“Nope.” I watched Zoe puff up her cheeks.
“You want to be careful with this,” Hunter interjected, drawing my attention back to him. “The shadows have a weight to them. You could seal up an entire room with it, and when you do that, you stop oxygen from getting in. You know that smell of burned ozone that often accompanies use of the Source?”
I nodded.
“It’s the Source basically eating up the molecules that make up oxygen. In this case, you’re not just blocking the light, you’re virtually sucking the oxygen out of it faster than anyone can put it back into the air by breathing. You’d surely kill anything with a bit of human DNA in them, including yourself.”
“Oh,” I whispered, looking around in concern as I eased off, letting cracks of sunlight penetrate the darkness. “How long does it take to use up the oxygen in a room?”
“Three minutes if you’re lucky,” Grayson replied. “Maybe a little longer for those with Luxen DNA, but not very long.” A ghost of a smile appeared, and I frowned. “Would be interesting to find out exactly how long.”
My brow creased. God, he was scary sometimes.
The classroom door opened suddenly. Daylight poured in, along with Daemon, who drew up short as the rainbow aura around him faded to reveal that his brow was creased from how high he’d pushed his eyebrows up. “What in the world?”
I lost my concentration, and the mass of shadows lost their intensity, swiftly breaking apart and scattering.
Daemon looked around the room, his gaze landing on Zoe. She’d frozen mid-jig, or whatever she was doing now. “You know what? I don’t even want to know.”
Slowly, Zoe placed her foot back onto the floor and clasped her hands behind her back.
“I was learning how to block out light so no one can see me coming,” I told him. “And apparently, Grayson would like to see how long it takes one of us to die from lack of oxygen.”
Daemon lifted his brows. “Sounds about as I expected.”
Grayson shrugged.
“What’s up?” Luc asked.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Daemon began.
Luc laughed. “Not really.”
“True.” A quick smile appeared. “Eaton said you all were in here. Need to ask a couple of you a favor.”
“Sorry,” Luc stated as I drifted over to him. Without saying a word, he snaked an arm around my waist and tugged me between his legs. “I can’t babysit baby Adam. It’s against my religion.”
Daemon arched a brow. “You would be the last person I’d ask to babysit.”
“I’m not the last person?” Grayson asked. “Shocked.”
“Correction. You’re the second-to-last person I’d ask to babysit Adam.”
“Well, that’s kind of offensive. I’m totally trustworthy,” Luc argued. “And I give great gifts.”
Daemon crossed his arms. “You once tried to gift Kat and me a llama because, according to you and literally no one else, they’d make a great family pet for a baby.”
What?
Luc’s smile turned thoughtful. “They will protect a herd—”
“A lone child is not a herd, Luc,” Daemon sighed.
“One child is an equivalent to a herd of lambs.” Luc folded his other arm around my waist, clasping his hands together.
“I won’t argue that point—wait a minute.” Daemon’s eyes narrowed on the desk. “Is that Adam’s stuffed banana? I’ve been looking everywhere for that.”
Uh-oh.
“You might be having a stroke,” Luc advised him. “There’s no banana there.”
The banana was totally there.
“We’re really not even in this room,” Luc continued.
“What is your favor?” I asked as I reached around Luc and picked up the banana. I tossed it to Daemon.
He caught it. “The favor is actually open to more than just Luc.”
Don’t, I warned Luc, able to tell he was about to say something incredibly sarcastic.
You’re no fun. He rested his chin on my shoulder.
“There are a few med supplies we’re running low on, and we’re going to need to head out earlier than we’d expected,” explained Daemon. “With Archer not expected back for another day or so, and with Jeremy and others going out to escort another package, we’re down several people.”
“You need me to go?” Luc surmised.
“We need a couple of people to go.” Daemon shoved the stuffed banana into his back pocket. “It’ll be an overnight trip. We’ll leave tonight and plan to be back by tomorrow evening.”
“We?” Luc lifted his chin. “You’re heading out so soon?”
“Yeah, don’t really want to, but it was Archer and I who scouted the place, and with him gone, only I know the ins and outs of it. That’s why it’s going to be as quick as possible. Dawson is going, too. We need at least two more.”
“I know you just want to spend some time with me, so I’ll humor you and go,” Luc replied.
One side of Daemon’s mouth tipped up. “Yeah, that’s exactly why.”
“I would if I could,” Hunter said. “But Sin is on his way, and he could arrive at any point. Could be tomorrow. Could be next week. Either way, I need to be here with that happens.”
Daemon nodded. “You need to be here when he arrives. God only knows what kind of trouble he’ll get himself in.”
“I can go.” I pulled away from Luc in my excitement. I could actually be useful, working for all that food I’d consumed.
Which was a lot.
And what I’d been giving to Nate.
Which was also a lot.
“I don’t know exactly what you need, but I’ve come a long way with the Source, and—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Daemon cut in, and all that excitement sped into a brick wall going about 80 mph. “I don’t want you to take this personally, and I’m not trying to sound like a dick, but things can get hairy out there. More than once, we’ve run into ART officers, and while you were able to control things with the Trojan, you’re still working at that. We can’t risk you blowing up another building.”
He had a point, a big one, but my shoulders still slumped under the weight of disappointment.
“There’s also the issue that you might be recognized.” Sympathy filled Zoe’s voice. “Your image was plastered all over the news in connection with Syl—with your mom’s murder.”
And another good point. Wasn’t like I hadn’t forgotten that I’d been conveniently blamed for her murder. I was just trying to not think about that messed-up factoid, but that reminder was a punch in the chest.
“Yeah, you guys are right.” I leaned back against the table, and Luc’s hands settled on my hips. He squeezed gently. “I know it’s not personal.”
Daemon’s gaze met mine. “It’s really not. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” And I did. Sometimes the truth was harder than something being personal.
And very few know when to step aside, Luc’s voice whispered among my thoughts.
I took a deep, steadying breath. I just want to be able to help out.
I know. His hand slid to my lower back. You will.
“I can go,” Zoe was saying. “I’ve done it before when I’ve been here.”
“Perfect.” Daemon looked toward Luc. “We’ll meet tonight at the entry house.”
I hoped that was a lot duller than the last time everyone was there. Wondering why Grayson hadn’t volunteered, I waited until later that evening, while Luc was getting ready, to ask.
Sitting on the bed, I watched him root around in the stack of shirts. Damp hair toppled on his forehead as he bent, pulling out a plain, black shirt. The black cargo-type pants he wore were still unbuttoned. I was convinced either magic or the Source was holding his pants up, because those suckers were defying gravity at the moment.
“Why didn’t Grayson volunteer to go?” I asked.
He shook the shirt out. “He knew he was needed here.”
I started to ask why, but then it struck me. “He’s staying behind to babysit me.”
“I wouldn’t call it babysitting.” Straightening, he looked over at me. He seemed to freeze for a moment, eyes slightly wide as he stared at me. Shirt forgotten in his hand, he strode toward me. Stopping in front of me, he placed his hands down on either side of me and dipped his head, his lips finding mine.
His kiss was gentle and slow, the kind that threatened to shatter me into a million little pieces. When he kissed me like this, so softly, it told me what words could never capture.
Pressing his forehead to mine, he shuddered as he slid his hands up my sides. “I forgot what we were talking about.”
I let out a little laugh, because I, too, had to think about that. “Grayson babysitting me.”
“That.” He shifted his head, kissing my temple. “He’s just keeping an eye on things.”
“Seems like that’s his number-one job.”
“It’s his most important one.”
I bit down on my lower lip as he pulled away, shirt in hand, the material now wrinkled. There was an ache in my chest. Luc had to know how Grayson felt, and making me Grayson’s top priority just seemed wrong.
“I know.”
I blinked. “What?”
His gaze met mine. “I know.”
Grayson.
He was saying he knew how Grayson felt. “Then do you think making him stay back here is a good idea?”
“I know it’s a good idea, because that’s what he wants.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” I admitted after a moment. “I mean, unless what he feels is this pure, unselfish type of love where he—”
“Protects you, because of what it would do to me if something happened to you?” he cut in.
I nodded. “I have to admit that I … yeah, I wouldn’t be that good of a person.”
“And neither is Grayson. I can’t even believe you’d think he was. How many hours ago was he wondering how long it would take for people to suffocate? He’s not selfless.” Luc grinned. “You should see your face right now.”
“I don’t need to see my face to know it’s the picture of confusion,” I told him. “If he’s not that good of a person, then why would he want to stay behind?”
“Because love can be complicated, Evie.”
I lifted a brow. “Okay. That was unnecessarily vague.”
“Look. Don’t worry about Grayson. He’s fine. If I thought he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be staying here.” He pulled the shirt on over his head. “Unless him staying here makes you comfortable.”
“It doesn’t.” I wrinkled my nose. “Well, I mean, half the time, I don’t even know he’s around.”
“He’s good like that.”
“He’s creepy like that,” I muttered.
Thrusting his hair back from his face, he chuckled. “I’ve got to admit something.” Luc zipped up his pants. “I almost pushed for you to come along.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “For purely selfish reasons. I don’t like the idea of leaving you here. Not because you can’t protect yourself or that I think anything will happen.” Buttoning his pants, he peered over at me through thick lashes. “I would rather have you by my side. I’m needy like that.”
“I would rather be by your side, too.”
“I know.” Picking up a pair of black boots, he sat beside me. “But people out there are going to see us. It’s inevitable. If you’re recognized and the authorities are contacted, things are going to roll downhill from there.”
I’d been thinking about that. “Do you think there’s hair dye around here?”
Lacing up a boot, he looked over at me. “You thinking about dyeing your hair?”
I picked a strand. “And maybe cutting it. I’m going to have to leave here eventually, and it’s probably a good idea that I change my appearance. Coloring and cutting my hair isn’t going to make me unrecognizable, but at least it wouldn’t be as easy.”
His gaze roamed over me, and then he nodded. “It’s a good idea. I don’t know if they have any here. You can check with Zouhour. She keeps track of all the goods here, but I’ll also keep an eye out for any while I’m out there. Any color in mind?”
“I don’t know.” I dropped my hair. “Probably brown? Something easy that will look natural. I always wanted red hair, but I have a feeling that will end badly with boxed color.”
“Brown hair?” He laced up the other boot. “I think I’ll dig it.”
I grinned.
He lowered his booted foot to the floor. “You going to be okay tonight, all by your lonesome?”
“I’ll be just fine.”
“I don’t think you’ll be ‘just fine.’ You’ll probably be up all night, hugging one of my shirts close to your bosom, sobbing.”
“I’ll probably get the best sleep of my life,” I replied warily, but honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to falling asleep without him there. Strange how I could get so used to that.
He pressed his hand to his chest, fixing a wounded expression across his face. “I will be clutching one of your shirts to my chest, sobbing all night.”
Laughing under my breath, I shook my head. “Truthfully, I’ll probably spend a good portion of the night worried about you guys. Every one of you are badass and all, but anything can happen,” I admitted. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I always am, but I promise.” He touched my cheek, teasing gone from his voice. “Nothing will ever steal me away from you, Evie. Nothing.”
31
It was only about a half an hour after Luc had left when I heard a soft knock on the kitchen door. I hadn’t sensed anything, so I knew whoever was there was human. Hope sparked as I hurried to the door. I didn’t know anyone who’d come to the back door other than Nate.
Telling myself I shouldn’t get my hopes up, I cracked open the door and peered outside. At first, I saw no one standing on the stoop. The corners of my lips turned down, and then I caught a glimpse of orangey-copper hair peeking around the corner of the stoop. My heart about stopped. “Nate,” I whispered.
A second later, his pale face appeared in the moonlight. He looked a little less dirt-covered than he had the last time I’d seen him. “Hi,” he said, his nervous gaze darting behind me.
“No one else is here,” I told him, stepping aside so he could come in.
“I know.” He stepped out from around the corner, but didn’t come in. “I mean, I saw the others leave. Him. The guy who lives here with you. I wasn’t watching you—I mean, I kind of was so I could, you know, know when to come by.”
“It’s okay, but you can come by when he’s here. You’d like him. He has dumb jokes,” I repeated. Nate didn’t look convinced. “Do you want to come in?”
He seemed to consider that and then took a deep breath before stepping in. He’d kept a wide berth around me as I quietly closed the door. “I, um, got the food you left out for me. Thanks for that.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried that a squirrel ran off with it or something.” In the glow of the gas lantern, I thought he’d looked thinner than before, his cheeks hollower.
“That would be one big, scary squirrel.”
“True.”
A faint, uneven smile appeared and then faded. “I came by once before, but there were a lot of people at the house.”
Not wanting to worry him, I nodded. “I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m okay. I’m sorry I missed you,” I added when he looked like he was about to push that. “Did you get the note I left you last time?”
He nodded. “I was going to write back, but I was afraid someone else would find it.”
I wasn’t exactly surprised to hear that. This kid didn’t trust easily. Even right now, he kept looking around the kitchen like he expected someone to jump out of a cabinet. “I’ve been worried about you.”
He blinked. “You have?”
The surprise in his voice was so genuine, it tugged at my heart. “Of course.
I didn’t know if you had enough food or water. Is that why you came back?”
“No. I was … I mean, I was hoping you had something that could help, like, disinfect the skin.”
“Like rubbing alcohol or peroxide?” I knew we had both in the bathroom. When Nate nodded, concern replaced the relief. “Is someone hurt?”
“No.” His nose scrunched. “I mean, not really. Not seriously. We have bandages and stuff, but nothing to, you know, clean the skin? And I don’t know much, but I know that cuts and stuff need to be cleaned with something. That’s what my mom used to do when I was hurt.”
“What happened to your mom?” I asked, half expecting I wouldn’t get an answer.
“She’s dead. I didn’t know my father.” He shrugged. “He’s probably dead, too.”
“Did she die in the invasion?”
Rubbing a hand over his chest, he shook his head. “She died a few years before that. We—I mean I was in a group home when the invasion hit. Several of us were, and when people started dying or leaving, we were kind of just there.”
Understanding crept over me. “You mean, you were left there by whoever was running the group home?”
“Yeah, but it really wasn’t any different from someone being there.” Nate gave another nonchalant shrug while anger rushed through me so fiercely, I felt the Source pulse in response. “We all pretty much took care of ourselves.”
“That doesn’t make it okay. No one should be left behind,” I told him, wrangling in my emotions before he saw that I wasn’t exactly human.
“Yeah, well, people were left behind before it all went to shit,” he responded. “People who lived on the streets? They were already left behind.”
He was right, and I told him that. “I know this is hard to believe, but no one in this community is left behind. Everyone is taken care of, and every one chips in one way or another.”
Nate said nothing as he rubbed at his chest.
“Let me grab you some peroxide or something.” I started toward the archway but stopped. “Don’t go anywhere. Please. I’ll be right back.”
He nodded.
I stared at him a moment, almost wishing I could freeze him in place, but that wouldn’t help gain his trust, so I hurried to the bathroom. It was somewhere between finding an old backpack and shoving the bottles of rubbing alcohol and peroxide in it, along with cotton balls and a bottle of pain reliever, when I decided I was going to make him take me to the rest of the kids. I knew it could be dangerous even though there didn’t sound like there were any adults with them, and I also knew Luc would be furious when he found out, but based on how Nate looked now, he couldn’t survive much longer like this. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to convince him, but if there were others, I may have more luck with them. I also needed to know exactly how many kids were out there, fending for themselves, and just how hurt this other one was. I also reasoned it would be a good idea to see exactly how Nate was getting in and out of the city without being seen. I could defend myself, and helping Nate was far more useful than sitting here missing Luc and Zoe and everyone else.
The Brightest Night Page 38