Oblivion

I smiled up at her. “Missed you, too.”

When the door shut behind Dee and Adam, Kat turned to me. “Is everything really okay?”

The urge hit me right then. I wanted to hold her, because she must’ve been worried to ask that question, and it seemed like the right thing to do. Of course it was. How many times had I held Ash when she was upset? Or, in a different way, Dee, when she was upset?

“For the most part.” Before I knew what I was doing, I reached out with one hand, ru

“What?” Her eyes shot wide.

I sat up and scooted close enough that our legs touched, not ready to go into what I suspected had happened between us when I healed her. “I have something for you.”

Confusion flickered across her face. “Is it going to blow up in my face?”

I laughed as I reached into the front pocket of my jeans, pulling out the leather pouch. I handed it over to her, watching as she tugged on the little string and carefully turned the pouch upside down, like she was afraid a grenade would fall out. But when she saw the obsidian pendant, her lashes swept up and she was clearly surprised.

Pressure clamped down on my chest as I smiled. A different feeling, like when you’re about to get on a roller coaster. I really never felt that way before. “Believe it or not, even something as small as that can actually pierce Arum skin and kill them. When it gets really hot you’ll know an Arum is nearby even if you don’t see one.” I picked up the chain, holding the clasps. “It took me forever to find a piece like this since the blade turned to crap. I don’t want you to take this off, okay? At least when… Well, for the most part.”

The look of surprise hadn’t faded as she twisted around and pulled her hair out of the way. As soon as I got the tiny hook clasped, she faced me. An earnest pull to her expression had replaced the shock. “Thank you. I mean it, for everything.”

“It’s not a big deal. Has anyone asked you about your trace?”

She shook her head. “I think they’re expecting to see one because of all the fighting.”

I nodded, relieved that was one less thing to worry about for now. “Hell, you’re bright as a comet right now. The sucker has got to fade or we’ll be back to square one.”

Kat stared at me a moment, her eyes sharpening. “And what is square one, exactly?”

“You know, us being…stuck together until the damn trace fades.” Well, that kind of sounded like crap.

“After everything I’ve done, us being around each other is being stuck together?”

Oh crap.

“You know what? Screw you, buddy. Because of me, Baruck didn’t find your sister. Because of what I did, I almost died. You healed me. That’s why I have a trace. None of this is my fault.”

“And it’s mine? Should I have left you to die? Is that what you wanted?”

“That’s a stupid question! I don’t regret that you healed me, but I’m not dealing with this hot and cold shit from you anymore.”

“I do believe you protest too much with the whole liking me part.” I gri

Kat took a deep breath, causing her chest to rise. “I think it would be best if you’d stay away from me.”

“No can do.”

“Any of the other Luxen can watch over me or whatever,” she protested. “It doesn’t have to be you.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. “You’re my responsibility.”

“I am nothing to you.”

“You’re definitely something.”

She looked like she wanted to hit me. I kind of wanted her to try, and honestly, I don’t know why I liked to mess with her so much. “I dislike you so very much.”

“No. You don’t.”

“Okay. We need to get this trace off me. Now.”

One idea came to mind. “Maybe we can try making out again. See what that will do to this trace. It seemed to work last time.”

Her cheeks flushed and a certain light filled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen again.”

“It was just a suggestion.”

“One that will never. Happen,” she said. “Again.”

“Don’t act like you didn’t have as much fun—”

Kat smacked me in the chest—hard, too. I couldn’t help it. I laughed, and she made this cute little sound of disgust as she started to push away. Her small hand moved across my chest and it took everything in me not to grab her hand and do…well, other stuff with it.

I arched a brow. “Are you feeling me up, Kat? I’m liking where this is heading.”

Her lips parted as she continued to press down. My pulse picked up a little as I watched her. Blood drained from her face. “Our heartbeats…they’re the same. Oh my God, how is this possible?”

“Oh crap.” Not how I wanted to start off this conversation.

Our eyes locked, and I placed my hand over hers and squeezed. I suspected as much. This only confirmed it, but what I knew about my kind healing humans was so limited, and what I did know was more like whispers and rumors.

“But it’s not too bad,” I said. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I morphed you into something and this whole heart thing proves we must be co

“What could be worse exactly?” Her voice had risen.

“Us being together.” I shrugged. “It could be worse.”

“Wait a sec. You think we should be together because of some kind of freaky alien mojo that has co

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t bitching.” I just had a moment of really bad word choice. “I was pointing out that we are stuck together. This is different…and you’re attracted to me.”

Her eyes narrowed much like a pissed-off cat. “I’ll get back to that last statement in a second, but you want to be with me because you now feel…forced?”

I shifted. “I wouldn’t say forced exactly, but…but I like you.” Kat didn’t immediately respond, and I prepared myself. “Oh no, I know that look. What are you thinking?”

“That this is the most ridiculous declaration of attraction I’ve ever heard,” she said, standing. “That is so lame, Daemon. You want to be with me because of whatever crazy stuff that happened?”

I rolled my eyes as I stood. “We like each other. We do. It’s stupid that we keep denying it.”

“Oh, this is coming from the dude who left me on the couch topless?” She shook her head, sending locks of brown hair flying. “We don’t like each other.”

“Okay. I should probably apologize for that. I’m sorry.” I took a step forward. “We were attracted to each other before I healed you. You can’t say that’s not true, because I’ve always…been attracted to you.”

And it hit me then how freaking true that was.

From the very first time I’d seen her standing on my porch—the first argument, the first time she called me a douche, and from the very first time I realized how strong and brave she truly was, I’d been attracted to her. I’d wanted her.

Perhaps I had protested too loudly this whole time.

“Being attracted to me is as lame a reason to be with me as the fact we’re stuck together now.”

“Oh, you know it’s more than that.” I paused, sort of dumbstruck by the fact that a year ago I would have died of laughter if someone had said I’d be where I was right now, saying what I was. “I knew you would be trouble from the start, from the moment you knocked on my door.”

Kat laughed drily. “That thought is definitely mutual, but that doesn’t excuse the split personality thing you’ve got going on.”

“Well, I was kind of hoping it did, but obviously not.” I flashed a quick grin. “Kat, I know you’re attracted to me. I know you like—”

“Being attracted to you isn’t enough,” she said.

“We get along.”

She shot me a bland look.

I couldn’t stop the grin that time and tried for a, “Sometimes we do.”

“We have nothing in common.”