be the greatest honor."

Kira's laughter softened as she turned her head to the left, looking at Bryan, then to the right, meeting Aiden's face. She pressed a hand to her chest, making her face suddenly serious.

"Well…" she said, pausing dramatically, "maybe I should take you both up on that offer."

But before either twin could respond, she burst into laughter, tossing the blankets over her head as she quickly slid under them, trying to hide from their gaze.

Bryan and Aiden could hear the muffled sound of her laughter from beneath the covers. Even as she peeked out briefly, she saw they were still watching her with those mischievous and amused expressions on their faces.

"When did you two get so cheesy? Like seriously, when?" Kira asked through a fit of giggles. "I never knew you could be like this when you are always so serious and intense. Don't tell me you are learning this from somewhere because WHAT??!!!" She kept laughing.

Bryan rubbed his face also laughing as he watched her. "So now you are laughing at our lines, huh? Think you could do better?"

"Nope, I absolutely can not beat that line," Kira answered seriously, trying to hold herself back from laughing.

"You had better get used to it, love. You won't ever be able to beat our lines," Aiden added.

"Uh-huh, who am I to argue," Kira stated, but she had to cover her mouth, to muffle her laughs, "My stomach, you both are killing me. I really don't know what to do with you two."

"Oh, we will give you something to do," Bryan declared as he and Aiden exchanged a mischievous look. 

Without warning, they both dove under the covers, joining her under and covering themselves from head to toe.

Kira gasped, her giggles filling the room as she felt one of them grab and squeeze her ass under the covers.

"Let go of my ass!" she squealed between breaths, trying and failing to keep a straight face as she squirmed beneath them.

Her laughter grew louder as both Bryan and Aiden kept their hands on her, clearly enjoying the reaction they were getting.

"You both are making noise," Kira giggled, covering her mouth in an attempt to muffle her laughs, but it was no use.

"Then be quiet," Bryan whispered against her neck, his lips brushing her skin, causing another gasp to escape her lips.

"We will be quick," Aiden added with a low chuckle.