They stared at each other in silence. Layla’s words hung between them. Slowly, Bear nodded.
“You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t add on any qualifiers or try to make her go into the mansion again. He just stood there with her, letting her cry.
“Tell me he’s wrong,” she thought to Penny.
Her PEA didn’t respond. Doubt crept into her very core as she waited for Penny to say something—anything—that would reinforce her knowledge of who she was. It didn’t happen.
Bear closed the gap between them. He cupped her cheeks in his massive hands and stared into her eyes. “No matter what we discover, your parents will always be your parents.” His voice was gentle and caring as he spoke. He kissed her forehead. “I know tonight has been overwhelming and I’m sorry these questions couldn’t have been presented to you in a better way.” He paused as he met her gaze.
She heard his words and appreciated them, but she wasn’t ready to feel them yet. She wasn’t ready to accept them.
“Please come inside the mansion with me, Layla,” he said. “I can’t promise you that the answers we find will alleviate the pain and confusion you’re feeling right now, but I can promise you this: we will discover them together.”
She blinked at him.
“Go inside the house, Layla,” Penny whispered. “At least until we find the answers to this debacle.”
She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered Bear’s request. She wondered about the others. Worried that the man would somehow find her here. Worried she would be the cause of more death and destruction.
“Things won’t look so bleak once you’ve had a cuppa my famous hot chocolate,” Bear said with a smile.
“With whipped cream?”
“Extra whipped cream. And cinnamon, too.”
“Ok,” she murmured. She sighed and stood up straight.
“I’m pretty sure this place is going to collapse the minute we step foot inside it,” she said with a laugh.
“It won’t.” He motioned for her to follow him up the steps. “As I said, we party here often enough that we’ve made some improvements to its foundation.”
“The crack running up the front and the crumbling balcony say otherwise.”
“Ha ha,” he said mockingly, “Do you honestly think I’d bring you here if I didn’t think it was the safest place for you?”
He held her gaze for a long moment.
“No,” she finally said.
“Good.”
He pushed open the door to reveal a room covered in glitter. The smell of champagne and cologne punched her right in the nose. She coughed slightly but covered it up as a yawn.
“Don’t mind all the glitter,” Bear said sheepishly as he wiped a finger over a table surface. It came back coated in the shimmering material. “We can’t help that it spreads everywhere.” He shrugged as he flipped the light switch. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting warm light around the room. Little crystals were strung on the staircase banister, catching the light, and transforming it into rainbows. Comfortable looking couches filled the space.
“Stay here,” he commanded. “I’ll go get that hot chocolate.”
He disappeared behind a pocket door. Layla could hear the clatter of porcelain and glass as he rummaged in what she presumed to be the kitchen. Walking across the room, she settled onto a chaise lounge. She yawned loudly as she stretched her arms high above her head. Glancing at a clock, she realized that it was nearing morning. Soon, the sun would rise and it would be the start of a new day.
Bear returned a few moments later carrying a tray with two cups, both topped with an enormous amount of whipped cream, and a plate of cookies. He sank onto the floor in front of her, groaning slightly as he did so.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She meant it, too. If he hadn’t been so pushy, she would’ve ended up at her apartment. If the king’s man could find her in a moving vehicle on the street, she had no doubt he would’ve been able to find her in her home.
She sipped the hot chocolate. “Mmm,” she murmured. “Now, this is delightful.”
“See, told ya,” Bear replied. “It’s famous.”
“I can see why.”
They drank their hot chocolate in silence. Layla’s eyes began to droop as exhaustion overtook her. Although Bear had forced her to sleep, her body still felt as if it hadn’t been given proper rest. Setting her empty cup on the tray, she stretched again, trying to keep herself awake.
“Before you sleep, we need to talk,” Bear said.
She rolled onto her side and stared at him.
“I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but I need you to promise me you’ll at least consider the possibility that you’re the lost princess.”
She huffed at him. “Seriously?” she asked. “Do we have to do this right now?”
He sat back, his arms supporting him as he said, “Look, you can deny this all you want. But I promise you this. It’s not going to get any easier. The more you fight your destiny, the more you’ll be pulled to it.”
“And what does a biker who loves glitter and cut off leather jackets know about destiny?” She knew it was mean spirited of her, but she didn’t care. She was exhausted. Her entire body ached. She’d been drugged. Tested against her will. And she was scared. He could deal with her bad attitude.
“I know more about destiny than you think,” he replied vaguely.
She just wanted to be done with the conversation. “Sure,” she said.
He stared at her, his eyes a mixture of frustration and worry. He clearly didn’t believe her. After a moment, he shrugged.
“Fine,” he said. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No,” she replied contemptuously.
He groaned as he stood. “I’m going to leave you alone for a bit,” he said. “I have to go back and see if the rest of the FGs are alright. Now that you’re here, and safe, I need to go back for them.” He twisted his hands together as he spoke, his eyes lingering on her face.
Layla gave him a half-smile and said, “Of course you need go back for them.”
“Right then,” Bear said with a nod. He swept his hand over her brow and kissed her hair. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She listened to the sound of his footsteps as he disappeared into the back of the house. A moment later, the roar of his motorbike ripped through the air and she knew she was alone. Closing her eyes, she welcomed sleep like an old friend. She rolled onto her back, and then her side. Nothing felt comfortable. Her mind continued to storm with questions. Each new thought was like a lightning strike scorching her. Try as she might, she couldn’t piece together what, exactly, had transpired. All she knew was that there were too many questions that needed to be answered.
“Penny?” she beckoned to her PEA, “Are you there?”
It took several seconds for her to respond.
“I didn’t think you’d want me to interject into your quiet time,” Penny said. Her words came out imperious and cold. Layla knew she was sharing a private conversation, in her mind, with her Personal Electronic Assistant, but she couldn’t help but feel like a small child being chastised by her mother.