Oblivion

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  my being—splitting into halves.

  Her lips brushed mine. Colors swirled around me—bright reds and whites. It was like there wasn’t me or her…it was us, only us. And I could feel an indiscernible pull toward her, a give and take. This was forbidden—healing her as many times I had, but this…this was more, because she had been on the verge of the unknown, teetering into oblivion and I’d pulled her back.

  What am I doing? If they find out what I’ve done…but I can’t lose her. I can’t. Please. Please. I can’t lose you. Please open your eyes. Please don’t leave me.

  I’m here, she said, but not out loud, and opened her eyes. I’m here.

  Shocked, I jerked back, the light fading out of her. But something…something had been left behind. I could feel it. I didn’t know what exactly, and I didn’t care right then. She was alive. We all were alive, and that was what mattered.

  “Kat,” I whispered, and she shivered in my arms. I sat back, nestling her close to my chest and holding her up.

  Her eyes were filled with wonder and a dose of confusion. “Daemon, what did you do?”

  “You need to rest.” I paused, bone-tired, weary to my core. Even I had my physical limits, and I’d blown past them tonight. “You’re not a hundred percent. It will take a couple of minutes. I think. I haven’t healed anyone on this level before.”

  “You did at the library,” she murmured, spreading her hands up my arms. Like it was the first time she’d ever touched me. “And at the car…”

  I smiled tiredly. “That was just to help with a sprain and bruises. That was nothing like this.”

  Kat turned her head, staring over my shoulder. Her cheek brushed mine slightly, but it felt like a thousand soft-as-silk touches to me. I felt her stiffen.

  “How did I do that?” she whispered. “I don’t understand.”

  Good question. I buried my head in her neck, breathing in her vanilla and peach scent, committing it to memory. “I must’ve done something to you when I healed you. I don’t know what. It doesn’t make sense, but something happened when our energies joined. It shouldn’t have affected you—you’re human.”

  My words didn’t seem to calm her. No shit. They weren’t calming me much, either. My hand shook as I smoothed a strand of hair from her face. “How are you feeling?”

  “Okay. Sleepy. You?”

  “The same.” But I felt amazing in a weird way. I ran my thumb over her chin and then her lower lip. I kind of felt like a kid going to Disney World for the first time and that was odd, because I’d never been to the land of mouse ears. Never wanted to go.

  “I think, for now, it would be best if we kept this between ourselves—the whole healing thing and what you did back there,” I said. “Okay?”

  She nodded but otherwise remained still as my hands traced the lines of her face, removing the smudges and dark spots. Our gazes met and I smiled, really smiled in a way I hadn’t in a long time.

  And I stopped thinking.

  Splaying my fingers across her cheeks, I kissed her softly. Keeping it gentle and slow, something I never really practiced before but wanted with her. Parts of me, places hidden from most, opened up. I tipped her head back and it was like the first time—was the first time, because this was what I wanted, perhaps even needed. The innocent touch left me breathless—a first.

  I pulled back, laughing. “I was worried that we’d broken you.”

  “Not quite.” Full of concern, her eyes searched my face. “Did you break yourself?”

  I snorted. “Almost.”

  She took a little breath, her lips forming a faint smile. “What now?”

  My lips responded to hers, and I breathed in the late-night air, the scent of damp grass, and rich soil. I breathed in her. “We go home.”

  Chapter 24

  Colonies were all the same.

  Human. Luxen. Arum. Ant.

  Nothing but a whole ton of crazy Kool-Aid I didn’t want to come within five miles of, and I wouldn’t be, but they had something I needed—that Kat needed.

  She really owed me for this.

  Picturing some of the ways she could repay me for this visit…that movie would never end. I kicked back in the sterile living room. All white—couches, carpet, walls, and pillows. It was like they had something against color. It made me want to spill something on purpose.

  When Ethan Smith returned, he carried a small leather pouch in his hands. He took one look at me and his dark brows arched over eyes the shade of violets. “I know you’re not the most patient of our kind, but it does take time to craft these things.”

  Yeah, almost three whole days of my life I’d never live again. Most of it had been spent searching the state for more Arum and an entire day looking for the perfect piece of obsidian, but I was itchy to get back to Dee…and Kat. I didn’t like the idea that she was glowing like a disco ball on steroids.

  Ethan didn’t hand the bundle over. Of course not, because that would be too easy at this point. “May I ask why you need this?”

  “May I say no and you’ll drop the conversation?”

  A small, tight smile appeared on the older Luxen’s face. “Your arrogance will one day be your downfall.”

  That among other things, not that I was mentioning any names or anything.

  Irritation flashed across Ethan’s face. “Not that I don’t appreciate all you do for the colony, but your—”

  “Personality could use an improvement,” I cut in, thinking of Kat. “I get it. Trust me.”

  Ethan tipped his head to the side. Hair was starting to gray along his temples. “I hope so. It would be a shame to our race if something unfortunate happened to you.”

  I met his odd, amethyst-colored stare with my own. “I’m sure it would be.”

  The other Luxen was the first to break contact. “Does this have anything to do with the light show over the weekend?”

  “Yes. I killed a couple of Arum and lost a few blades in the process, so I wanted something for Dee to wear just in case another happens.” I sat forward, dropping my hands between my knees. “It’s the same thing I told all the other Elders, Ethan.”

  “Hmm, I do believe it sounds familiar.” He handed over the bundle, and the weight of the obsidian felt familiar. I slipped it in my pocket, ready to bounce the hell out of there. “Though, I must say I have never seen such a display of power. It was remarkable.”

  Unease trickled down my spine as I stood. There was something about Ethan, a quality I could never put my finger on, that sort of gave me the creeps. “Well, I am just friggin’ awesome.”

  “Yes, you are.” Ethan rose fluidly and straightened his pressed shirt. “Still, I am positive the Department of Defense will question it.”

  I stopped at the door, turning back to him. “And if they do?”

  “We’ll tell the DOD nothing if they ask, like we normally do, but if you bring them to our doorstops too often, you won’t just have them to worry about. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  Anger replaced the unease and I gritted out, “Yeah, I get what you’re saying.”

  “Daemon?”

  Facing him once more, my jaw was clenched so hard I was going to need to see the dentist. “Yes?”

  Ethan clasped his hands together and smiled. “One more question.”

  I was going to throw myself out a window. “Go ahead.”

  “This human girl your sister and you have been associating with?” Ethan said, and I stiffened but wasn’t surprised. The Elders were as bad as the DOD, if not worse. “Will she be a problem?” he asked.

  “No.” But you will be if you mention that “human girl” again. That I didn’t say out loud or in our language, but the look on my face got the message through loud and freaking clear.

  Ethan nodded and didn’t stop me again.

  Switching into my true form, I only took a few seconds to leave the colony and reach the cluster of houses. Not knowing if Kat’s mom was out roaming about, I flipped back into human form be
fore I stepped out of the woods.

  The strangest damn thing happened as I headed up our driveway. Warmth shot over the nape of my neck, followed by an almost pleasant tingle between my shoulder blades. Along with that weirdness, another sensation prodded me. A feeling of completion. What the hell?

  I think I needed a nap.

  As soon as I hit the porch, a weird, warm shiver crawled along the base of my neck and I knew Kat was inside. I couldn’t explain how I did or why, but I knew it in my core.

  Pushing open the living room door, I headed through the foyer and my eyes found Kat before anyone else. She was sitting on the couch, thick lashes lowered, hiding those gray eyes. Her hair was down, falling around her face, over her shoulders, and down her back.

  I stopped there, incapable of moving, too quick for her to notice. Seeing her, well, it did things I hadn’t been ready to delve into before. Hell, I really didn’t even know at what point I had become ready.

  Probably happened somewhere between when I thought she was dead and when she wasn’t.

  I dropped onto the couch beside her, watching her. I knew she was aware of me on this intrinsic level. The faint blush creeping across her cheeks confirmed it.

  “Where have you been?” she asked.

  Silence fell as Dee and Adam turned to her. I arched a brow, fighting a laugh as the heat raced across her cheeks and down her throat. “Well hello, honey, I’ve been out boozing and whoring. I know my priorities are pretty off.”

  Her lips thinned. “Dick.”

  My sister groaned. “Daemon, don’t be a jerk.”

  “Yes, Mommy. I’ve been with another group, searching the whole damn state to make sure there aren’t any Arum that we’re not aware of,” I said, offering a better explanation.

  Adam leaned forward. “There aren’t any, right? Because we told Katy she didn’t have anything to worry about.”

  My gaze flickered to him briefly. “We haven’t seen a single one.”

  Dee hooted happily and clapped her hands. She turned to Kat, smiling. “See, nothing to worry about. Everything is over.”

  Kat smiled. “That is a relief.”

  I filled Adam in on the trip, leaving out most of the conversation with Ethan Smith, but the whole time my attention was more focused on Kat. Hyperaware of every small movement she made, every muscle that twitched and then relaxed, and every breath she took.

  “Katy? Are you even here, right now?” Dee asked.

  “I think so.” Kat smiled again, but something was off about it. My eyes narrowed.

  “Have you guys been driving her crazy?” I sighed. “Bombarding her with a million questions?”

  “Never!” cried Dee. Then she laughed. “Okay. Maybe.”

  “Figured,” I muttered, stretching out my legs. A second later, I glanced at Kat. Our eyes locked. Tension filled the room, and I wondered what was going on behind those eyes.

  Dee cleared her throat loudly. “I’m still hungry, Adam.”

  He laughed. “You’re worse than I am.”

  “True. Let’s go to Smoke Hole. I think they’re having homemade meatloaf.” Dee hopped to her feet and kissed my cheek. “Glad you’re back. I’ve missed you.”

  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, running my fingers over her cheek. A shock transferred to my fingertips, much like static, but so, so different. “Hell.”

  “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 grinned, knowing the claws were about to come out. “Someone sounds like they are trying to convince themselves.”

  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.