The Burning Shadow

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  She’d never mentioned that before, but I wasn’t sure if that meant anything. “What did I do that summer? Was I just out of it?”

  Mom placed her hands on the granite as her gaze seemed to sharpen. “What did—?” She wet her lips. “What did Luc say you did?”

  Ice dripped down my spine, stiffening my body. “Luc didn’t say anything.” That part wasn’t really a lie.

  “Then why are you asking about this?”

  “Because Zoe just pointed out that no one saw me until I showed up at school, and I remember that day. I remember the days leading up to that—back-to-school shopping and stuff—but I…” I swallowed hard. “I can’t grasp on anything before that.”

  Was that relief that I saw loosen the features of her face or was I just being overly suspicious? I wasn’t sure, but she sighed heavily as she tucked back the hair that had fallen forward. “You were recovering, Evie. You weren’t really out of it, but you needed time to recoup and time—”

  “For me to become someone else?”

  She flinched, and I was torn between feeling bad and not feeling guilty at all. “Yes. There were days when you were perfect, but then you’d have no idea who you were. You weren’t Nadia. You weren’t Evie. You were just a shell of a girl. You needed time, so I kept you here.”

  I stared at her, my juice neglected. That made sense. Sort of. I doubted that after such an intense fever, I would be up and about, fully turned into the carbon copy of Evie, but …

  “Is that what’s bothering you?” she asked, her gaze searching mine. “I know Zoe probably didn’t mean anything by talking to you about this, but I really wish she were more careful.”

  “About what?”

  “About making you worry about things that don’t really matter.” She came around the island, stopping before me. “And you’ve obviously been worrying about it if you’re up this early to talk about it with me.”

  I looked away. “Why?”

  “Why what?” She cupped my cheek with her cool hand, guiding my gaze back to hers—to brown eyes that were familiar but weren’t real. Contacts that hid who she truly was.

  “Why did you give me Evie’s memories?” I asked. “Why did you do that to me? Why didn’t you just let me become me again?”

  “I told you. I’ve asked myself that a million times, and I—”

  “You missed the real Evie.” I pulled away from her. “That wasn’t fair to me.” My lower lip trembled as I took a step back. “At all.”

  “I know.” Pain sliced across her features. “Trust me, I know.”

  * * *

  All day Tuesday, I kept expecting April to pop up at school, but she didn’t, and no one seemed to be talking about her absence. Yet. Zoe and I both knew that wasn’t going to last long.

  And neither was keeping James in the dark.

  “All I’m saying is just that y’all have been acting so weird,” he was telling us as we trudged up the short hill that led to the parking lot.

  “Who has been acting weird?” Zoe squinted as she dug around her bag for her sunglasses.

  “All of you. Every last one of you.” James pointed at me and then at Zoe and then in front of him. “That’s me pointing at Heidi, who supposedly has mono.”

  “What do you mean supposedly?” I shared a look with Zoe. “You sound like people don’t come down with mono.”

  “I have literally never met someone who has had mono at our age.”

  Zoe snorted. “That doesn’t mean people don’t get it all the time. She got it from Emery,” she said, and I raised my brows. “Those two make out all the time.”

  “I don’t care what any of you say. Each of you has been acting strange since…”

  “Since when?” I asked.

  “Since … him.” James stopped, and Zoe and I did the same, following his gaze.

  Luc was lounging against my car, long legs crossed at the ankles and arms folded over his chest. His eyes were hidden by silver aviators, and he wore the slouchy, gray knit beanie. He was dressed in dark denim jeans and a navy-blue Henley.

  He looked good. Really good.

  And just by looking at him, I immediately thought about last night—er, this morning—whatever. My entire body flushed, and even from where I was, I saw his lips curve up in a small, smug smile.

  Egomaniac.

  Nervous energy had buzzed around in my veins all day, partly because of the conversation with Mom, partly expecting April to show up, and partly due to what we were going to be doing tonight, but also because of Luc—because of us.

  There was definitely an us now.

  That smile of his kicked up on the other side, and I knew right then, the bastard was peeping in on my thoughts.

  Then he tilted his head toward James, and that smile became downright predatory. He was like a large cat seconds before snatching up a mouse.

  James and Luc had met briefly. It hadn’t gone all that well. Not at all surprising—Luc didn’t people well.

  “Hey.” Luc nodded at James.

  “Hi,” he grumbled, eyeing Luc like he wanted to ask for his ID, last known address, and possible aliases. “What are you doing here?”

  “James.” I smacked his arm.

  Luc only chuckled as he pushed away from my car, approaching us. “I’m taking Evie to the movies,” he said, and my brows rose as he dropped his arm over my shoulders. “Right, Peaches?”

  We were so not going to the movies, but it wasn’t like I could tell James the truth. I shot Luc a sharp look. “Something like that.”

  James’s gaze bounced between us. “Can I go with you guys?”

  “Actually, you’re coming with me.” Zoe, who knew what Luc and I were up to, looped her arm around James’s.

  “I am?” Surprise colored his tone as Luc’s arm tightened around me.

  “Yep.” Zoe started tugging James away. “We’re going to go to the store to get Heidi a get-well present. Something with chocolate and maybe some grapes.”

  “Chocolate and grapes?” Luc murmured, lip curling.

  “Heidi loves to eat them together,” I explained as Zoe waved back at us.

  “That’s gross.”

  I started to dip out from under Luc’s arm, but he caught me and tugged me against him, front to front. I saw my eyes widen in the reflection of his sunglasses.

  “Remember what I said last night?” he asked.

  “You said a lot of things last night.”

  “I did, but I did warn you.”

  “Warn me about—”

  Luc kissed me, and it wasn’t like the fierce, starved kisses from last night. This was slow and sensual, a brushing of his lips over mine, once, twice, and then he urged the seam of my mouth apart. He deepened the kiss, and I tasted chocolate on his tongue as I sank into him.

  When he finally lifted his mouth from mine, I was nearly panting for breath. “I warned you that I am needy.”

  “You did.” That was about all I could say.

  “Very needy.”

  I opened my eyes. “I can tell.”

  “Too much?”

  “No,” I whispered, and it wasn’t.

  “Good.” Chuckling, he kissed my forehead and then stepped back. I stood there for a good minute trying to figure out what I was doing before I opened my back door and started to toss my bag in, but stopped, staring at the empty back seat.

  Luc came up behind me. “What are you doing?”

  Blinking, I shook my head. “I don’t know. It just seems weird to not have my camera on my back seat or in my bag. April destroyed it. But it’s not important. Ready?”

  “Yeah.” Luc walked over to the passenger side. “You sure James isn’t into you?”

  “Positive. And it wouldn’t matter if he was, because I’m not into him like that.” I opened the driver’s door. “He just doesn’t like you.”

  Luc rested his forearms on the roof of the car. “How can someone not like me? I’m awesome.”

  I narrowed my eyes.

&nbs
p; “Actually, I’m adorable and well loved by the masses.” He flashed a wide, way-too-charming grin. “Your friend has to like me.”

  My lips twitched. “Get in the car, Luc.”

  “I like it when you order me around. Especially last night when you were like, ‘Kiss—’”

  “Get in the car, Luc.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave me a jaunty salute.

  Rolling my eyes, I got behind the wheel and closed the door. Hitting the ignition button, I glanced over at him.

  “Wait.” Luc leaned over, smoothing his thumb over my lower lip, sending a sharp thrill through my veins. Every part of my being became wholly aware of the pad of his finger. The contact was unexpected and brief, nothing like a kiss, but it still dazed me. “Got it.”

  “What?” I blinked.

  “A piece of fuzz.” A secretive little smile graced his lips as he settled back in his seat. “I thought we’d go to the club first. Give you time to visit with Heidi, get some food in you, and then we’ll wait until the sun goes down. Sneaking around someone else’s house is easier when it’s dark.”

  That made sense, and it made me think that Luc had a lot of experience sneaking around places he shouldn’t be. And I wanted to see Heidi something fierce. We’d texted throughout the day, and she sounded like her normal self, but I needed to see her with my own eyes. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Backing out of the parking spot, I kept my eyes on the busy parking lot.

  “Anything interesting happen today at school?”

  I shook my head as I lowered the window, letting the cool autumn air roll through the car. “Not really. No one seemed to think anything about April not being at school. Her group was protesting this morning.”

  He stared out the passenger window, hands resting on his bent knees. His profile was striking, especially in the bright autumn sun. It was criminal to wear a knit beanie so damn well.

  “Hopefully they’ll find a new hobby,” he said.

  “One would hope, but I doubt it. It’s like April woke something up in them, gave them something to blame all their problems on.”

  Luc nodded slowly. “I was trying to be optimistic.”

  I snorted. “Well, I’m just being realistic.”

  “Peaches?”

  My heart skipped. “Yeah?”

  “The light is green, so…” He looked over at me, lips turned up at the corners. “You’re going to need to stop staring at me and drive.”

  I blinked, flushing. “Oh. Yeah. You’re right.”

  Luc chuckled.

  * * *

  Heidi had looked like she’d spent a month at a spa, skin glowing and her appetite utterly staggering. Even compared to mine. She’d downed the burger Kent had brought up from the kitchen and three cupcakes that had come from one of the nearby bakeries.

  I’d eaten two cupcakes, and probably would’ve had more if Kent hadn’t swiped the last two on his way out.

  I spent the better part of the afternoon with Heidi and Emery, and it wasn’t until the sun began to set that there was a knock on Emery’s door. Figuring it was Luc and he was ready to engage in a little breaking and entering, my stomach was twisted in knots as I gave Heidi a kiss on the cheek and hugged Emery, the latter returning the gesture with the awkwardness of all non-huggers in the world.

  Then I stepped out into the hallway. Luc had ditched the knit beanie and sunglasses, and his bronze, messy waves were adorably sticking up in every direction.

  “Hey.” I felt weirdly shy as I clasped my hands together.

  His gaze trekked over my face. “How was Heidi?”

  “Perfect. Like she’s been on a monthlong vacation. Even Emery doesn’t look exhausted.”

  One side of his mouth kicked up. “That’s what love will do.”

  My gaze lifted to his, and he pushed off the wall. I didn’t know exactly what to do as he closed the distance between us. The night before, I’d been brazen and confident, but a timidness crept into me as he stopped in front of me. It was like I’d never been in a relationship before, and even though we hadn’t bestowed labels on each other, I knew that was what we were trying to do.

  Maybe it was because now I was in a relationship that mattered and that was why this felt different? Like it was the first everything?

  His gaze caught mine, and I looked away, letting out a shaky laugh. “I’m sorry. I’m being weird. It’s just that I don’t know how to act now.”

  “Just be yourself,” he said, catching a strand of hair and tucking it back behind my ear. “Or be a unicorn. One of the two.”

  I laughed again. “You’re bizarre.”

  “Bizarrely charming,” he corrected, his hand lingering behind my ear. “Ready?”

  I started to nod but stopped. “You and me. We’re doing this, right? The together thing? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” Warmth crept into my cheeks. “I haven’t said anything to Zoe or Heidi, because I just … I don’t know. Wanted to make sure that’s what we are?”

  Luc stared at me so long I began to get a little worried. Then he leaned in, bringing his mouth close to my ear. “If you have to ask that, then maybe I wasn’t clear enough last night. There is only you and me. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. Mates. Lovers,” he said, and muscles low in my stomach curled tight. “I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me yours.”

  God.

  God.

  I melted right there, dropping my forehead to his chest. His hand slipped around to the nape of my neck.

  “Okay?” he said. “Am I clear now?”

  “Yes,” I said to his chest.

  “You ready, then?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’ve got to lift your face off my chest first.”

  “Right.”

  He chuckled, and then I lifted my head.

  “It’s okay,” he said.

  “What is?”

  “To be nervous.”

  My gaze found his. “About what we’re going to do tonight?”

  “Well, yeah, about that, but I’m saying it’s okay to be nervous or not know how to act because of us,” he said. “I’m nervous, too.”

  “Really?” I said doubtfully.

  “Really.” His gaze searched mine. “You are the only person whose opinion I ever cared about.”

  The next breath I took hitched somewhere around my racing heart.

  “I worry that I am too much, because I know that I am.” His head tilted to the side. “I worry that what I want is going to rush you into wanting it. I worry that I … that I could never be good enough for you.”

  I stared at him, shocked. “How could you…?” I shook my head. “You are good enough, Luc, and you aren’t too much.”

  His brows lifted.

  “Well, okay, you are a lot, but it’s a lot that I like, and that’s why it’s okay.” I placed my hands on his chest, and under my palm, I could feel his heart thrumming as fast as mine. “I can’t believe you’re nervous or that you think you’re not enough.”

  “Just because I don’t show it doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.” He swallowed then, and his voice lowered. “I haven’t done this at all, Peaches. I’ve never been in a relationship or held a hand before I held yours. I’ve done things with others, but you are my first … my first in a lot of things. How could I not be nervous?”

  I didn’t know what to say, because I knew inherently that words wouldn’t matter in this moment. Not after what he’d admitted in a hushed voice.

  Stretching up, I cupped his cheeks and brought his mouth down to mine. I kissed him, and in that kiss, I hoped he could feel what his words meant to me, what they did for me.

  And I thought he did, because when I settled on my feet again and slid my hands back down his chest, his chest was rising and falling heavily.

  The smile that tugged at Luc’s lips warmed as he took my hand. Now knowing it wasn’t just me that was nervous and worried, I felt the shyness seep away as he led me downstairs and out the back entrance to the alley. Ken
t was waiting for us there, behind the wheel of a black SUV, and by then, I’d pulled it together.

  “Whose car is this?” I asked as I opened the back passenger door.

  Luc smiled at me, and I decided that I probably didn’t want to know who this vehicle belonged to and how they came to acquire it. “I figured it was best to not be in your car in case things go sideways,” he said as he closed the door.

  The knots in my stomach tightened as I leaned forward, gripping the back of his seat. “Do you think things will go south?”

  “I don’t think so, but it’s better to be prepared.”

  “And if things start to go badly, that’s why I’m here, honeybuns.” Kent waved at me, and I frowned, having no idea why he called me that. His mohawk touched the ceiling of the SUV. “I’m one hell of a getaway driver.”

  “Is that something you have to do a lot?”

  He smirked at the rearview mirror. “If you only knew.”

  My gaze swung to the back of Luc’s head. How often did they need a getaway driver? Was it when they were moving unregistered Luxen? I sat back, clasping my hands together in my lap as I thought about all the things Luc and his crew did that I had no idea about.

  That was going to need to change.

  But right now, I needed to focus on my blossoming felonious aspirations.

  It didn’t take too long to get to April’s place. She lived just outside the city, off a long stretch of road. The subdivision was smaller, houses spaced farther apart. Kent parked on a different block, remaining in the car as Luc and I climbed out. The streets were empty and quiet with the exception of the random car or distant, barking dog.

  I was desperately trying not to think about what we were doing. While this had been my idea, I’d never broken into anyone’s house, especially the house of a psychotic creature.

  Then again, who knew? Maybe when I was Nadia, I’d been a badass burglar on the prowl.

  My hands were trembling, so I shoved them in the pockets of my jeans as we crossed onto April’s street and stepped up on the sidewalk.

  “You doing okay over there?” Luc asked.

  “I’m nervous,” I admitted. “And I am not talking about us.”