Oblivion

Once we were in the guest room, Kat groaned as she peered into the tote. “I’m such an idiot. I brought regular clothes with me. Nothing to sleep in. I’m going to have to go back over.”

“I’ll find you something. Just give me a second.” I went to Dee’s room and grabbed a pair of bottoms and an old shirt, knowing she wouldn’t mind. When I returned, Kat had shrugged off my jacket and laid it across the dresser. She held the front of the dress together as I placed the borrowed clothes on the bed.

Again, I wanted to say something to her, but nothing of any value came to mind. Kat gathered up the clothes and shuffled into the bathroom in the hallway. I went into my room, took a shower in the bathroom attached, and then quickly changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. I checked my phone, scrolling through the texts from Dee and then Andrew, who had heard about what happened via Adam. Dee was coming back home, as soon as they found Ash. Matthew would make sure of it.

I found myself back in the hallway, near the bathroom. The water was turned off, and as I stood there, I thought I heard her laugh. It wasn’t a happy laugh. Concern ratcheted up.

“Are you okay in there?” I said to the closed door.

There was a pause and then, “Yeah.”

I hesitated and then wheeled around, walking into the guest bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed. Kat could probably use some space right now, but I… Shit. I reached up, rubbing the center of my chest, where the Arum had got me. I didn’t want her to be alone right now.

I didn’t want to be alone right now.

A few minutes passed and Kat walked in, and I lifted my gaze. Her hair was damp, darkening the shoulders of the gray shirt I’d found. Shadows had formed under her eyes, and she was still too pale, but she was so…so not plain. Not average. Not like anyone I’d ever known. Realizing that was like taking a direct hit from an Arum. I didn’t know what to do with it.

Kat stopped a few feet from the bed. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, lowering my hand, sort of shocked that she was asking about my well-being. “Whenever we use our powers like that, it’s like…losing a part of ourselves. It takes a bit to recharge. I’ll be fine.” I paused. “I’m sorry you had to go through any of this. I didn’t say thank you. You should’ve run, Kat. They would’ve…killed you without thinking twice. But you saved my life. Thank you.”

Her mouth opened and then closed as she rubbed her arms. It seemed to take her a moment to respond. “Will you stay with me tonight?” She then added in a rush, “I’m not coming on to you. You don’t have to, but—”

“I know.” I felt the same way. I just wanted to hold her, reassure myself we were both okay. I stood, and it felt like my stomach dropped to my feet. “Just let me check the house again, and I’ll be right back.”

Before I left the room, she was already in the bed, and when I glanced back at her, she had the covers tugged up to her chin and was staring at the ceiling. A small smile pulled at my lips as I made quick work of double-checking the doors. Then I grabbed my phone out of my room. Dee would be home soon, and if I was smart, I could’ve just told Kat that. Sit up with her and wait until a more appropriate bedmate appeared, but that’s not what I did.

I returned to the guest bedroom and got a little stuck in the doorway when I saw her in the bed again. She should be in my bed. As soon as that mess of a thought entered my head, I pushed it right back out, blaming the night’s drama. Shutting the door behind me, I went to the large bay windows overlooking the front yard.

Kat scooted over to the edge of the bed as I walked around to the other side, and I hid my smile. You’d think we were sharing a tiny bed based on how far she moved over. I climbed in beside her, leaving the comforter at my waist. My temperature ran way higher than hers.

Neither of us spoke.

Both of us lay there, side by side, staring at the ceiling. If anyone said a year ago I’d be lying in a bed with a human girl like this, I would’ve told them to get off drugs.

Biting down on my lip, I turned my head toward hers. A handful of seconds passed before she looked over at me. I gri

Kat laughed, and yeah, I liked that sound. “This…this is so awkward.”

My grin spread. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” She giggled.

It sounded crazy to laugh after everything, but my laughter joined hers. This was ridiculous. Everything. Ninety percent of the time we lived to a

And Kat was…there were no words.

I reached over, catching the tiny tears that had coursed down her cheeks. They weren’t sad tears. Our eyes locked as I lowered my hand. “What you did back there? It was sort of amazing,” I murmured.

One side of her lips twitched up. “Right back atcha. Are you sure you’re not injured?”

I gri

The room was plunged into darkness. “Am I glowing?” she asked.

Well, duh. She’d gotten a dose in the field and I’d lit that street up with the Source like a carnival. “Like a Christmas tree.”

“Not just the star?”

I rolled onto my side, close enough to her that my hand brushed her arm. “No. You’re super bright. It’s kind of like looking at the sun.”

She held up her hand, and that was cute. “It’s going to be hard for you to sleep then.”

“Actually, it’s kind of comforting. It reminds me of my own people.”

“The whole obsidian thing?” She looked over at me. “You never told me about that.”

“I didn’t think it would be necessary. Or at least I’d hoped it wouldn’t be.”

“Can it hurt you?”

“No. And before you ask what can, we don’t make a habit of telling humans what can kill us,” I replied evenly. “Not even the DOD knows what’s deadly to us. But the obsidian negates the Arum’s strengths. Just like the beta quartz in the Rocks throws off a lot of the energy we put off, but with obsidian, all it takes is a piercing and…well, you know. It’s the whole light thing, the way obsidian fractures it.”

“Are all crystals harmful to the Arum?”

“No, just this type. I guess it has something to do with the heating and cooling. Matthew explained it to me once. Honestly, I wasn’t paying attention. I know it can kill them. We carry it whenever we go out, usually hidden. Dee carries one in her purse.”

She shuddered. “I can’t believe I killed someone.”

“You didn’t kill someone. You killed an alien—an evil being that would’ve killed you without thinking twice. That was going to kill me.” I absently rubbed at my chest. “You saved my life, Kitten.”

Kat didn’t respond, and I knew it was going to be hard for her to understand.

“You were like Snowbird,” I said after a few moments.

“How do you figure?” she asked.

I smiled slightly. “You could’ve left me there and run, like I said. But instead you came back and you helped me. You didn’t have to.”

“I…I couldn’t leave you there.” The next breath she took was audible. “It wouldn’t have been right. And I would’ve never been able to forgive myself.”

“I know.” I stifled a yawn. “Get some sleep, Kitten.”

She was quiet for all of five seconds. “But what if the last one comes back?” I paused, realizing a new fear. “Dee’s with Mr. Garrison. He knows I was with you when they attacked. What if he turns me in? What if the DOD—”

“Shh,” I murmured, finding her hand with mine. I ran my fingers over the top of hers. “He won’t come back, not yet. And I won’t let Matthew turn you over.”

“But—”

“Kat, I won’t let him. Okay? I promise you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”