Oblivion

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  tangled with mine, more than a time or two. And then she’d rocked that red bikini? Wanting her wasn’t new, but the intensity of what I felt this morning was.

  I wanted Kat so badly it neared physical pain.

  Had it been because of last night? Her saving me? Or had it been earlier, seeing her with Simon and that dress? Or had it been building from day one? None of it mattered.

  This was wrong.

  Think of Dawson. Look at what had happened to him. Did I want to take the same risk? Leave Dee all alone? But even now I could feel her skin, taste it—sweet and sugary like candy. Hear that wonderful sound she made over and over again, haunting every mile I put between us.

  An idea began to form—one that Dee would hate, but I didn’t see any other option. I could go to the DOD and request a move to one of the other communities. We’d be giving up our home, leaving behind our friends and Matthew, but it would be for the best. It was the right thing to do. Dee would be safe.

  It would keep Kat safe.

  Because Dee couldn’t stay away from her, and neither could I. But no matter where I went, what I was running from would still be with me—Kat. She wasn’t just back in the house, in that bed. She was with me now, inside me. And there was no outrunning that.

  When I returned from my run, everything felt under control. I had a plan, one I would act on. I entered the house, determined.

  Andrew’s car was parked outside, and I really hoped the whole clan wasn’t here already. Then again, I knew the inevitable confrontation with Matthew and the Thompsons would happen fast.

  Dee was waiting for me in the living room. She opened her mouth.

  “Where’s Kat?” I asked, and then mentally punched myself in the nuts. Asking about her right off the bat didn’t seem like I had everything under control.

  My sister cocked a brow. “She went next door a few minutes ago. Her mom is home, but she’s coming back over in a few minutes.” She took a deep breath. “Daemon—”

  Adam roamed out from the kitchen, an apple in his hand. “Andrew and Ash are pissed.”

  Lifting my forearm, I wiped the sweat beading across my forehead. “And that’s different from any other day?”

  He smirked. “Well, they can’t believe you guys kept this a secret—the whole Kat knowing about us. They’re on their way over here now.”

  “With Matthew.” Dee folded her arms across her waist. Worry filled her gaze. “He’s also not very happy, Daemon. I’m afraid he’s going—”

  “He’s not going to do anything.” I pinned Adam with a hard look. “You’re not pissed?”

  “Not really.” He raised a shoulder as he bit into the apple, chewing thoughtfully. “I mean, she’s known for a while, right? Dee made it sound like she has and she hasn’t said anything yet, so why would she now?”

  “She won’t,” Dee and I responded at the same time.

  I shot my sister a wry look while she grinned. “I’m taking a shower.” I turned, starting for the stairs.

  Glancing over her shoulder at Adam, Dee trailed after me. “Kat is coming back over here, like in ten minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  “Everyone else is coming over here,” she added.

  I was halfway up the stairs when it hit me. Twisting around, I stared down at Dee.

  “Kat knows that they know and that they are coming over. She wants to be here, and I think it’s a good idea.”

  I came down a step as my brows rose. “Having her here with three Luxen who disliked and distrusted her already is a good idea how? Unless we’re considering making it easier for them to try to fry her a good idea.”

  “Andrew and Ash are a lot of talk. You know that,” Adam said from the foyer. “They won’t hurt her.”

  “I won’t let them.”

  Dee’s eyes widened, and yeah, I’d thrown that right out there. God only knows what Dee thought anyway, especially after this morning. She blinked. “Anyway, I think it’s a good idea for them to actually see her—to see that she can be trusted. I’m not worried about Ash or Andrew. It’s Matthew who needs to be convinced. You know that.”

  That was true. I wasn’t willing to believe that Ash and Andrew were all talk, but they wouldn’t go to the DOD or the Elders. Matthew would, but he was also a fair and logical person. If he was convinced that Kat wouldn’t run her mouth, then he would back down, and having Kat here for them to see that she would keep quiet was probably the only way to convince Matthew. Plus, I would be here to make sure Kat stayed safe during the initial face-off.

  “Okay,” I said, turning back around to grab a quick shower first. I made it to my bedroom with Dee right behind me.

  She closed the door and waited for me to face her. “What’s going on between you and Katy?” she asked.

  Immediately, I thought of Kat this morning, her soft body tucked under mine. “Nothing is going on, Dee.”

  Doubt crossed her face. “You slept with her last night.” I almost choked on my own spit as I toed off my sneakers. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

  “You were in the same bed with her, so that’s sleeping together even if it’s not sleeping together.” She narrowed her eyes. “I want to know what’s going on.”

  Part of me wanted to tell her it was none of her business, but all that would do was increase her suspicions. “Look, she was stressed out last night and scared. Between what happened at that damn field party and then coming face-to-face with three Arum, she needed someone with her. I was that someone. That’s it. It’s not a big deal.”

  Dee was silent as she twisted her hair in her hands. “It is a big deal.” Then she smiled broadly while I stared at her. “It’s a very big deal.”

  After a quick shower and change of clothes, I headed downstairs. Kat was there, glowing like a damn star. She looked up when I entered the room. Her gaze moved from mine and then down, way down, and a pink flush swept across her cheeks. I watched it spread down her throat and disappear under her collar. I wondered just how far that blush traveled.

  Hell.

  “They’re here,” Adam said, heading for the front door.

  Kat stiffened, but remained quiet and alert. As the crew rolled in, I sat down on the arm of the recliner she was sitting in. My position was clearly noted by everyone.

  Dee smiled like she’d just figured out the key to life.

  When Ash and Andrew spotted the traced Kat and where I was sitting, their faces slipped into scowls so deep I wondered if they’d be stuck that way.

  Matthew looked like he wanted to vomit. He came to a complete stop in the middle of the room. “What is she doing here?”

  “She’s lit up like a freaking disco ball,” Ash said accusingly. “I could probably see her from Virginia.”

  Kat’s eyes narrowed.

  “She was with me last night when the Arum attacked,” I explained. “You know that. Things got a little…explosive. There was no way I could cover what happened.”

  Matthew ran a hand through his hair. “Daemon, of all people, I expected you to know better, to be more careful.”

  My brows furrowed together. “What the hell was I supposed to do exactly? Knock her out before the Arum attacked?”

  Ash arched a brow. The look on her face said she totally supported that idea.

  “Katy has known about us since the beginning of school,” I said. “And trust me when I say I did everything possible to keep her from knowing.”

  Andrew sucked in a sharp breath. “She’s known this entire time? How could you allow this, Daemon? All of our lives have been in the hands of some human?”

  Dee rolled her eyes. “Obviously she hasn’t said a word, Andrew. Chill out.”

  “Chill out?” Andrew’s scowl matched his sister’s. “She’s a stupid—”

  “Be careful with what you say next.” My skin started to hum. “Because what you don’t know and what you can’t possibly understand will get a bolt of light in your face.”

  Ash swallowed thickly as she looked away, s
haking her head. Silence fell as my message was read loud and clear.

  “Daemon,” Matthew said, stepping forward. “Threatening one of your own for her? I didn’t expect this from you.”

  My shoulders stiffened. “It’s not like that.”

  “I’m not going to tell anyone about you guys.” Kat spoke for the first time. “I know the risks to you and to me if I did. You all don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “And who are you for us to trust?” Matthew asked. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you’re a great girl. You’re smart and you seem to have your head on straight, but this is life or death for us. Our freedom. Trusting a human is not something we can afford.”

  I didn’t like where this was heading already. “She saved my life last night.”

  Andrew laughed. “Oh, come on, Daemon. The Arum must’ve knocked you around. There is no way a human could’ve saved any of our lives.”

  “What is it with you?” Kat snapped, fiery as ever. “You act like we’re incapable of doing anything. Sure, you guys are whatever, but that doesn’t mean we’re single-celled organisms.”

  A choked laugh came from Adam.

  “She did save my life,” I repeated, wrangling everyone’s attention. “There were three Arum that attacked, the brethren of the one I killed. I was able to destroy one, but the two overpowered me. They had me down and had already begun reaching for my powers. I was a goner.”

  “Daemon,” Dee whispered, paling. “You didn’t tell us any of this.”

  Doubt colored Matthew’s voice when he spoke. “I don’t see how she could’ve helped. She’s a human. The Arum are powerful, amoral, and vicious. How can one girl stand against them?”

  “I’d given her the obsidian blade I carry and told her to run.”

  “You gave her the blade when you could’ve used it?” Ash sounded stunned. “Why?” Her eyes darted to Kat. “You don’t even like her.”

  Kat frowned.

  “That may be the case, but I wasn’t going to let her die because I don’t like her,” I replied, and the words didn’t sit well with me. This wasn’t the time to piss Ash off even more by disagreeing. I didn’t look at Kat to see her response. I didn’t want to know.

  “But you could’ve been hurt,” Ash protested. Fear thickened her voice. “You could’ve been killed because you gave your best defense to her.”

  I sighed. “I have other ways to defend myself. She did not. She didn’t run like I told her. Instead she came back, and she killed the Arum who was about to end me.”

  Reluctant pride shone in Matthew’s eyes. “That is…admirable.”

  “It was a hell of a lot more than admirable,” Dee interjected, turning a wide stare on Kat. “She didn’t have to do that. That has to account for more than being admirable.”

  “It’s courageous,” Adam said quietly, staring at the throw rug. “It is what any of us would’ve done.”

  “But that doesn’t change the fact that she knows about us,” Andrew shot back, casting his triplet a scornful look. “And we are forbidden from telling any human.”

  “We didn’t tell her,” Dee said, stirring restlessly. “It kind of happened.”

  “Oh, like it happened last time.” Andrew rolled his eyes as he turned to Matthew. “This is unbelievable.”

  Matthew shook his head. “After Labor Day weekend, you told me that something occurred but you took care of it.”

  “What happened?” Ash demanded. “You’re talking about the first time she was glowing?”

  “I walked out in front of a truck,” Kat muttered.

  Ash stared at me, her blue eyes growing to the size of saucers. “You stopped the truck?”

  I nodded.

  The anger washed away from her face as she blinked rapidly. “Obviously that couldn’t be explained away. She’s known since then?”

  “She didn’t freak out,” Dee said. “She listened to us, understood why it’s important, and that’s it. Until last night, what we are hasn’t even been an issue.”

  “But you lied to me—both of you.” Matthew leaned against the wall, between the TV and overflowing bookcase. “How am I to trust you now?”

  Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw Kat lift two fingers to her temple.

  “Look, I understand the risk. More than any of you in the room.” I rubbed the heel of my palm where my chest still ached from where the Arum had gotten me. “But what is done is done. We need to move forward.”

  “As in contacting the DOD?” Andrew asked. “I’m sure they’d know what to do with her.”

  My voice was low and calm, but that was not how I felt. “I’d like to see you try that, Andrew. Really I would, because even after last night, and I’m not yet fully charged, I could still kick your ass.”

  Matthew cleared his throat. “Daemon, threats aren’t necessary.”

  “Aren’t they?” I challenged.

  A heavy silence fell in the room, broken only when Matthew spoke again. “I don’t think this is wise. Not with what…with what happened before, but I’m not going to turn you over.” He looked at Kat, sighing heavily. “Not unless you give me reason to. And maybe you won’t. I don’t know. Humans are such…fickle creatures. What we are, what we can do, has to be protected at all costs. I think you understand that. You’re safe, but we aren’t.”

  Andrew cursed under his breath and Ash looked ready to throw something, but it was Matthew’s call. He was like our very own Elder. All of us knew that. A bit of relief eased the tension in my muscles. At least I wasn’t going to have to fight those I’d grown up with and considered family.

  “You said there was one Arum left?” Adam asked, shifting the conversation. “What’s the plan? He knows there are Luxen here obviously. He’s going to come back.”

  “He won’t wait. They’re not known for being patient.” Matthew moved over to the couch and sat down next to Dee. “I could contact the other Luxen, but I’m not sure if that would be smart. Where we may be more confident in her, they won’t be.”

  “And there’s the problem that she’s a megawatt lightbulb right now,” Ash added, her upper lip curling. “It doesn’t even matter if we don’t say anything. The moment she goes anywhere in town, they are going to know that something big happened again.”

  “Well, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about that,” Kat replied.

  “Any suggestions?” I asked. “Because the sooner she’s not carrying a trace, the better all of this is going to be.”

  “Who cares?” Andrew rolled his eyes. “We have the Arum issue to worry about. He’s gonna see her no matter where we put her. All of us, right now, are in danger. Any of us near her are in danger. We can’t wait around. We have to find the last Arum.”

  Dee shook her head. “If we can get the trace off her, then that will buy us time to find him. Getting rid of the trace should be the first priority.”

  “I say we drive her out to the middle of nowhere and leave her ass there,” Andrew muttered.

  “Thanks.” Kat rubbed at her temples with her fingers. “You’re so very helpful with all of this.”

  He smiled back at her. “Hey, just offering my suggestions.”

  “Shut up, Andrew,” I said.

  Andrew’s eyes rolled once more.

  “Once we get the trace off her, she’d be safe,” Dee insisted as she tucked her hair back, face pinched. “The Arum don’t mess with humans, really.”

  “I have an idea,” Adam said. Everyone looked at him. “The light around her is a by-product of us using our power, right? And our power is concentrated energy. And we get weaker when we use our powers and use more energy.”

  Matthew’s gaze sparked with interest. “I think I’m following you.”

  “I’m not,” Kat muttered, and my lips twitched.

  “Our powers fade the more we use them, the more energy we exert.” Adam turned to me. “It should work the same with our traces, because the trace is just residual energy we are leaving on someone. We get her
to exert her own energy; it should fade what’s around her. Maybe not completely, but get it down to levels that aren’t going to draw every Arum on Earth to us.”