Chapter 27
Dawn frowned, taking in the pair on the floor before her. The man who’d just punched Z’s lights out stood up, brushing off his uniform. He nodded politely in her direction. Then his eyes were drawn to the alien female who was just sitting up beside her.
Her gaze shooting to the other male, Dawn realized that both bore a resemblance to the unconscious male. Were they Z’s relations?
“Welcome back to the world,” the one with green eyes said, his smile sultry. He was dashingly handsome, tall and muscular with a ready smile. Still, she felt zero attraction to him. Nor did she swoon over the other one, with long hair and even bigger muscles than his brothers’. It seemed the only male who flipped her cookie was the one just waking up on the lab floor.
Dawn removed the neural cap and hopped off the medical unit. She stumbled slightly, and the light-eyed male reached out to steady her.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” a voice growled, and Dawn looked up in shock.
Z had risen and was stalking forward, murder in his eyes.
The other male raised his hands, palms out, and stepped backward.
Dawn frowned. “What’s going on here? Who are you?”
“My name is Calabez Vartik,” the green-eyed male said with a bow. “And that is Juston. We’re Zelup’s younger brothers.”
“That explains who you are,” she said, “but not why you’re here.”
“We’re here for her,” Juston said, jerking his thumb at the alien female who was blinking at the crowd gathered around her.
“How did you get out?” Z asked, moving closer. “What became of the beast?”
Dawn rubbed her hand over her face, accidently dislodging her glasses. She’d become used to not wearing them in the dream and had to straighten them on her nose. “She fought him to a standstill, taking control of her dream.”
Recalling the scene, Dawn wondered what had become of the yellow-eyed creature. “She ordered it away, but it refused to leave. And then, I’m not sure what happened.”
“I decided to wake up.”
Her voice was melodic, soft, but with hidden depths. The woman began to climb off the medical unit, but when her feet hit the floor, they wouldn’t support her weight.
Juston hurried to catch her, lending support. “Careful,” he said. “You’re probably weak from being asleep for so long.”
“Just how long were you asleep?” Calabez asked.
The woman’s face bore signs of shock. “I’m… I’m not sure. Time isn’t the same where we were. ‘A long time’ is the only answer I can give.”
“Where were you?” Juston asked softly, a polite smile on his face.
“In a dream,” she replied. “No, a nightmare.”
Dawn shivered. “Let’s stop with the interrogation,” she said, moving closer to the female. “Except for one more question. What’s your name?”
The woman blinked silver eyes at her, her expression confused. “I…” Her face collapsed into helpless tears. “I don’t remember!”
Juston drew her into his arms, attempting to comfort her. “It’s okay,” he said. “You will. Just give it time.”
“I’m not sure if I will,” she sobbed. “It’s been eons since I’ve heard it. Eons of sleep. You may as well call me that.”
“Sleep?” Dawn asked.
The woman nodded. “It’s an accurate description. Sleep is my existence.”
“Not anymore,” Calabez drawled. “Now you have a new reason for being. Join our mission to rescue the son of the Goddess of Light from the Crown Prince of Hell.”
“It’s not a new mission,” Sleep said, wiping her eyes. “It’s always been the mission. We are to protect the twin children of light, to keep them safe for the Battle of the End.”
