Wow. I knew they were getting serious fast but that was a bit of a bomb drop.
I nodded. “I feel the same. What if we could change things?”
I knew what she was wrestling with. Hope. Hope was one of the most dangerous emotions I’d ever felt, even more than love. But I believed now. I really thought we could end this. These fuckers had a weakness and I was going to exploit it.
“You’re going to need a medic and I don’t trust these shit for brains. I’m going in too,” she declared.
That was my girl, my ride or die. I nodded.
“How is Jeremy? Everyone else?”
My bestie took a deep breath. “He’s shaken but okay, only a few blisters. He knows what happened to the sentries, so Damien already has him set up with a laptop and he’s crunching numbers in a tent.”
That was our Jeremy; his brain never rested, and it would be to our benefit.
“He’s also requested hot chocolate and mac and cheese for dinner,” Ronnie added, which caused me to grin.
“I love that kid.” How could I not?
Ronnie chuckled. “So do I. We survive acid rain, float in a lake full of Galadrias, the US Army shows up and he’s worried about dinner.”
I laughed, genuinely. “Priorities.”
Jeremy had a routine, and if that routine wasn’t met, it was meltdown city. Hot chocolate and mac and cheese would keep his world together.
“I put everyone on antibiotics after these blisters so they don’t get infected. Be sure to take yours.”
I nodded, reaching into my pocket and producing the pack of pills she’d given me earlier.
“How long do you think the Galadrias can stay here without starving to death?”
Poor Dawn, I feared she would have no sky home left to return to.
Ronnie blew air through her teeth. “I’m not sure, but Damien has Jeremy working on that too, trying to see if a synthetic of the green stuff can be made at one of Striker Labs.”
I forgot my boyfriend was a billionaire until these moments.
“I’m sure he’d like to see you, make sure you’re okay.”
Ronnie finished the last bandage and I stood.
“Thanks, girl. Did Lucy make it out okay?” I looked in her eyes for any sign that the cat might have drowned or been left behind.
“She’s fine. Playing with Brisk.”
A frown pulled at my lips. “Awesome.” Damn cat had nine lives for sure.
After a light smack from Ronnie, I left the tent in search of my man.
The Galadrias had smartly exited the lake on the opposite side of where we were. They were all sunbathing on the shore and tending to their wounds, licking them like cats would. The army personnel on our side of the lake, along with the civilians, just stood at the edge and watched the beautiful creatures.
‘Are you all okay?’ I mind-messaged Dawn.
I saw the moment her pink head shot up and tracked me. ‘Galadrias are alive and well. Thanks to Kit.’
My heart pinched at the sincerity in her voice. ‘I’m going to try to find you guys some food. But best you stay on that side of the lake until I can work out something with the army.’
Dawn nodded. ‘Angry humans with guns don’t like Galadrias.’
‘Angry humans don’t yet understand Galadrias,’ I informed her.
My eyes found the youngling that couldn’t fly, the one Damien and I had rescued. It looked like Ronnie had hooked him up to an IV and about three other Galadrias were… licking him.
I frowned. ‘What’s with the licking? Is it healing?’ It could also be a cultural thing for all I knew.
Dawn looked over at the youngling. ‘Yes, Galadria saliva has healing properties.’
Ahh that made sense. ‘I’m going to take angry humans back into Dream War. Show them what I can do. That the breeders die when they hit our atmosphere. I’ll keep part of my team back to make sure you are all treated properly.’
Dawn stood. Patches of her fur and feathers were missing, but she stood strong. ‘If Kit goes back in, then so does Dawn. Dawn is with Kit until the end.’
My breath hitched in my chest. She was so loyal, so caring, it got me right in the feels. ‘I’m not sure they will allow that.’
‘They will,’ she stated.
With a sigh, I nodded. ‘We move out in an hour.’
Dawn was on this crazy train with me, and I was lucky to have her.
“You’re okay,” Damien’s voice called behind me, and I spun around to come face to face with him. He was covered in the same burn cream that Ronnie had patched me up with, but there was tenderness in his eyes. “Did they hurt you? They wouldn’t let me in.”
I shook my head. “No, we’re sort of allies right now… I guess.”
Allies were better than enemies. I caught him up quickly on the details and informed him the president of the United States was inbound.
“Well, I’m going with you,” he declared quickly.
I knew he would say that. Reaching out, I placed my hand on his shoulder. “But I need you for something much more important.”
His mouth set in a grim line. “Kit, I’m going.”
“Damien, I need you to keep the army from hurting the Galadrias. Maxine, Nox, and Brisk will go in with Ronnie and I. I’ll be safe, but I need someone levelheaded, with a business mind, to broker a deal for the Galadrias.”
He looked intrigued. “Broker a deal?”
I nodded. “I’m going to find a way to end the Dream Wars, and once the dust has settled, I want to offer Dawn and her family a home here on Earth. I trust that Jeremy will find a way to feed them, but I need the government to openly offer them safe haven here. Do whatever you have to in order to get that deal in writing, then I want it discussed openly on the nightly news.”
Damien’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re not messing around.”
“I’m not. They had you on a kill list. I’ll never fully trust them.”
His face clouded. “Yeah
