Oblivion

“I won’t let them.”

Dee’s eyes widened, and yeah, I’d thrown that right out there. God only knows what Dee thought anyway, especially after this morning. She blinked. “Anyway, I think it’s a good idea for them to actually see her—to see that she can be trusted. I’m not worried about Ash or Andrew. It’s Matthew who needs to be convinced. You know that.”

That was true. I wasn’t willing to believe that Ash and Andrew were all talk, but they wouldn’t go to the DOD or the Elders. Matthew would, but he was also a fair and logical person. If he was convinced that Kat wouldn’t run her mouth, then he would back down, and having Kat here for them to see that she would keep quiet was probably the only way to convince Matthew. Plus, I would be here to make sure Kat stayed safe during the initial face-off.

“Okay,” I said, turning back around to grab a quick shower first. I made it to my bedroom with Dee right behind me.

She closed the door and waited for me to face her. “What’s going on between you and Katy?” she asked.

Immediately, I thought of Kat this morning, her soft body tucked under mine. “Nothing is going on, Dee.”

Doubt crossed her face. “You slept with her last night.” I almost choked on my own spit as I toed off my sneakers. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

“You were in the same bed with her, so that’s sleeping together even if it’s not sleeping together.” She narrowed her eyes. “I want to know what’s going on.”

Part of me wanted to tell her it was none of her business, but all that would do was increase her suspicions. “Look, she was stressed out last night and scared. Between what happened at that damn field party and then coming face-to-face with three Arum, she needed someone with her. I was that someone. That’s it. It’s not a big deal.”

Dee was silent as she twisted her hair in her hands. “It is a big deal.” Then she smiled broadly while I stared at her. “It’s a very big deal.”

After a quick shower and change of clothes, I headed downstairs. Kat was there, glowing like a damn star. She looked up when I entered the room. Her gaze moved from mine and then down, way down, and a pink flush swept across her cheeks. I watched it spread down her throat and disappear under her collar. I wondered just how far that blush traveled.

Hell.

“They’re here,” Adam said, heading for the front door.

Kat stiffened, but remained quiet and alert. As the crew rolled in, I sat down on the arm of the recliner she was sitting in. My position was clearly noted by everyone.

Dee smiled like she’d just figured out the key to life.

When Ash and Andrew spotted the traced Kat and where I was sitting, their faces slipped into scowls so deep I wondered if they’d be stuck that way.

Matthew looked like he wanted to vomit. He came to a complete stop in the middle of the room. “What is she doing here?”

“She’s lit up like a freaking disco ball,” Ash said accusingly. “I could probably see her from Virginia.”

Kat’s eyes narrowed.

“She was with me last night when the Arum attacked,” I explained. “You know that. Things got a little…explosive. There was no way I could cover what happened.”

Matthew ran a hand through his hair. “Daemon, of all people, I expected you to know better, to be more careful.”

My brows furrowed together. “What the hell was I supposed to do exactly? Knock her out before the Arum attacked?”

Ash arched a brow. The look on her face said she totally supported that idea.

“Katy has known about us since the begi

Andrew sucked in a sharp breath. “She’s known this entire time? How could you allow this, Daemon? All of our lives have been in the hands of some human?”

Dee rolled her eyes. “Obviously she hasn’t said a word, Andrew. Chill out.”

“Chill out?” Andrew’s scowl matched his sister’s. “She’s a stupid—”

“Be careful with what you say next.” My skin started to hum. “Because what you don’t know and what you can’t possibly understand will get a bolt of light in your face.”

Ash swallowed thickly as she looked away, shaking her head. Silence fell as my message was read loud and clear.

“Daemon,” Matthew said, stepping forward. “Threatening one of your own for her? I didn’t expect this from you.”

My shoulders stiffened. “It’s not like that.”

“I’m not going to tell anyone about you guys.” Kat spoke for the first time. “I know the risks to you and to me if I did. You all don’t have anything to worry about.”

“And who are you for us to trust?” Matthew asked. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you’re a great girl. You’re smart and you seem to have your head on straight, but this is life or death for us. Our freedom. Trusting a human is not something we can afford.”

I didn’t like where this was heading already. “She saved my life last night.”

Andrew laughed. “Oh, come on, Daemon. The Arum must’ve knocked you around. There is no way a human could’ve saved any of our lives.”

“What is it with you?” Kat snapped, fiery as ever. “You act like we’re incapable of doing anything. Sure, you guys are whatever, but that doesn’t mean we’re single-celled organisms.”

A choked laugh came from Adam.

“She did save my life,” I repeated, wrangling everyone’s attention. “There were three Arum that attacked, the brethren of the one I killed. I was able to destroy one, but the two overpowered me. They had me down and had already begun reaching for my powers. I was a goner.”

“Daemon,” Dee whispered, paling. “You didn’t tell us any of this.”

Doubt colored Matthew’s voice when he spoke. “I don’t see how she could’ve helped. She’s a human. The Arum are powerful, amoral, and vicious. How can one girl stand against them?”

“I’d given her the obsidian blade I carry and told her to run.”

“You gave her the blade when you could’ve used it?” Ash sounded stu

Kat frowned.

“That may be the case, but I wasn’t going to let her die because I don’t like her,” I replied, and the words didn’t sit well with me. This wasn’t the time to piss Ash off even more by disagreeing. I didn’t look at Kat to see her response. I didn’t want to know.

“But you could’ve been hurt,” Ash protested. Fear thickened her voice. “You could’ve been killed because you gave your best defense to her.”

I sighed. “I have other ways to defend myself. She did not. She didn’t run like I told her. Instead she came back, and she killed the Arum who was about to end me.”

Reluctant pride shone in Matthew’s eyes. “That is…admirable.”

“It was a hell of a lot more than admirable,” Dee interjected, turning a wide stare on Kat. “She didn’t have to do that. That has to account for more than being admirable.”

“It’s courageous,” Adam said quietly, staring at the throw rug. “It is what any of us would’ve done.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that she knows about us,” Andrew shot back, casting his triplet a scornful look. “And we are forbidden from telling any human.”

“We didn’t tell her,” Dee said, stirring restlessly. “It kind of happened.”

“Oh, like it happened last time.” Andrew rolled his eyes as he turned to Matthew. “This is unbelievable.”

Matthew shook his head. “After Labor Day weekend, you told me that something occurred but you took care of it.”

“What happened?” Ash demanded. “You’re talking about the first time she was glowing?”

“I walked out in front of a truck,” Kat muttered.

Ash stared at me, her blue eyes growing to the size of saucers. “You stopped the truck?”

I nodded.

The anger washed away from her face as she blinked rapidly. “Obviously that couldn’t be explained away. She’s known since then?”

“She didn’t freak out,” Dee said. “She listened to us, understood why it’s important, and that’s it. Until last night, what we are hasn’t even been an issue.”