Oblivion

Tell me what happened, I asked, not speaking out loud.

The light around her throbbed brightly. It was Blake. He was working for the DOD the entire time, with his uncle. It’s Vaughn. Blake was sent here because they have the one who mutated him. Chris. They’ve been using him as leverage over Blake… She struck out at the Arum, pushing him back toward me. Vaughn was going to make some kind of exchange that Blake didn’t know about. Vaughn was going to let the Arum—Residon—take Adam’s—take his body and Dee. I couldn’t let that happen.

I’d heard enough.

Kat turned her head toward where Vaughn was trying to work the window open. When that didn’t work, he grabbed the floor lamp. Kat stopped him with a wave of her hand, whipping the lamp out of his hands.

The bastard Blake rushed past me and the Arum darted, shifting up toward the ceiling. Spi

The Arum raced down the driveway. I hit him with a blast of the Source, stronger and more concentrated than the blow inside. All it took was one hit. The Arum spun into the air and then froze. A heartbeat passed, and then the Arum imploded, dark ash mixing with the falling snow.

Whirling around, I sca

Oh no, he was going nowhere.

I threw out my arm, flipping the Expedition in the air. It landed on its roof. Metal crunched and gave way. Glass exploded.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Blake start to run. I crossed the distance in an under a second. His eyes widened when he saw me. He opened his mouth, but I caught him around the throat, cutting off whatever it was he was going to say.

I flipped him over, slamming him down on the hood of Kat’s car. I shifted into my human form. “You have no idea how painful I’m going to make this for you. Every bruise you gave Kat, I’m going to return to you tenfold.” I lifted him off my hood. The boy’s feet dangled in the air. “And I’m going to seriously enjoy this.”

“Daemon!” Kat shouted, ru

A gun went off. Once. Twice. A third time.

My head whipped toward the sound, and I smiled. The bullets stopped inches from my face, hovering as if they were suspended. My gaze flickered to Vaughn’s. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”

Comprehension flooded Vaughn’s pale face. “No—no!”

The bullets flipped over and returned to the sender with an alarming speed. They hit Vaughn in the chest. He crumpled to the ground. Red splashed across the snow.

Blake tore free, knocking into the side of the bumper. He staggered a step and then gained his footing. He took off, and Kat was right behind him. Both were moving incredibly fast, tapping into their borrowed abilities.

I chased after them, picking up speed as Blake spun around, sending a blast of light behind him. It struck Kat in the chest, knocking her back a few steps. I clenched my jaw when another hit her in the shoulder and then her leg. She hit the ground on her hands and knees, and I roared my rage.

“I’m sorry…” he said, shaking. “Katy, I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.”

Switching back to my true form, I moved to her right as she picked herself up. What do you want to do with him?

He…he killed Adam. She swayed unsteadily as the wind whipped her hair around her. “He killed him. And hurt Dee.”

I nearly lost it then. Energy rose inside, violent and destructive. Taking a step toward him, I shifted back.

“So many have died tonight,” Kat whispered.

Blake’s gaze darted toward her. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. I never wanted any of this happen. I only wanted to protect Chris.”

My hands closed into fists. At that moment, I didn’t give two shits about this Chris, but there had been so much death tonight. Adam. The Arum. Vaughn. Now I’d killed three humans, and I wanted to add a fourth to that terrible list. So badly, but taking out Blake meant I would be taking out the Luxen too, and this Chris was obviously very much alive. That would be five deaths on my hands. Blake deserved it, but I…

I wasn’t going to be the only person looking for him. So would the DOD. If I let him go, he would find his death at the hands of someone else.

Blake drew in a ragged breath, wiping at the blood under his nose. “I’m—”

“Shut up,” I growled. “Go. Go now before I don’t give you a choice.”

Shock splashed across Blake’s face. “You’re letting me go?”

I glanced at Kat, but she lowered her head, silent. I was done. So was Kat.

“Go and never, ever come back here,” I ordered. “If I ever see you again, I will kill you.”

Blake was still for a moment, and then he pivoted around, taking off. I watched him go for a long moment, and then I turned to Kat. She staggered to the side, and her knees went out. I caught her before she hit the ground and switched into my Luxen form.

Instinct took hold, and as I held her close, I folded one hand along the back of her head and I healed her. God, I was so angry, but I took away the bruises and the pain. I wished I could take everything else away—all her lies, the guilt she would now face, the pain that would cut deeper than any physical wound, because this…all of this could’ve been prevented if she had just listed to me.

Squeezing my eyes shut, my arm around her waist tightened. I pi

Daemon?

My fingers curled in her hair. I told you we couldn’t trust him.

Kat trembled. I’m sorry. I thought…I thought if I learned how to fight, I could keep you safe, all of you safe.

I lifted my head as I returned to my human form. Staring down at her in disbelief, my entire body shook with the force of the anger rolling through me.

“Daemon, I—”

“Don’t apologize. Just don’t apologize.” I lifted her out of my lap and sat her on the ground. Climbing to my feet, I drew in a short, rough breath. “Did you know he was working with the DOD this entire time?”

“No.” She shot to her feet and swayed. I caught her elbow, holding her until she stopped moving. Once she was steady, I let go. I had to. Tears streamed down her pale face. “I didn’t know until a few nights ago. And even then I wasn’t sure.”

A few nights ago?

“Dammit,” I spat, forcing myself to take a step back from her. “Was that the night you went to Vaughn’s on your own?”

“Yes, but I wasn’t sure.” She lifted bloodied hands and stopped short from thrusting them through her hair. “I should’ve told you then, but I didn’t know for sure, and I didn’t want to add anything for you to worry about.” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t know.”

I looked away, jaw clenching. “Adam is dead. My sister almost lost her life.”

She sucked air. “I’m so—”

“Don’t! Don’t you dare apologize!” I yelled, eyes glowing through the darkness. “Adam’s death will destroy my sister. I told you we couldn’t trust Blake, that if you wanted to learn how to fight, I would’ve shown you! But you didn’t listen. And you’ve brought the DOD into your life, Kat! Who knows what they know now?”

“I didn’t tell him anything!” Her voice broke again. “I never told him you healed me.”

My eyes narrowed. “Do you think he didn’t guess?”

She winced and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

I flinched, because sorry…sorry changed nothing. “And those times you were covered in bruises? That was him, wasn’t it? He was hurting you during training, wasn’t he? And never once did you think there may be something wrong with him? Goddammit, Kat! You’ve lied to me. You didn’t trust me!”