Obsidian (A Lux Novel)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  Daemon popped in front of me, causing me to shriek. I swung at him, but he moved to the side. “God! I think you like to do that to piss me off.”

  “Who? Me?” His eyes were wide with innocence. “What time is dinner?”

  “Six.” I stomped up the steps. “And you are not invited.”

  “Like I want to eat dinner with you,” he retorted.

  I flipped him off without looking back.

  “You have until 6:30 to be next door, or I’m coming after you.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” I went inside without looking back.

  Mom was standing by the window in the living room, holding a picture frame she was dusting. It was her favorite picture of us. She’d stopped a random teenager and asked him to take our picture while we’d been at the beach. One smile from her and the kid couldn’t help but obey. I remembered being embarrassed she’d stopped the boy. I looked sullen next to her, put out and frustrated. I hated that picture.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Just long enough to see you give Daemon the middle finger.”

  “He deserved it,” I grumbled, dropping my backpack on the floor. “I’m going over there after dinner.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Do I even want to know?”

  I sighed. “Not in a million years.”

  …

  When I did show up next door, at 6:34, it sounded like World War III had erupted in the house. I’d let myself in since no one answered the damn door.

  “I can’t believe you ate all the ice cream, Daemon!”

  I cringed and stopped inside the dining room. There was no way I was going into that kitchen.

  “I didn’t eat all of it.”

  “Oh, so it ate itself?” Dee shrieked so loudly I thought I heard the rafters in the ceiling shake. “Did the spoon eat it? Oh wait, I know. The carton ate it.”

  “Actually, I think the freezer ate it,” Daemon responded dryly.

  I grinned when I heard what sounded like the empty container hitting what suspiciously sounded like flesh.

  Turning, I went back into the living room and piddled around until I heard footfalls behind me.

  Daemon lounged against the frame of the door that led from the dining room to the living room. I slowly took him in. His hair carelessly disheveled and the faint light from the lamp bouncing over high cheekbones. His lips curved into a half smile, and even in the simple shirt and jeans, he looked…well, beyond words.

  He took up the whole room, and he wasn’t even in it.

  One brow rose as he waited. “Kat?”

  Mentally kicking myself, I looked away. “Did you get hit by an ice cream carton?”

  “Yes.”

  “Damn. And I missed that.”

  “I’m sure Dee would love to do a replay for you.”

  I smiled a little at that.

  “Oh, you think this is funny.” Dee burst into the living room, car keys in hand. “I should be making you go to the store and get me Rocky Road, but because I like Katy and value her well-being, I’m going to get it myself.”

  That would mean I’d be left alone…Oh hell to the no. “Can’t Daemon go?”

  Daemon smiled at me.

  “No. If the Arum comes around, he’s only going to see your trace.” Dee grabbed her purse. “You need to be with Daemon. He’s stronger than me.”

  My shoulders fell. “Can’t I go next door?”

  “You do realize your trace can be seen from the outside?” Daemon pushed out of the doorway. “It’s your funeral, though.”

  “Daemon,” Dee snapped. “This is all your fault. My ice cream is not your ice cream.”

  “Ice cream must be very important,” I said.

  “It is my life.” Dee swung her purse at Daemon but missed. “And you took it from me.”

  Daemon rolled his eyes. “Just get going and come right back.”

  “Yes, sir!” She saluted him. “You guys want anything?”

  I shook my head.

  Daemon did the blinking out and reappearing thing. He was now beside Dee and pulled her in for a quick hug. “Be careful.”

  There was no doubt in my mind that Daemon loved and cherished his sister. He’d gladly give his life for her. The way he was always looking out for her was more than admirable. There wasn’t a good enough word for it. And it made me wish I had a sibling.

  “As always.” She smiled, gave me a quick wave, and darted out the door.

  “Wow. Remind me never to eat her ice cream.”

  “If you do, even I wouldn’t be able to save you.” He flashed a sardonic grin. “So, Kitten, if I’m going to be your babysitter for the evening, what’s in it for me?”

  My eyes immediately narrowed. “First off, I didn’t ask you to babysit me. And you made me come over here. And don’t call me Kitten.”

  Daemon tipped his head back and laughed. The sound sent shivers through me, reminding me of waking up with him, my head in his lap. “Aren’t you feisty tonight?”

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  Still chuckling, he turned toward the kitchen. “I can believe that. Never a dull moment when you’re around.” He paused. “Are you coming or not?”

  I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Going where?”

  He pushed open the kitchen door. “I’m hungry.”

  “Didn’t you just eat all of the ice cream?”

  “Yeah, still hungry.”

  “Good Lord, aliens can eat.” I stayed put.

  Daemon glanced over his broad shoulder. “I have this strong inclination that I need to keep an eye on you. Where I go you go.” He waited for me to move, and when I didn’t, his smile turned devilish. “Or I can forcibly move you.”

  I was pretty sure I didn’t want to know how he planned to do that. “All right, let’s go.” I shuffled past him and plopped down in a seat at the table.

  Daemon grabbed a plate of leftover chicken. “Want some?”

  I shook my head. Unlike them, I didn’t eat ten square meals a day.

  He was quiet as he moved around the kitchen. Since the night on the rock, we hadn’t been at each other’s throats. It wasn’t like we were getting along, but it seemed like an undeclared truce existed. I had no idea what to do with him since we weren’t trying to tick each other off.

  Resting my cheek on my palm, I had a hard time pulling my eyes off him. He was broad and tall, but he moved like a dancer. Each step was smooth and supple. Even the simplest movement looked like a form of art.

  Then there was his face.

  At that moment, he peered up from his plate. “So how are you holding up?”

  I tore my eyes from him and focused on the plate of food that was already half eaten. How long had I been staring at him? This was getting ridiculous. Did the trace turn me into a walking hormone? “I’m doing okay.”

  He took a bite of chicken and chewed slowly. “You are. You’ve accepted all of this. I’m surprised.”

  “What did you think I’d do?”

  Daemon shrugged. “With humans, the possibilities are endless.”

  I bit my lip. “Do you think that we are somehow weaker than you because we’re human?”

  “It’s not that I think you’re weaker, I know you are.” He eyed me over his glass of milk. “I’m not trying to be obnoxious by saying that. You are weaker than us.”

  “Maybe physically but not mentally or…morally,” I countered.

  “Morally?” He sounded confused.

  “Yeah, like, I’m not going to tell the world about you guys to get money. And if I was captured by an Arum, I wouldn’t bring them back to you all.”

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  Offended, I leaned back and folded my arms. “No. I wouldn’t.”

  “Even if your life was threatened?” Disbelief colored his tone.

  Shaking my head, I laughed. “Just because I’m human doesn’t mean I’m a coward or unethical. I’d never do anything that would put Dee in danger. Why would my li
fe be more valuable than hers? Now yours…debatable. But not Dee.”

  He stared at me for several seconds, then went back to his food. If I was expecting an apology I wasn’t going to get one. Big surprise there.

  “So how long will it take for this trace to fade?” My eyes went right back to him. Very annoying.

  Daemon’s eyes were intent and bright, the green hue seeming to burn through me. He took a long, healthy drink.

  I swallowed, my throat dry.

  “Probably a week or two, maybe less,” he said, squinting. “It’s already starting to fade.”

  It was weird that he was talking about this light around me that I couldn’t see. “What do I look like? A giant light bulb or something?”

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s a soft white glow that’s around your body, kind of like a halo.”

  “Oh, well that’s not too bad. Are you done?” When he nodded, I grabbed his plate out of habit. Not to throw it at him, but mainly out of something to do. “At least I don’t look like a Christmas tree.”

  “You look like the star atop the tree.” His breath stirred the hair around my cheek.

  Gasping, I turned around.

  Daemon stood directly behind me. Our bodies separated only by a foot or two. Placing my hands on the edge of the counter, I dragged in a deep breath. “I hate it when you do that alien super-speed thing.”

  Smiling, he cocked his head to the side. “Kitten, what are we going to get into?”

  A thousand images flashed. Thank God reading thoughts wasn’t one of his alien powers. Such a strange thickness invaded the air around me, and this overwhelming yearning from deep inside sprung to life.

  “Why not hand me over to the DOD?” I blurted out.

  Daemon took a step back, surprised. “What?”

  I wished I hadn’t gone there, but I did, and there was no coming back from it. “Wouldn’t everything have been easier for you if you handed me over to the DOD? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about Dee or anything.”

  Daemon stood in silence. The color of his eyes went up a notch, becoming brighter. I wanted to take a step back, but there was nowhere to go.

  Voice low, he said, “I don’t know, Kitten.”

  “You don’t know? You risk everything and you don’t know why?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  I stared at him, bewildered by the fact that he’d put everything on the line and seemed to have no idea why. That was crazy to me. Absurd. Admittedly, it was unnerving, because it could mean many things.

  Things I didn’t dare acknowledge.

  His arms quickly shot out, landing heavily against the counter. Bands of muscle created a very successful trap, pinning me in place without even touching. He lowered his head and dark waves spilled over his eyes. “Okay. I do know why.”

  At first I had no idea what he was talking about. “You do?”

  Daemon nodded. “You wouldn’t survive a day without us.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Oh, I know.” He tilted his head to the side. “Do you know how many Arum I have faced? Hundreds. And there have been times I barely escaped. A human doesn’t stand a chance against them or the DOD.”

  “Fine. Whatever. Can you move?”

  Standing his ground, Daemon smiled. God, he was exasperating. I could either stand here, stare at him like an idiot, or I could move past him. I opted for the latter. My plan was to muscle my way around him as quickly as possible.

  Not that I got very far.

  He was like a brick wall only a freight train could knock out of the way. He grinned wider, entertained by my lack of progress. “Asshole,” I muttered.

  Daemon laughed. “You have such a mouth on you. Do you kiss boys with that thing?”

  My cheeks heated. “Do you kiss Ash with yours?”

  “Ash?” His smile disappeared and his eyes were suddenly hooded, less clear. “You would like to know that, wouldn’t you?”

  An unreasonable spark of jealousy flared in me, but I pushed it aside. I smirked. “No, thank you.”

  Daemon leaned in even more. His spicy and earthy scent surrounded me. “You aren’t a very good liar, Kitten. Your cheeks get red whenever you lie.”

  Do they? Aw, hell. I tried pushing past him again, but he reached out, taking ahold of my arm. It wasn’t a tight grip, but I still felt it down to my bone. His hand hummed. Tingles were sharp and startling, yet pleasant. I didn’t want to look at him but I didn’t seem capable of stopping myself.

  We were too close and there was too much tension between us. His gaze burned as it latched onto mine. He lowered his head, and I forgot how to breathe. Fascinated, I watched his lips slowly curved into a smile. It was hard to pay attention to his words when he spoke, but they somehow made it through the strange fog clouding my brain.

  “I have a strange idea that I should test this out.”

  “Test what?” My eyes dropped to his lips. I felt myself sway.

  “I think you would like to know.” He moved closer, his hand sliding up my arm and resting carefully at the nape of my neck. “You have beautiful hair.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” His fingers spread along the back of my neck, slowly weaving themselves through strands of loose hair.

  His deft fingers moved against the base of my skull. My lips parted, and I waited.

  He dropped his hand and reached out again as I stood there, eager—maybe too eager—to discover if he felt the same unexpected ache. If he was any bit as affected as I was.

  Instead, Daemon plucked up a bottled water off the counter.

  I slumped against the counter. What the holy hell.

  His eyes danced with laughter as he turned back to the table. “What was it that you were asking, Kitten?”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  He took a drink. “Did Dee pick up a movie or something?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, she mentioned it earlier in class.”

  “Well, come on. Let’s go watch a movie.”

  I pushed away from the counter and followed behind him. I lingered by the door as he held the DVD up and frowned. “Whose idea was this?”

  I shrugged and then watched his brows rise as he read the blurb on the back. “Whatever,” he muttered.

  Clearing my throat, I took one step into the room “Look, Daemon, you don’t have to sit and watch a movie with me. If you have other things you want to do, I’m sure I will be fine.”

  He glanced up from the movie and then shrugged. “I have nothing to do.”

  “Okay.” I was still unsure. Imagining him enjoying a movie night with me was more farfetched than the idea of aliens living among humans.

  I dragged myself across the room and sat on the couch as he fiddled with the movie. After sliding the disc in, he approached the couch and sat down on the far end. Then the television came on, and I would swear he’d left the remote by the T.V. It was probably a good thing I didn’t have his power. I’d be beyond lazy.

  He glanced at me, and I immediately faced the television.

  “If you fall asleep during this movie, you’ll owe me.”

  I turned to him with a frown. “Why?”

  Daemon spared me a wolfish smile. “Just watch the movie.”

  I made a face, but remained quiet. Daemon shifted. The couch dipped and the distance between us grew smaller. I held my breath until I had to come up for air. He didn’t seem to notice as the open credits rolled over the screen.

  I stared at his profile and wondered for the hundredth time what he could be thinking and, like always, I came up empty. Out of frustration, I turned back to the movie and decided the strange pull I felt for him had to be my imagination. It couldn’t be anything more.

  Tense and unused to what I was feeling, I counted the minutes until Dee returned.

  Chapter 20

  Daemon was surprisingly subdued in math on Wednesday. The inevitable pen poke only came once, and that was to remind me the only plans I had
after school were with him.

  Yeah, whatever, like I could forget.

  In bio, like the day before, Mr. Garrison’s keen stare kept going back to me. I knew he saw the trace, and I had no clue what he was thinking. Daemon hadn’t mentioned if he and Dee had said anything to the other Luxen. Throughout the day before, several teachers had given me weird looks. Today, one of the coaches I passed on the way to the cafeteria stopped in the middle of the hall and looked me up and down. Either he was a perv or an alien. Or both, which would be a winning combination.

  While standing in the lunch line, I did everything in my power to not look toward the back of the cafeteria. Staring at the food, I stepped forward and nearly bounced off the back of a walking mountain.

  Simon Cutters turned around and then looked down. He smiled when he saw me. “Hey there, Katy.”

  I handed my money to the checkout lady, and turned to Simon. “Sorry about that.”

  “No problem.” He waited for me at the end of the line, his plate full of food. He ate almost as much as Dee. “Did you have a clue what Monroe was talking about in trig? I swear it was a different language.”

  Considering I’d spent most of the class ignoring the boy behind me…“I have no clue. I’m hoping someone took notes.” I shifted my plate. “We have a test next week, right?”

  Simon nodded. “Right before the game, too. I think Monroe does that—”

  Someone reached in to grab a drink, forcing us to take a step back from one another, which wasn’t necessary since anyone could’ve easily walked around us. When I inhaled the crisp scent, I realized who it was.

  Daemon grabbed a carton of milk off the cart and flipped it. Passing me an unreadable glance, he turned to Simon. Both of them were the same height, but Simon was much broader. Still, Daemon gave off a more badass vibe.

  “How you doing, Simon?” he asked, flipping the carton again.

  Blinking as he backed up, Simon cleared his throat. “Good—doing good. Heading over to my—uh, my table.” He looked at me nervously. “See you in class, Katy.”

  Frowning, I watched Simon trip over his own feet to get to his table. I turned back to Daemon. “Okay?”

  “Are you planning on sitting with Simon?” he asked, crossing one arm over his chest.

  “What? No.” I laughed. “I was planning on sitting with Lesa and Carissa.”