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“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 before 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?