Mom loved Evie—the real Evie. I could see that when she told me about her and in the memory that had surfaced. And I think that she had loved me, despite all the lies. Or maybe that’s what I needed to believe, because I did miss her. I missed her smile, the way she smelled, and her hugs. I missed that I could think of her without guilt and hatred.
And for the first time since I’d learned the truth about everything, I almost found myself wishing that I could forget her.
20
“Didn’t we already discuss this?” Yanking my hair back, I twisted the mass into a bun and then shoved the first of a million bobby pins into it. “I told you I wanted to get back to training as soon as possible.”
Luc stood in front of the television, and it looked like the painting of the archangel Michael was seconds away from smiting him. Luc was still shirtless, and I had a strong suspicion he was trying to distract me.
“We discussed this,” he replied. “But it was sort of a one-sided discussion with you saying you wanted to get back to training.”
“And you agreed.”
“I do, but I also think there’s no harm in taking it easy.”
“I don’t need to take it easy after sleeping for four days.” I shoved another bobby pin in, nearly scalping myself in the process. Ouch.
“I just don’t want you to overdo it, Evie, and then have you pass out again.” Luc picked up a shirt.
“Dr. Hemenway didn’t say something like that would happen.”
“She also doesn’t know what will happen.” His brows knitted. “How many bobby pins do you need?”
“A lot. And I feel perfectly fine.” One more bobby pin and I was somewhat confident my hair wouldn’t topple over when the lightest breeze touched it.
“You do look perfectly fine.” He tugged the shirt on. Finally. He arched a brow. “Didn’t realize my man chest was so distracting.”
“Man chest?”
“It’s just skin and nipples, Peaches. Don’t make it awkward.”
I stared at him.
He grinned.
“Don’t be cute.”
I can’t help it. I’m adorable.
A sharp whooshing motion tumbled my stomach. All morning, Luc had been shifting back and forth from talking out loud and through the Source, a different form of training from the kind we were arguing about.
I focused on him, imagining a cord connecting us. You’re annoying.
He feigned a scowl. I’m rubber, and you’re glue. What you say bounces off me and sticks to you.
“Oh my God.” I laughed. “How old are you? Five?”
Luc nodded. “I’m a big boy now.”
“Seriously. Stop being cute. I’m irritated.”
“I can’t help who I am.” Luc didn’t just walk toward me. He swaggered. “I know you’re ready to get back to training, and I know I’m probably just being paranoid.”
“You’re definitely being paranoid.”
“I am.”
I concentrated on the cord between us. But I do understand why you’re paranoid. I would be, too, if it had been you who had passed out for four days.
His gaze flickered over my face. “I’m glad you understand.” He switched over to the more private way. It’s not that I’m trying to control what you do or that I don’t think you’re capable of getting back to training. I just worry. A lot.
“I know.”
He brushed back a wisp of hair that had escaped one of the many bobby pins already. I know you didn’t sleep much last night.
Luc had been awake when I’d returned, probably mere seconds away from launching a search and possible rescue, but all he’d remarked on when I climbed back into bed was how cold my toes were. He’d gathered me close, tucking me against his chest, and promptly fallen back to sleep.
I slept enough, I told him and then switched to the form I was more comfortable with. “The only thing I do feel is a little restless, but nothing like before. Remember how Grayson said he could feel the Source, like an internal buzzing? That’s how it feels. Maybe it’s something I just need to get used to.”
He tucked away another fine strand of hair. “Probably. I know it takes a while for hybrids. Just promise me that if you start to feel weird or dizzy or anything, you’ll let me know immediately.”
“I promise.”
Running his fingers along my jaw, he tilted my head back. “I feel like I should apologize.”
“For what?”
“I woke you up this morning.”
I frowned. “You did?”
He nodded. “When I woke up, you were still sleeping and you were so still against me, I had this moment of panic, thinking you weren’t going to wake up again. So, I just about shouted your name. I’m surprised you didn’t wake up screaming.”
“Luc.” My heart squeezed. “You don’t have to apologize. I would’ve done the same.”
“Remember you said this after a year or so of me shouting your name in panic in the mornings.”
“I’ll remember.”
Lowering his head, he kissed me, and each kiss since yesterday felt different—sweeter and heavier with promises. I stepped into him, gripping the front of his shirt. The sound rumbling from deep within him sent a shiver curling its way down my spine.
Evie. Luc smiled against my lips. “If we don’t leave now, we’re not going to be leaving for quite some time.”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad thing,” I said, eyes still closed. “Does it?”
“No.” He slid his hand over my hip. “It sounds like all the best dreams coming true.”
My nose brushed his as I tilted my head. “But…?”
“But we’re going to be mature and responsible,” he said with a sigh so disgusted, it drew a grin from me. “You want to get your abilities in tip-top shape. Prioritize, Peaches.”
“You kissed me.”
“Your lips were begging mine.”
Laughing, I opened my eyes and pulled away. “Come on.”
He caught my hand in his, and we walked out the front door into the bright, sunny November morning. The skies were such a clear blue, and the clouds fluffy and low. I yearned to capture it on camera. As we made our way down the driveway, I fantasized about replacing all the angel paintings with photographs of the sky, some in color and others in black and white. Alas, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“Want to race?” I asked at the end of the driveway. We were going to the same place as before, the old packing warehouse.
“I thought we’d make a pit stop first. Unlike you, I haven’t gotten the chance to really check out the newest addition to the world,” Luc said. “It was probably a minute or so after he was born that I heard Grayson.”
“That’s fine with me.” I’d told Luc about the surprise meet and greet, but I hadn’t mentioned what Daemon had told me last night about what Luc had done. “You’re amazing, you know that, right?”
“Obviously.” He squeezed my hand. “But what made you decide to finally acknowledge it?”
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the first time I’ve acknowledged that.” We crossed the front lawns, heading for where the curtain was already parted. “But I know what you did for their baby.”
“Oh.” He was looking up, at the sky. “I didn’t do much. Nothing to be impressed over.”
“Nothing to be impressed over? You kept the baby stable. How were you able to do that?”
He stopped just below the porch steps. “I got lucky. We all got lucky that it was a compressed umbilical cord—something physical and not something biological. If so, there would have been nothing any of us could’ve done.”
I looked up at him, keeping my voice low. “I think everyone got lucky that you were here.”
His gaze lowered to me. “All I did was do what I could. I kept the baby’s breathing steady. That’s all.”
And that kept the child alive, but to hear Luc speak, it was like he’d simply helped unload groceries or something.
&nb
sp; Stretching up, I kissed his cheek, and when I rocked back onto my feet, he watched me. I tugged on his hand, and he followed me up the porch.
Daemon answered the door before we knocked. “Look who’s blessing us with their presence.”
Luc smiled. “I knew you were probably missing me.”
The Luxen chuckled. “Like a hole in the head.”
“That might actually be an improvement,” Luc replied.
“He’s here to see the baby,” I jumped in before the two devolved into a “who could out-snark the other” contest.
“Is he jealous that you saw him first?” Daemon asked.
I nodded.
“I’m going to start calling you Benedict Peaches Arnold,” Luc muttered.
That made me snort-laugh.
“You’re in luck.” Daemon closed the door behind us. “Adam is awake.”
“It’s because he’s eager to meet me.”
I rolled my eyes as we followed Daemon back to the bedroom. Once again, I was a little awed by the number of books in this house.
Can you hear any of Daemon’s thoughts right now? Luc’s voice made me jump, and I looked at him.
I hadn’t heard anything the night before, but it wasn’t like I’d been trying then. Focusing on Daemon’s back, I concentrated and heard nothing.
I don’t hear anything, I told Luc.
Interesting. He’s thinking about how beautiful Kat looks and—yikes, I am not repeating what I hear now. Luc’s brows lifted. Maybe it’s unique to us, because of my healing attempts and the other serums.
If it was unique to us, then could that mean the other Trojans would be unable to communicate this way or hear others’ thoughts? If so, Luc and I had a leg up on the other Trojans. Or it could mean that other Trojans could hear the thoughts of all others like Luc could, and I was somewhat defective because of the other serums.
You’re not defective.
I shot a look at Luc. Get out of my head.
He grinned.
What we needed was another Trojan. That was the only way to test many of our theories or find any answers, but that was likely not going to happen.
“I think Adam knew you were coming,” came Kat’s voice from the end of the hall. “He’s usually napping at this time of the day, but he’s been awake.”
Since Origins were all a little different, that could be possible.
“Then he must be as excited as I am,” Luc responded as he stepped into the room. I lingered back.
Kat looked up from where she sat, rocking gently in the chair, hair swept up in a knot that looked as messy as mine felt and cheeks flushed a healthy pink. The baby was nestled against Kat’s chest, looking and blinking at whatever babies looked at.
Without the little blanket hoodie, I saw that the baby boy had a lot of thick, dark hair. A head full of it!
Kat smiled as her husband crossed the room, dropping a kiss on her cheek and then the top of his son’s head. She rose from the chair, the pale blue dress gliding around her feet as she walked forward, stopping in front of Luc, who stood as if spellbound.
“Kat—”
Rising onto the tips of her toes, Kat kissed his cheek, silencing him. “Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes glimmering with tears as she stepped back. “Those two words aren’t nearly enough, but thank you.”
I pressed my lips together as I inhaled sharply through my nose. Luc slowly shook his head, and I knew he was about to give her the same line he’d given me, but Kat was having none of that.
“Losing him would’ve killed us in the worst possible ways, and I don’t know if we would’ve recovered from that, but the three of us are here because of you,” she told him. “And I wish there were some way we could repay you—some way that you could truly understand the depths of our gratitude.”
Luc was still speechless and back to being as still as a tomb, so I intervened. “He likes grilled cheese sandwiches.”
Kat’s gaze darted to me, eyebrows raising.
“A lot,” I added. “Like, so much so, he’s in a committed, long-term relationship with them. A lifetime supply of them would go a long way to proving your gratitude.”
Kat smiled as she glanced over at Daemon while Luc’s shoulders began to relax. “I think we can make that work. Right, babe?”
“I can cook up a mean grilled cheese,” he said.
Thank you, came Luc’s soft reply.
I blinked back the dampness in my eyes. Now I don’t have to worry about making you any.
He sent me a grin over his shoulder and a look that said he knew better.
Kat turned slightly, and at that moment, little Adam stretched out a tiny, chubby arm toward Luc as his little head bobbed and weaved behind Kat’s hand. He let out a soft baby noise. “I think he wants to say hello.”
Before Luc could do or say anything, Kat was tucking the baby into Luc’s arms. “Just make sure you support his head. Like this.” Kat made it so that Luc’s arm and then his hand formed a cradle. “There you go. You’re a pro.”
Luc looked like he’d been handed a bomb.
“Oh yeah, you look like a natural,” Daemon remarked.
Kat sent a look at Daemon that made him chuckle. “He’s doing just fine.” She smiled up at Luc. “You’re doing great.”
“He’s really small,” was all Luc said.
“Sure didn’t feel like that four days ago,” she replied wryly, and I barely managed to hide my cringe.
Creeping closer, I could see that the baby was staring up at Luc with eyes identical to his. Adam was incredibly quiet as his sock-covered feet wiggled.
“I think he likes you,” Daemon said. “Which is really going to tick off Archer. The moment he gets near, Adam scrunches up his face and starts wailing.”
“That’s my boy.” Luc’s grin was slow as he turned to me. “Want to hold him?”
“Nope!” I held up my hands. “No offense, but I do not trust myself not to do something wrong.”
“I thought the same thing the first time I held him.” Kat reached out, touching my arm. “I’m so glad to see that you’re doing well. We were so worried.”
“Thank you,” I said. “And you look amazing, by the way.”
“I feel like a ten-ton truck drove through me, and I’m exhausted.” Her gaze drifted to Luc and her child. “But I’m absolutely loving it.” She reached out, straightening the little sock on one of his feet. “Do either of you or Viv know why you slept for a few days?”
Actually relieved that she’d asked, because I was beginning to really wonder what kind of bizarre stuff these two had seen that they hadn’t questioned it yet, I told them what we knew. Then Luc chimed in after Daemon retrieved his son, explaining Viv’s theory.
“Damn,” Daemon murmured. “All of it sounds insane, but it also makes sense.”
Kat was toying with Adam’s foot again. “I saw some of their labs while I was at one of their compounds. Dasher showed them to me, actually.” She smiled at her baby. “There is nothing I don’t think they’re capable of, so coding a mutation to act like a dormant virus doesn’t really surprise me.”
Daemon’s jaw hardened. “But if Viv’s theory is right, and those additional serums changed the game, that would explain why you didn’t attempt to head back to the Daedalus and why you didn’t recognize us.”
“You were rebooting,” Kat said. “And something that Luc said or did either sped up the process or snapped you out of it.”
Something had been said. I could almost hear it. Whatever it was, it bloomed on the fringes of my thoughts and then slipped through my fingers like smoke as I stared at Kat. My brain did cartwheels trying to recapture it, but I couldn’t.
“You’ve used the Source since, right?” she asked.
“Yes,” I told them, refocusing. “I used it to retrieve a shirt. I think it’s going to make me lazy.”
Kat sent me a grin. “Girl, when I first I got control of the Source, I used it for everything.”
“Is it
possible that the whole sleeping thing was possibly the final reboot? Or update running?” Daemon asked.
“It’s not impossible,” answered Luc. “We won’t know until, well, we know.”
Daemon handed Adam back over to Kat. “And working with the Source isn’t the same as doing what you did in the woods.”
“I know.” I met his stare. “But we’re starting out small, and I guess eventually, we’ll go full throttle. Luc has a way to, um, ensure I don’t get too out of control.”
“He does?” Kat sounded surprised by that as she returned to the chair. Sitting, she placed the baby so he was resting cheek-down on her arm. He looked super-happy there. “How?”
When Luc didn’t answer, I did. “He can basically shut me down by taking control. Knocking me out without, you know, actually knocking me out.”
Kat’s gaze shifted from me to Luc as she rubbed her hand up and down Adam’s back. “That sounds extreme.”
“What would happen if he doesn’t will be way more extreme.” I met Kat’s eyes, willing her to remember the warning she’d given me before, and she must’ve, because she nodded.
“I want to be there when you go full throttle,” Daemon announced.
My brows flew up. “Uh, I, um, don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Same,” Luc stated.
“I think I need to be clearer.” Daemon then fixed those ultrabright green eyes on Luc. “I want to be there to help make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.”
Quiet, Luc tilted his head, and then after a small eternity, he said, “Okay.”
Okay?
He’s being genuine, Peaches. His voice echoed in my thoughts without warning, jolting me. He wants to make sure that nothing bad happens so something really bad doesn’t go down.
I thought that over. You mean so I don’t end up ticking off Cekiah and getting booted from the zone?
You will never get booted from the zone. “I’ll let you know when we’re ready.”
“Good.” Daemon folded his arms, looking like the badass Luxen I knew.
“Good,” Kat whispered and then louder, “Dee’s going to be thrilled to hear you’re awake and doing okay.”
“Surprised she’s not here.” Luc picked up what appeared to be a stuffed banana and frowned. “I got him better toys than this.”
The Brightest Night Page 26
