Oblivion

My gaze fell to my hand as I lowered it. My tongue worked around the words. “I don’t hate you, Kat.”

“And this is why you don’t want me to be friends with Dee, because you were afraid that I’d find out the truth?”

“That, and you’re a human. Humans are weak. They bring us nothing but trouble.” Yeah, that came out harsher than I’d intended, but that’s probably for the best. She needed to know what was at stake—for all of us.

Her eyes narrowed. “We aren’t weak. And you’re on our planet. How about a little respect, buddy.”

Amusement flooded me. “Point taken.” I looked her over. “How are you handling all of this?”

“I’m processing everything. I don’t know. I don’t think I’m going to freak out anymore.”

Happy to hear that. I pushed to my feet. “Well then, let’s get you back before Dee thinks I killed you.”

“Would she really think that?” she asked slowly as though she were afraid of the answer.

I watched her from where I towered over her and when she met my gaze this time, I knew she saw the coldness in it. “I’m capable of anything, Kitten. Killing to protect my family isn’t something I’d hesitate over, but that’s not what you have to worry about.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” she murmured.

I cocked my head to the side. “There are others out there who will do anything to have the powers that the Luxen have, especially mine. And they will do anything to get to me and my kind.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

Crouching down, I glanced around us. “The trace I’ve left on you from stopping the truck can be tracked. And you’re lit up like the Fourth of July right now.”

Her breath caught.

“They will use you to get to me.” I reached out, pulling a leaf from her hair. Then I touched her cheek, where her skin had been torn from the night she’d been attacked. “And if they get a hold of you…death would be a relief.”

Chapter 15

Kat was quiet most of the walk back. The trace around her was vibrant, like an all-white disco ball. That was going to be so incredibly problematic.

As the trees cleared, she spoke. “Can I…can I see Dee?”

I kept my steps slow so she didn’t have to struggle to keep up with me. “I think waiting until tomorrow would be a good idea. I need to talk to her, explain to her what I’ve told you.”

Her gaze turned woeful as we neared the houses, but she nodded. I followed her up the porch steps where light was on, casting a soft glow over Kat’s bowed head. Through the windows, I could see that her house was dark. Her mom was at work, as usual. After everything that had gone down, I didn’t think her being alone tonight was a good thing.

What if she woke up in the middle of the night and started calling everyone under the sun? Okay. That wasn’t exactly probable. Kat wasn’t stupid, but she could wake up and freak out. That would be understandable.

I held open the screen door for her as she reached for the main door. “Do you want to spend the night at my place?”

Kat stopped and turned to me slowly. One eyebrow rose. “Come again?”

A chuckle rumbled out from me. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Kitten.”

Her lips pinched. “My mind is not in the gutter.”

“Uh-huh.” I gave her a half grin. “You can stay at our house if you’d like. Then in the morning, Dee will be right there.”

She didn’t speak as her gaze searched mine, and then she nodded. “Okay. I just…I need to grab a few things.”

I nodded. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Again, she studied me like she was trying to figure me out, and then she pushed open the main door. As she walked in, she flipped the light on in the foyer. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked back but didn’t meet my stare. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here.”

Kat darted up the staircase, her flip-flops smacking off the steps. While she was upstairs, I didn’t stay put. The layout of the house was the same as ours, so when I roamed off to my left, I entered the kitchen. I flipped on the overhead light and scoped out the place. I wasn’t really looking for anything. Mostly, I was just curious.

But what I saw tipped up the corners of my lips.

Everywhere I looked, there were books, just as it had been in the living room. Two were on the counter, near a toaster. One was on the fridge, and I had no idea why there’d be one there. There were three on the kitchen table, stacked next to two unopened packages.

How in the world could someone have so many books?

I heard her moving around upstairs. I turned off the light and returned to the foyer. A few seconds later, she started down the stairs, carrying a small tote bag. “I’m ready.”

Kat locked up, and then we headed toward my house. On the way, she kept peeking in my direction. I could tell she had more questions. Who wouldn’t after finding out they were living next door to aliens? But I figured she had to have a breaking point, and I really didn’t want to be the one to push her over the edge. That was one reason I didn’t want her talking to Dee.

But I also needed to make sure we were on the same page, that Kat realized what she’d just stepped in and the consequences of knowing what she did.

When we reached the front door, I stopped and faced her. There was no light on, and we stood in the dark. “There’s something I just need to make sure of, okay?”

She held the tote close to her body. “All right?”

I lowered my voice just in case Dee was hovering inside the door. She was somewhere in the house. I could feel her. “What I’ve told you? What you know? I can’t stress enough how much of a big deal this is. This goes beyond a normal level of trust. It’s my life—our lives—you’re holding in your hands,” I told her. “I don’t expect you to care too much about tossing me under a speeding bus, but you’d also be tossing Dee under it.”

Kat stepped closer, so close, her tote bag brushed against my stomach. “I do get that, Daemon. Honestly? What you said earlier was true. No one would believe me. They’d think I was crazy, but I would never do anything to betray Dee.” She paused, exhaling softly as she tipped her chin up. “And even though you’re a giant douchebag, I wouldn’t do that to you, either.”

My lips twitched. “Well, that’s good to hear.”

“I’m serious,” she insisted. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”

Some of the icy unease faded off, but the thing was, only time would tell if Kat could seriously be trusted. I hoped so. Not just for Dee’s sake or mine, but for her own.

I led her into the house and took her upstairs. She was looking around, her gaze bouncing off everything, and I realized this was the first time she’d been in our house. I figured Dee was in her bedroom, and I half expected her to jump out at any movement.

I walked Katy to a guest bedroom almost never used and opened the door. Flipping on the light, I stepped into the stale, cold air of the room. “You can stay in here.” I walked toward the bed. It was made. “There’re extra blankets in the closet there.”

Kat turned slowly, eyeing the closet.

“There’s a bathroom right across from this room. My bedroom is next door,” I explained as I rubbed my palm over my chest. “Dee’s bedroom is down the hall. Just let…let it all go for tonight. She’ll still be here in the morning.”

She nodded.

My gaze flickered to hers. Dark smudges of exhaustion had formed under her eyes. I suspected she’d be out cold the moment her head hit that pillow. “Do you need anything else?”

“No.”

I stood there for a moment, feeling like there was something else I needed to say, but I couldn’t grasp on to any words, so I nodded and then turned toward the door.