BONUS: Unedited – Daemon POV – Lux Chapters

March 16, 2020

1 

{ Daemon } 

 

Keep reading for bonus scenes from
Daemon’s point of view! Previously released in the  

printed versions of OBSIDIAN and ONYX. . .  

“UH‑OH SPAGHETTI‑O’S” 

{ Daemon } 

The moment I walked into trig class, I saw Kat. Kind of hard to miss with that whitish glow surrounding her. I spotted a couple of seats empty on the other side of class and knew that’s where I should go.  

Instead, I switched my notebook to my other hand and headed straight down the aisle where she was seated. She kept her eyes glued to her notebook, but I knew she was aware of me . . . The faint blush along the tips of her cheekbones gave her away.  

I grinned. 

But then my gaze slid to the awkward splint covering her slender arm, and my grin faded. Potent rage swept through me at the reminder of how close she’d come to becoming an Arum’s playtoy. My teeth gnashed together as I stalked past and fell into the seat behind her.  

Images assaulted me of how she’d looked after the Arum attack—shaken, terrified, and so tiny in my shirt as we waited for the useless police to show up. If anything, this should’ve served as a reminder to get my ass up and move to a different seat.  

I pulled a pen out of the spiral ring on my notebook and poked her in the back. 

Kat glanced over her shoulder, biting her lip.  

“How’s the arm?” I asked. 

Her features pinched, and then her lashes swept up, her clear eyes meeting my stare. “Good,” she said, fiddling with her hair. “I get the splint off tomorrow, I think.” 

I tapped my pen off the edge of the desk. “That should help.” 

“Help with what?” Wariness colored her tone. 

Using the pen, I gestured to the trace surrounding her. “With what you’ve got going on there.” 

Her eyes narrowed, and I remembered she couldn’t see how she was lit up like a Christmas tree. I should have cleared things up, but it was so much fun getting a rise out of her. When it looked like she was two seconds from smacking me upside the head with her splint, I couldn’t help myself. 

I leaned forward, watching her eyes flare. “Less people will stare without the splint is all I’m saying.” 

Her lips thinned in disbelief, but she didn’t look away. Kat met my stare and held it. Not backing down—never backing down. Reluctant respect continued to grow inside me, but underneath that, something else was developing. I was two seconds from kissing that pissed-off look right off her face. I wondered what she’d do. Hit me? Kiss me back?  

I was betting on the hitting part. 

Billy Crump let out a low whistle from somewhere off to the side of us. “Ash is going to kick your ass, Daemon.” 

Kat’s eyes narrowed with what looked a lot like jealousy. I smiled. I might just need to change my bet. “Nah, she likes my ass too much for that.” 

Billy chuckled. 

I tipped my desk down, bringing our mouths within the same breathing space. A flash of heat went through her eyes, and I so had her. “Guess what?” 

“What?” she murmured, her gaze dropping to my mouth.  

“I checked out your blog.” 

Her eyes shot back to mine. For a second they were wide with shock, but she was quick to smooth her expression. “Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?” 

“In your dreams, Kitten.” I smirked. “Oh wait, I’m already starring in those, aren’t I?” 

She rolled her eyes. “Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares.” 

I smiled, and her lips twitched. Dammit, if I didn’t know better, I’d think she liked our little fights, too. The teacher started calling out roll, and Kat turned around. I sat back, laughing softly.  

Several of the kids were still watching us, which kind of knocked the sense back into me. Not that I was doing anything wrong. Teasing her wouldn’t bring the Arum to us or put her in danger—or my sister. When the bell rang, Kat bolted from the class. Shaking my head, I grabbed my notebook and headed out into the throng of students.  

During a class exchange an hour later, I ran into Adam, who fell in step beside me. “There is talk.” 

I arched a brow. “Talk about what? How everyone drives trucks around here? Or how cow tipping really is a pastime? Or how my sister is never, ever going to seriously get with you?” 

Adam sighed. “Talk about Katy, smartass.” 

Schooling my features, I stared straight ahead as we navigated the crowded halls. Both of us were a good head or so taller than most. We were like giants in the land of humans.  

“Billy Crump’s in your—” 

“Trig class? Yeah, I know that already.”  

“He was talking in history about you flirting with the new girl,” Adam said, sliding past a group of girls who were openly staring at us. “Ash overheard him.” 

With each passing second, my annoyance was hitting an all new high.  

“I know you and Ash aren’t seeing each other anymore.” 

“Yep.” I grit my teeth. 

“But you know how she gets,” Adam continued quickly. “You better be careful with your little human—” 

I stopped in the middle of the hall, two seconds from throwing Adam through a wall. Kids shuffled around us as I spoke barely above a whisper. “She’s not my little human.” 

Adam’s gaze was unflinching. “Fine. Whatever. Out of everyone, I don’t care if you took her into the locker room and did her, but she’s glowing . . . and so are your eyes. And all of this is familiar.” 

Shit. On. A. Brick. Striving for patience I wasn’t known for, I started walking, leaving Adam behind. I needed to stay the hell away from Kat. And that would keep her away from the rest of the Luxen, namely Ash.  

When was the moment Katy became different from the herd—from the rest of the humans? Someone I wanted to know? And Adam was right. All of this was familiar, except we’d had this conversation with Dawson over Bethany.  

Dammit. This was not happening. 

I glided through the rest of my classes bored out of my freaking mind. Many times last year, I tried to convince Matthew to get me a forged high school diploma. No such luck there. The DOD probably thought school was a privilege for us, but what they taught couldn’t keep my interest. We learned at an accelerated rate, leaving most humans in the dust. And the DOD would have to approve my request to go to college if that’s what I decided. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to college. I’d rather find a job where I got to work outside—something that didn’t include four small walls. 

When lunch rolled around, I was half tempted to call it a day. School wasn’t the same without Dawson. His exuberance for everything, even the mundane, had been contagious.  

Not hungry, I grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the table. I sat beside Ash and leaned back, picking at the label on the bottle.  

“You know,” Ash said, leaning against my arm. “They say what you’re doing is a sign of sexual frustration.” 

I winked at her. 

She grinned and then turned back to her brother. That was the thing about Ash. Even though we’d dated on and off for years, she could be cool . . . when she wanted to be. Neither of us was really into each other, not the way Dawson had been with Bethany or as we should be.  

Lifting my eyes, I immediately found Kat in the lunch line. She was talking to Carissa—the quieter of the two girls in trig. My gaze dropped down to her flip-flops and slowly worked my way back up.  

I think I loved those jeans. Tight in all the right places.  

It was amazing really—how long Kat’s legs looked for someone so short. I couldn’t figure out why it seemed that way. 

Ash’s hand dropped on my thigh, drawing my attention. Warning bells went off. She was so up to something. “What?” I asked.  

Her bright eyes fixed on mine. “What are you looking at?” 

“Nothing.” I focused on her, anything to keep her interest off Kat. As feisty as the little kitten was, she was absolutely no match for Ash. I set the bottle aside, swinging my legs toward her. “You look nice today.” 

“Don’t I?” Ash beamed. “So do you. But you always look yumtastic.” Glancing over her shoulder, she then turned back and slid into my lap faster than she should have in public.  

A couple of the boys at a neighboring table looked like they would’ve traded in their moms to be in my position. “What are you up to?” I kept my hands to myself. 

“Why do you think I’m up to anything?” She pressed her chest against mine, speaking in my ear. “I miss you.” 

I grinned. “No, you don’t.” 

Pouting, she slapped my shoulder playfully. “Okay. There are some things I miss.” 

About to tell her that I had a good idea of what that thing was, Dee’s jubilant shriek cut me off.  

“Katy!” she yelled.  

Cursing under my breath, I felt Ash stiffen against me.  

“Sit,” Dee said, smacking the top of the table. “We were talking about—” 

“Wait.” Ash twisted around. I could picture the look on her face. Lips turned down, eyes narrowed. All that equaled bad, bad times. “You did not invite her to sit with us? Really?” 

I focused on the painting of the PHS mascot—a red and black Viking, complete with horns. Please don’t sit down.  

 “Shut up, Ash,” Adam said. “You’re going to make a scene.” 

“I’m not ‘going to make’ anything happen.” Ash’s arm tightened around my neck like a boa constrictor. “She doesn’t need to sit with us.” 

Dee sighed. “Ash, stop being a bitch. She’s not trying to steal Daemon from you.” 

My eyebrows shot up, but I kept up the prayer. Please don’t sit down. My jaw locked. Please don’t sit here. If she did, Ash would eat her alive out of pure spite. I’d never understand girls. Ash didn’t want me anymore, not really, but holy hell if someone else did. 

Ash’s body started to vibrate softly. “That’s not what I’m worried about. For real.” 

“Just sit,” Dee said to Katy, her voice tight with exasperation. “She’ll get over it.” 

“Be nice,” I whispered in Ash’s ear, low enough for only her to hear. Ash smacked my arm hard. That’ll leave a bruise. I pressed my cheek into her neck. “I mean it.” 

“I’ll do what I want,” she hissed back. And she would, too. Worse than what she was doing now.  

“I don’t know if I should,” Kat said, sounding incredibly small and unsure.  

Every stupid, idiotic thought in my head demanded that I dump Ash out of my lap and get Kat out of here, away from what surely was going to end up being horrible.  

 “You shouldn’t,” Ash snapped. 

“Shut up,” Dee said. “I’m sorry I know such hideous bitches.” 

“Are you sure?” Kat asked. 

Ash’s body trembled and heated up. Her skin would be too warm for a human to touch without realizing something was different, wrong even. I could feel her control slipping away. Exposing herself wasn’t likely, but she appeared mad enough to do some damage.  

I turned my head to look at Kat for the first time since I’d seen her in the line. And I already knew I was going to hate myself for what I was about to say, because she didn’t deserve this. “I think it’s obvious if you’re wanted here or not.” 

“Daemon!” My sister’s eyes filled with tears, and now it was official. I was irrevocably a dick. “He’s not being serious.” 

“Are you being serious, Daemon?” Ash twisted toward me. 

My gaze held Kat’s, and I clamped down on everything. She needed to leave before something shitty happened. “Actually, I was being serious. You’re not wanted here.” 

Kat opened her mouth, but she didn’t say anything. Her cheeks had been pink—the way I liked them—but the color faded quickly. Anger and embarrassment filled her gray eyes. They glistened under the harsh lights of the cafeteria. A sharp pierce sliced through my chest, and I had to look away—because I had put that look in her eyes. Clenching my jaw, I focused over Ash’s shoulder on that stupid mascot again.  

In that moment, I wanted to punch myself in the face.  

“Run along,” Ash said. 

A few snickers sounded and anger whipped through me, heating my skin. It was ridiculous that I was pissed that other people were laughing when I’d embarrassed her, hurt her more than anyone. 

Silence fell over the table, and relief was imminent. She had to be leaving now. There was no way— 

Cold, wet, and sloppy stuff plopped on the top of my head. I froze, aware enough not to open my mouth unless I wanted to eat . . . spaghetti? Did she . . . ? Sauce-covered noodles slid down my face, landing on my shoulder. One hung off my ear, smacking me against the neck.  

Holy shit. I was dumbfounded as I slowly turned to look at her. Part of me was actually . . . amazed.  

Ash leaped from my lap, shrieking as she shoved her hands out. “You . . . You . . .” 

I plucked one of the noodles off my ear and dropped it on the table as I peered up at Kat from underneath my lashes. The laugh came up before I could stop it. Good for her. 

Ash lowered her hands. “I will end you.” 

My humor vanished. Jumping up, I threw an arm around Ash’s waist. “Calm down. I mean it. Calm down.” 

She pulled against me. “I swear to all the stars and suns, I will destroy you.” 

“What does that mean?” Kat balled her hands, glaring at the taller girl like she wasn’t afraid of her one bit, and she should’ve been. Ash’s skin was scorching hot, vibrating just beneath the surface. At that moment, I really started to doubt she wouldn’t do something stupid and reveal us in public. “Are you watching too many cartoons again?”  

Matthew stalked over to our table, his eyes connecting with mine for a moment. I’d hear about this later. “I believe that’s enough,” he said.  

Knowing not to argue with Matthew, Ash sat down in her own seat and grabbed a fistful of napkins. She tried to clean up the mess, but it was pointless. I almost laughed again when she started stabbing at her shirt. Sitting down, I knocked a clump of noodles off my shoulder.  

 “I think you should find another place to eat,” Matthew said to Katy, voice low enough that only the people at our table could hear. “Do so now.” 

Looking up, I watched Kat grab her book bag. She hesitated, and then she nodded as if in a daze. Turning stiffly, she stalked from the cafeteria. My eyes followed her the whole way out, and she kept her head held high.  

Matthew turned from the table, probably off to do some damage control. I wiped the back of my hand down my sticky cheek, unable to stop myself from laughing softly.  

Ash smacked me again. “It’s not funny!” She stood, hands shaking. “I can’t believe you think that was funny.” 

“It was.” I shrugged, grabbing my water bottle. Not like we didn’t deserve it. Looking down the table, I found my sister staring at me. “Dee . . .” 

Tears built in her eyes as she stood. “I can’t believe you did that.” 

“What did you expect?” Andrew demanded.  

She shot him a death glare and then turned those eyes on me. “You suck. You really freaking suck, Daemon.” 

I opened my mouth, but what could I say? I did suck. I’d acted like an ass, and it wasn’t like I could defend that. Dee had to understand that it was for the best, but when I closed my eyes, I saw the hurt in Kat’s eyes and I wasn’t so sure I’d done the right thing . . . at least the right thing by her. 

“THE MORNING AFTER” 

{ Daemon } 

I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming, but if I was, I didn’t want to wake up. The scent of peach and vanilla teased me, invaded me.  

Kat.  

Only she smelled that wonderful, of summer and all the things I could want and never have. The length of her body was pressed against mine, with her hand resting on my stomach. The steady rise and fall of her chest became my entire world, and in this dream—because it had to be a dream—I felt my own chest matching her breaths.  

Every cell in my body sparked and burned. If I was awake, I’d surely take on my true form. My body was on fire.  

Just a dream, but it felt real.  

I couldn’t resist sliding my leg over hers, burrowing my head between her neck and shoulder, and inhaling deeply. Divine. Perfect. Human. Breathing became more difficult than I’d ever imagined. Lust swirled through me, heady and consuming. I tasted her skin—a slight brush of my lips, a flick of my tongue. She felt perfect underneath me, soft in all the places I was hard. 

Moving over her, against her, I loved the sound she made—a soft, wholly feminine murmur that scorched every piece of me. “You’re perfect for me,” I whispered in my own language.  

She stirred, and I dreamt her responding, wanting me instead of hating me.  

I pressed down, sliding my hand under her shirt. Her skin felt like satin underneath my fingertips. Precious. Prized. If she was mine, I’d cherish every inch of her. And I wanted to. Now. My hand crept up, up, up.  

Kat gasped. 

The dreamy cloud dissipated with the sound I felt all the way through me. Every muscle locked up. Very slowly, I pried my eyes open. Her slender, graceful neck sloped before me. A section of skin was pink from the stubble on my jaw . . .  

The clock on the wall ticked.  

Shit. 

I’d felt her up, in my sleep.  

I lifted my head and stared down at her. Kat watched me, her eyes a smoky, wonderful gray and questioning. Double shit. 

“Good morning,” she said, her voice still rough with sleep. 

Using my arm, I pushed up and even then, knowing that none of it had been a dream, I couldn’t look away from her, didn’t want to. An infinite need was there, in her, in me. Demanding that I kneel to it, and I wanted to—dammit, did I ever want to.  

The only thing that got to me, that cleared the layers of lust and idealistic stupidity out of my head, was the trace shimmering around her. She looked like the brightest star. 

She was in danger. She was a danger to us.  

With one last look, I shot across the room with inhuman speed, slamming the door behind me. Every step away from that room, from that bed, was painful and stiff. Rounding the corner, I almost ran into my sister.  

Dee studied me, eyes narrowed.  

“Shut up,” I muttered, heading past her. 

“I didn’t say anything, jerk-face.” Amusement betrayed her words. 

Once inside my bedroom, I quickly changed into a pair of sweats and slipped on my sneakers. Running into my sister cooled most of me down, but there was a raw edge to my nerves and I needed to be out of this house, away from her. 

Not even bothering to change my shirt, I picked up speed, shooting through the house and out the front door. The moment my sneaks touched the porch, I took off and darted into the woods in a burst of speed. Overhead skies were gray and bleak. Drizzle pelted my face like a thousand tiny needles. I welcomed it, pushing and pushing until I was deep in the woods. Then I shed my human skin, taking my true form as I shot among the trees, moving until I was nothing more than a streak of light.  

This was wrong. Think of Dawson. Look at what happened to him. Did I want to take the same risk? Leave Dee all alone? But even now I could feel her skin, taste it—sweet and sugary like candy. Hear that wonderful sound she made over and over again, haunting every mile I put between us. 

An idea began to form—one that Dee would hate, but I didn’t see any other option. I could go to the DOD and request a move to one of the other communities. We’d be giving up our home, leaving our friends behind and Matthew, but it would be for the best. It was the right thing to do. Dee would be safe. 

It would keep Kat safe.  

Because Dee couldn’t stay away from her and neither could I. But no matter where I went, what I was running from would still be with me—Kat. She wasn’t just back in the house, in that bed. She was with me now, inside me. And there was no outrunning that.  

DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY 

{ Daemon } 

The entire world was crashing down on us. That son of a bitch Blake—I should’ve killed him the moment I first saw him. I should’ve killed him now. Kat had lied to me. Adam was dead. Dee was destroyed. The DOD would be knocking on our doors any damn second, I still had no idea where Dawson was, and the only thing I could think about—cared about—was what Kat was telling me. That she had never felt this way about anyone before. That she couldn’t catch her breath and that she felt alive.  

And she was talking about how she felt about me.  

“But none of this matters,” she continued, “because I know you really hate me now. I understand that. I just wish I could go back and change everything! I—” 

I moved too fast for her to track and clasped her cheeks. “I never hated you.” 

She blinked, and God, I couldn’t stand it if she cried. “But—” 

“I don’t hate you now, Kat.” My gaze locked with her watery one. “I’m mad at you—at myself. I’m so angry, I can taste it. I want to find Blake and rearrange parts of his body. But do you know what I thought about all day yesterday? All night? The one single thought I couldn’t escape, no matter how pissed off I am at you?” 

“No,” she whispered. 

My chest constricted. “That I’m lucky, because the person I can’t get out of my head, the person who means more to me than I can stand, is still alive. She’s still there. And that’s you.” 

A tear trailed down her cheek. “What . . . what does that mean?” 

“I really don’t know.” I chased after the tear with my thumb. “I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring, what a year from now is going to be like. Hell, we may end up killing each other over something stupid next week. It’s a possibility. But all I do know is what I feel for you isn’t going anywhere.” 

She started to cry harder, and it made me weak in the knees. I bent my head, kissing the tears away until that wasn’t enough and I needed a taste of her. I kissed her, growling at the way her lips felt against mine.  

But Kat pulled back. “How can you still want me?” 

I pressed my forehead against hers. “Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I’m insane. You’re crazy. Maybe that’s why. We just make crazy together.” 

“That makes no sense.” 

“It kind of does, to me at least.” I kissed her again. I had to. “It might have to do with the fact you finally admitted you’re deeply and irrevocably in love with me.” 

She let out a weak, shaky laugh. “I so did not admit that.” 

“Not in so many words, but we both know it’s true. And I’m okay with it.” 

“You are?” She closed those beautiful, heather-gray eyes, and all I could think was how grateful I was she was still breathing. 

Man, I was turning into a pansy. 

But I didn’t care. Not when it came to her. 

“It’s the same for you?” she asked. 

My answer was to bring our mouths together again . . . and again. The touch was like tapping into the Source, sending lightning straight to the soul. The kiss deepened until there was no me, no her. It was just us, and it wasn’t enough—could never be enough. 

I was moving without realizing it, and the next thing I knew we were on the bed and she was right where I wanted her—in my lap. And then she was beside me on the bed, and my heart was doing crazy crap in my chest. Such a human thing, but it was happening. 

Kat breathed heavily. “This doesn’t change anything I’ve done. All of this is still my fault.” 

Placing my hand on her stomach, I moved so close I was practically attached to her. And I wanted to be in so many different ways. “It’s not all your fault. It’s all of ours. And we’re in this together. We’ll face whatever is waiting for us together.” 

“Us?” 

I nodded, working on the buttons of her sweater. Some of them were buttoned incorrectly, and I laughed. Only Kat could have trouble putting clothes on correctly and somehow make it sexy. “If there is anything, there is us.” 

Kat lifted her shoulders and helped me get her out of the damn thing. Good. She was on board with where this was heading. “And what does ‘us’ really mean?” 

“You and me.” I moved down, tugging off her boots.  

“No one else.” 

Her cheeks flushed as she pulled off her socks and lay back down. Jesus, she still had on way too many clothes. “I . . . I kind of like the sound of that.” 

“Kind of?” Bull. Shit. I slipped my hand down her stomach, to the hem of her shirt and underneath. I bit down on the inside of my cheek. The minor burn of pain did nothing. I loved the way her skin felt like satin. “Kind of isn’t good enough.” 

“Okay. I do like that.” 

“So do I.” I lowered my head, kissing her slowly. “I bet you love that.” 

Her lips curved into a smile against mine. “I do.” 

There was that damn constriction again, like I’d been punched in the chest, but in a good way. How you could be punched in the chest in a good way was beyond me, but damn, I sort of loved that feeling. 

The sound that came from deep in my throat was more animal than Luxen or human. I kissed her still-damp cheeks as she told me everything Blake had said and done, and I wanted to kill him all over again, but right now, I was with her and Kat was the only thing that mattered.  

In between the kisses that unraveled me and then pieced me back together, I spoke things I never told anyone. How crazy I had felt after hearing Dawson was dead, and the hope I felt learning he had to be alive. I told her how badly I wished my parents were here, how sometimes I hated being the one who had to take care of things, and I admitted how jealous I had been when I saw her around Blake.  

Everything I felt was in every touch and even what I didn’t see was in the way my fingers brushed over the fragile bones of her ribcage. And with every breathy, soft moan that escaped her lips, I was snared in her web a little more.  

My hands shook as they moved up, and I hoped she didn’t notice. I was blown away, shattered by what she allowed me to do. Pieces of our clothing disappeared. My shirt. Hers. Kat’s hand drifted down my stomach, and I clenched my jaw so hard I was sure I was going to be paying a visit to a dentist soon.  

When her fingers found the button on my jeans, I was completely lost to her, but in a way I never, ever expected.  

“You have no idea how badly I want this,” I told her, bringing the tips of my fingers down her chest and over her stomach. So beautiful. “I think I’ve actually dreamed about it. Crazy, huh?” 

She lifted a small hand, running the pads of her fingers down my cheek. I turned into the touch, pressing a kiss against the palm of her hand, and then I found her mouth again. This kiss was different, more intense, and Kat—aw, God—Kat came alive. Hips rocking together, our bodies fitted so tightly there was a good chance I would slip into my true form and knock out the power in the entire state.  

Our explorations grew. Her hands were everywhere, and I urged her with words and touches to go further. Her leg curled around my hips—sweet, baby Jesus—I was nearly undone. 

With my name on her lips and with barely anything separating us, I felt the last of my control slipping. Whitish-red light radiated off of me, bathing Kat in the warm glow. There was nowhere that my hands didn’t explore, and the way her body arched into the slightest touch, I was awed and consumed. Kissing her and drawing her deep inside me, I never wanted this to end. She was perfect to me. She was mine, and I wanted her more than I wanted anything in my life. 

But I stopped. 

Everything that had happened flipped through my head like a photo album I wanted to burn. Both our emotions were all over the place. There had been death, discovery, and so much more. And we were rushing headfirst into not turning back.  

I didn’t want our first time to be like this—to be because of what happened.  

My God, I was a mushy pansy ass, but I stopped.  

Kat stared up at me, running her hands over my stomach and making it really hard to slam on the brakes. “What?” she asked.  

“You . . . you’re not going to believe me.” Hell, I didn’t believe it. In a couple of seconds, I was really going to regret this. “But I want to do this right.” 

She started to smile. “I doubt you could do this wrong.” 

Ha. “Yeah, I’m not talking about that. That I will do perfectly, but I want to . . .” Break out the subscription to the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime Movie Network. “I want us to have what normal couples have.” 

Kat looked like she was going to cry again. I’d probably be crying soon, but for a totally different reason. 

I cupped her cheek, exhaling roughly. “And the last thing I want to do is stop, but I want to take you out—go on a date or something.” I sounded like an idiot. “I don’t want what we’re about to do to be overshadowed by everything else.” 

I think I might have blushed. Damn me.  

Calling on every ounce of self-control I had, I did the unthinkable and lifted off her, easing down on my side. I wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her close. I brushed my lips across her temple. “Okay?” 

Kat tipped her head back, meeting my stare. Her throat worked on her next words. “I think I might love you.” 

Air punched out of my lungs. I held her tight, and I knew right then I would burn down the whole universe for her if I had to. I would do anything to keep her safe. Kill. Heal. Die. Anything. Because she was my everything. 

And I wanted to tell her so, but I didn’t want to tempt the universe. Bad things happened to the people I loved. 

I kissed her cheek. “Told you.” 

Kat stared at me. 

I chuckled, and although it didn’t seem possible, I moved closer. “My bet—I won. I told you that you’d tell me you loved me on New Year’s Day.” 

Looping her arms around my neck, she shook my head. “No. You lost.” 

I frowned. “How do you figure?” 

“Look at the time.” She tipped her chin toward the clock on the wall. “It’s past midnight. It’s January second. You lost.” 

For several moments I stared at the clock, wishing it into a black hole, but then my gaze found hers and I smiled—really smiled. “No. I didn’t lose. I still won.” 

 

Never-before-seen content from OBSIDIAN . . . 

PANCAKES AND PUDDLES 

{ Katy } 

I did my best to ignore Daemon and the fact he was like a stalker/bodyguard as I pulled into the parking lot in front of the post office to pick up the mail. 

Ignoring him didn’t work. 

He’d pulled right up beside me, rolled down the window, and turned those unreal green eyes on me. “What part of going straight to the house did you not understand? I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.” 

We did. 

Yesterday. 

“There might be books in there waiting for me,” I told him. 

He sighed. “There might be Arums hanging around ready to eat you.”w 

“You’re here, so it’s okay.” 

His brilliant gaze settled on mine. “Yeah, but I’m trying to be proactive about this and not reactive.” 

I was just trying to check the mail, so . . .  

He muttered something under his breath and then opened the door, unfolding his long and broad body. “You’re a pain in my ass.” 

Raising my hand, I scratched my cheek with my middle finger. 

He arched a brow. “Nice, Kitten.” 

Smiling sweetly at him, I turned and flounced—yes, flounced—across the parking lot and into the post office. The giant puddle blocking the curb and entrance to the building impeded my grand exit. Walking around it would require more effort than it was worth, so I splashed right there, kicking up water. 

From behind me, Daemon made a noise. “You’re like a two-year-old.” 

Hopping up on the curb, I cast him a glare over my shoulder and then headed into the building. I went straight to my P.O. Box. There was a handful of media mail packages. 

“Yay!” I cuddled them close to my chest. I wanted to tear the packages open and see what waited for me. There was nothing like getting a book in the mail but not knowing which one it was. I was holding a bunch of Christmas mornings in my arms. After closing the little door, I whipped around. 

Daemon waited at the end of the aisle, watching me with that cool green gaze. There was something in the way he studied me that made me overly aware of myself. But his emerald gaze wasn’t so cool this time. It was different. Hot. Intense. I squirmed as my heartbeat kicked up. I thought about the morning after Homecoming, waking up in bed with him and the feel . . .  

I swallowed nervously. 

So not going there. 

I brushed past him, resorting back to the me-ignoring-him tactic. Once we were outside, I also channeled my inner two-year-old and jumped with both feet into the puddle, spraying droplets of water in every direction. 

“Jesus.” He jumped to the side but was too late. The leg of his pants was soaked. 

I shot him a grin as I hurried over to my car, opened up the back door, and started shoving the packages in the backseat. I knew when he’d joined me. He didn’t say anything, which was surprising, because Daemon always had something to say, but I could feel him close. 

He made a deep, throaty sound. “I need pancakes.” 

I stopped piling the packages on the cushion and looked over my shoulder at him. He was leaning against his SUV, his head tipped back. He was looking at me—no, wait. He wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was focused well below the belt. 

Hastily, I shut the door and faced him. “Are you staring at my butt?” 

Daemon didn’t respond, but he slowly, epically slowly, dragged his gaze up to mine. There was an intensity to his scrutiny, like a physical touch. Parts of my body tingled, more so in some areas than others. Especially when his attention lingered in certain areas, like the one just south of my neck. By the time his eyes met mine, I was a different kind of puddle in the parking lot, a simmering puddle. A slow curl of his lips caused the muscles in my stomach to flutter. “I would never do such a thing.” 

I didn’t believe him. Not at all. And I was irritated, because I didn’t like how his look made me feel. I should’ve been offended. Not turned on. Wait. I totally wasn’t turned on. Not at all. He was a jerk. A jerk who lit me up like the Vegas Strip and had felt me up in his sleep. Total jerk. 

Jerk face. 

“Pancakes,” he said again. 

“What is with you and pancakes? Why do you keep saying it?” 

“Do you have pancake mix at home?” he asked. 

“Yeah, I think so.” 

“Good.” His grin spread. “You’re going to make me some pancakes.” 

I stared at him. “I am not making you pancakes. There’s a Waffle House somewhere. You’re welcome to go get yourself some pancakes—” 

Daemon moved forward so quickly that when I blinked he was suddenly in front of me, and I hated when he moved like that. I also hated how breathless I was because he was right in front of me. 

“I know there’s a Waffle House nearby, Kitten. But that’s not what I want.” Raising his hand, he tapped the tip of my nose with one long finger. “I want you to make me pancakes.” 

I jerked back, scowling at him. “I’m not making you pancakes.” 

“You are.” After pivoting around, he strolled over to his car door and climbed in. Before he shut the door, he grinned at me. “You are so making me pancakes.” 

 

Never-before-seen content from ONYX . . .  

SNAP, CRACKLE, POP 

{ Daemon } 

I was waiting for her back in a section of the school library where I doubted anyone in their right mind hung out. There were maps of places virtually unpronounceable tacked to the tiny cubicle wall. The longer I waited, the more I felt like I needed to work on my world history knowledge, because I had no freaking clue there were so many countries in Eastern Europe. 

The odd shiver along the back of my neck announced Kat’s presence before she appeared at the end of the stacks. I grinned when she spotted me and raised her brows. She took her sweet-ass time walking over and when she stepped into the cubicle, I made no attempt at giving her space. 

I’d decided I’d like to be all up in her personal space. “I was wondering if you were ever going to find me.” 

She dropped her backpack against the wall and sat on the desk across from me. “Embarrassed someone would see you and think you’re capable of reading?” 

My lips twitched. “I do have a reputation to maintain.”
 

“And what a lovely reputation that is,” she retorted quickly, and it might make me a freak, but when she mouthed off at me, it turned me on. 

Totally turned me on. 

I stretched out my legs to accommodate that fact. “So what did you want to talk about?” I dropped my voice and was rewarded with a shiver. “In private?” 

“Not what you’re hoping.” 

I smirked. Funny that she thought she knew what I wanted. Cute. 

“Okay.” She gripped the edge of the desk. “How did you know I was sick in the middle of the night?” 

The question caught me off guard, bringing back memories of her pale and out of it, and the feeling of helplessness I didn’t want to think about. “You don’t remember?” 

Her eyes met mine for a moment and then she stared at my lips. My grin went up a notch, and her gaze flew to the map over my shoulder. “No. Not really.” 

Interesting. “Well, it was probably the fever. You were burning up.” 

She was back to staring at me. I liked that. “You touched me?” 

“Yes, I touched you.” And I wanted to touch her again and not for the reasons I was touching her then. “And you weren’t wearing a lot of clothes. And you were soaked . . . in a white T-shirt. Nice look. Very nice.”
 

She flushed prettily. “The lake . . . It wasn’t a dream?” 

I shook my head. 

“Oh my God, so I did go swimming in the lake?” 

Her visible distress over the least important thing that had happened out of everything was sort of adorable. And telling. I moved away from the desk and was so close to her, I could feel her warmth. “You did. Not something I expected to see on a Monday night, but I’m not complaining. I saw a lot.” 

“Shut up.” 

“Don’t be embarrassed.” I tugged on the sleeve of her cardigan, and she smacked my hand away. I grinned. “It’s not like I haven’t seen the upper part before, and I didn’t get a real good look down—” 

Kitten had claws. Couldn’t forget that. She came off the desk with a mean right hook. I was faster than her and jerked back, catching her hand before it connected with my face. Since I had her wrist, I used it to my advantage. I hauled her against my chest, immediately pleased by that, and lowered my head. “Don’t hit, Kitten. It’s not nice.” 

“You’re not nice.” She tried pulling away, but she wasn’t going anywhere. “Let me go.” 

“I’m not sure I can do that. I must protect myself.” I dropped her hand. 

“Oh, really, that’s your reason for—for manhandling me?” 

“Manhandling?” I moved forward until she was pressed against the cubicle desk. “This isn’t manhandling or whatever the hell that is.” 

She didn’t say anything at first, but I knew where her brain had gone, which was right where my brain operated pretty much every time I was with her. Her eyes dilated. Her pulse picked up. Even her lips had parted. 

“Daemon, someone is going to see us.” 

“So?” I carefully picked up her hand. “Not like anyone is going to say a thing to me.” 

She dragged in a deep breath. “So my trace has faded, but this stupid connection hasn’t?” 

“Nope.” 

“What does that mean, then?” 

 “I don’t know.” I didn’t really care at this moment. I slipped my fingers under her sleeve, smoothing the tips over her soft skin. I liked the jolt of electricity. Added bonus of touching her. 

“Why do you keep touching me?” 

“I like to.” 


“Daemon . . .”
She placed her hand against my chest, and satisfaction swelled inside me. 

“But back to the trace. You know what that means.”
 

“That I don’t have to see your face outside of school?” 

Such a mouth. I laughed, and her eyes flared wide. “You’re no longer at risk.” 

“I think the not-seeing-your-face part outweighs the safe part.” 

“Keep telling yourself that.” I brushed my chin along her hair, savoring the feeling as I moved onto her cheek. I could feel her heartbeat revving, crashing in her chest. God, I wanted her. It was wrong, but I wanted her. “If that makes you feel better, but we both know it’s a lie.” 

She tipped her head back, her eyes flashing up at me. “It’s not a lie.” 

“We’re still going to be seeing each other,” I murmured. “And don’t lie. I know that makes you happy. You told me you wanted me.” 

She blinked. “When?” 

“At the lake.” I tilted my head. Our mouths were so close. It would take nothing for me to kiss her, but it would be worth everything. “You said you wanted me.” 

Her other hand landed on my chest. “I had a fever. Lost my mind.” 

“Whatever, Kitten.” I dropped my hands to her soft hips and lifted her back up on the edge of the desk. “I know better. 

“You don’t know anything,” she breathed. 

“Uh huh. You know, I was worried about you.” I eased in between her legs. “You kept calling out my name, and I kept answering, but it was like you couldn’t hear me.” 

She blinked as she lowered her hands down my stomach. I wondered if she even knew she was feeling me up. Or when her hands reached my sides that she tugged me closer, against her. “Wow, I must’ve been really out of it.” 

My eyes met hers and in spite of the heat building at the base of my spine, when I looked down at her, I saw her lifeless and limp in my arms. I tasted that fear again. “It . . . scared me.” 

Surprise flickered across her face, but I didn’t give her time to really think about that. I lowered my mouth to hers and the moment we touched, her fingers dug into my sweater. She could tell me all she wanted that she didn’t desire this. It was a lie. She wanted this as badly as I did, if not more. 

I focused on the seam of her lips with my tongue, teasing her, working her, slowly coaxing her open. And when she did, I wanted to shout, but that would require me lifting my mouth from hers. Her arms looped around my neck and then she was kissing me back just as urgently, just as feverishly. 

And I wanted more. 

My hands slipped under her shirt, spreading along the bare skin of her sides. I hadn’t forgotten what her flesh felt like. I couldn’t get the damn memory of it out of my head. I knew she couldn’t either. This was meant to happen, and I wasn’t surprised when her lower body tipped against mine and she moaned against my mouth, and her response had me wanting to find a much bigger area than this cubicle and more— 

Something snapped around us, popped, and then cracked. The smell of burnt ozone immediately filled the cubicle. 

I pulled away and, breathing heavily, I looked over my shoulder. The old-ass computer was smoking. Heh. Electronics did not fare well around us. I turned back to her, ready to pick up where we’d stopped, but the moment my gaze centered on her, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. 

Her walls were up. She was pissed, looking like a cat that was about to get dumped in bathwater. She pushed—she pushed hard—and surprised, I let go, moving back a step. Something weird unfurled in my chest. A deep twinge of . . . of hurt. Well, now that I knew how that felt, it sucked. Sucked ass. 

“God, I don’t even like this—kissing you,” she said. 

Oh, wait the hell up. Not true. I straightened to my full height. “I beg to differ. And I think this computer tells a different story, too.” 

A nasty little look pinched her features, and for some messed-up reason, it made her cuter. “That—that will never happen again.” 

I arched a brow as I stared at her. Yeah, it would most definitely happen again. Challenge thrown down. Challenge accepted. 

 

 

 

“I shouldn’t be here” 

 

Kat seemed incredibly small and delicate in my arms, her weight so slight I pressed her closer. Oddly, her head fit perfectly against my shoulder. As if she’d placed it there and fallen asleep instead of passing out. 

I couldn’t believe she’d passed out. 

In a twisted way, the whole fainting thing worked. Most likely I wouldn’t have to come up with some whacked out excuse for why it seemed like lightning had shot from my fingertips and scared the bear off.  

Above, dark clouds rolled in. A storm was brewing—a common consequence of too much charged power. Something to do with the electrical fields affecting the weather and blah blah blah.  

Heading back down the trail, I forced my gaze to stay ahead instead of one what I carried, focused on the scenery. Trees—lots of trees and maple shaped leaves, pine needles, a few shrubs…birds hopping from limb to limb, shaking out their feathers. A squirrel shimmed up the trunk of a tree.  

I glanced down.  

Thick lashes fanned paler than normal cheeks. I kind of thought she looked like Snow White. Good God that sounded lame. Snow White? But her lips were parted perfectly, and they were rosy without makeup.  

Thunder cracked and the scent of rain rolled in. Checking to make sure she was still out like a little kitten, I picked up pace and flew down the trail. And even as fast as I moved, the storm was unpredictable. The skies opened up, drenching us, and still, she slept.  

She reminded me of Dawson. An atomic bomb wouldn’t have woken my brother. 

After reaching the porch steps, I slowed down and shook my head, sending droplets of rain flying in every direction. I stopped at the door and frowned. Had she locked it before she left? Dammit, I couldn’t remember. If so, she probably had a key in her pocket but that would mean going into her pocket and getting it. How else would I explain how I unlocked her door? 

My gaze dipped and ran over her legs. Legs unbelievably long for someone so short… and those shorts were short. Tiny pockets, too. 

Yeah, I was not going after that key. 

Well past time to deposit her little butt on the swing and get the hell out of here. 

Sighing, I went over to the swing and started to put her down, but she snuggled closer. I froze, wondering if she was awake. A quick check told me she wasn’t. Again, I went to lay her down, but I stopped this time. What would she think if she woke up here alone?  

Why did I care? 

“Dammit,” I muttered. 

Searching the porch frantically as if it held the answers, I rolled my eyes and sat, placing her beside me. I kept my arm around her, because knowing my luck, she’d slipped out of the swing and crack her head open. Then Dee would kill me.  

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. Why had I come over here today? I’d gotten my keys back and told Dee exactly what I thought about her stupid bonus points. Boredom? If that was the case, I could’ve watched the episodes of Ghost Investigators I had recorded. I hadn’t even considered what I was doing until I was knocking on her door and it was too late to think about it. 

I was an idiot. 

Kat murmured something and wiggled closer, pressing her cheek against my chest. She was molded to the entire right side of my body: thigh to thigh. Her hand curled below my hip and, I started counting backward from a hundred. When I got to seventy, I found myself staring at her—at her lips. 

I really needed to stop staring at her lips. 

Her brow wrinkled, lids flickering as if she was having a dream. Some ridiculous part of me responded to that—to the minute distress pinching her features, tensing her body. My thumb started to move along her lower back, tracing idle circles. Seconds passed, and she settled right down, her breathing deep and steady.  

How long would she sleep? Part of me wasn’t bothered by the prospect of sitting here for hours. There was something calming about holding her, but it was also the exact opposite, because every inch of my body was aware of how she fit to my side, of where her hand was, the rise and fall of her chest.  

This was peaceful and torturous. 

So why not just sit here? 

Sometime later, after what felt like forever and yet not enough time at all, I felt Kat stir awake. It was a slow process that began with her muscles tensing, relaxing, and then tensing again when she realized what… who she was laying on. 

My hand stilled, but I didn’t move it away. Wasn’t like she was going to fall on her face now, but I … I just didn’t, and I wasn’t at all okay with that. I clenched my jaw. 

Kat lifted her head. “What… what happened?” 

Oh, you know, shot a pure bolt of energy and you wilted like a delicate flower at my feet. Then I carried you back like a true gentleman and sat here for God knows how long and just stared at you. 

Yep, so not going there. 

I pulled my arm free. “You passed out.” 

“I did?” She scooted back, brushing a mass of hair out of her face.  

I nodded. “I guess the bear scared you. I had to carry you back.” 

“All the way?” She looked disappointed, which made me curious “What…what happened to the bear?” 

“The storm scared it. Lightning, I think. Are you feeling okay?” 

Lightning lit the porch, startling her.  “The bear was scared of a storm?” 

“I guess so.” 

“We got lucky then.” She glanced down, brows knitting, and when those lashes lifted, I had to force myself to keep breathing normally. There was a quality to those gray eyes—a glimmer that sucked me right in. “It rains here like it does in Florida.”  

I nudged her knee with mine. “I think you may be stuck with me for a few more minutes.” Really, that was a stupid excuse for not leaving. I needed something better—no what I needed was to leave. Get up and leave. But then she spoke again.  

“I’m sure I look like a drowned cat.” 

I’d almost prefer the drowned cat. “You look fine. The wet look works for you.” 

She scowled. “Now I know you’re lying.” 

I was a lot of things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. And apparently, I was also unpredictable, so much so that I had no idea what I was doing until I shifted and wrapped my fingers around her chin, tilting her head toward me.  

 “I wouldn’t lie about what I thought,” I said. 

Kat blinked slowly, and my gaze dropped to her lips again. I really, really needed to stop looking at her lips. Muscles tightened at the thought of tasting them. She’d probably clock me in the face and then lay into me with that razor sharp tongue of hers.  

I leaned forward. “I think I understand now.” 

 “Understand what?” she whispered. 

My unwilling fascination with her—I got it. She didn’t put up with any of my crap, and I liked that… a lot. A pink flush stained her cheeks. I chased that color with my thumb. “I like to watch you blush.”  

She sucked in a tiny breath, and it undid me. Pressing my forehead against hers, I pushed it to the limit. This was insanity, but she smelled of vanilla. Her skin was soft, and her lips looked even softer.  

I was caught up in a web there really was no escaping. A web of Kat… One I damn guarantee she had no idea she weaved. A naïve beauty, and I’d seen a lot in my eighteen years to know that was a rarity. Something to be cherished. 

Lightning struck again, and Kat didn’t jump at the thunder this time. She was focused in a way that pleased me, pulled at my control, and teased me with what I could never have.  Shouldn’t even want, but I wanted… God, did I ever want. And if we continued where we were heading, it would get messy. I already knew what happened when Luxen and humans mixed. I had too much responsibility to be fooling around with her. Too much going on… 

But I still wanted.  

My fingers slipped along the curve of her cheek as my head tilted. I was going to regret this—holy crap was I ever, but I wasn’t stopping. Our lips were only a breath away… 

“Hey guys!” Dee called out. 

I jerked back, sliding in one fluid movement and putting distance between us on the swing while Kat turned a fierce shade of red. I’d been so absorbed in her, I hadn’t heard my sister’s car or notice the storm had passed and the sun was out, shining and all.  

Great. 

Dee came up the steps, her smile fading as her gaze bounced between us and then narrowed. No doubt she was seeing the faint trace around Kat and wondering how the hell that happened. Then she seemed to focus on what she’d just interrupted.  

Her mouth dropped open. 

It wasn’t often that I surprised her… like this. I grinned. “Hey, there, sis. What’s up?” 

“Nothing,” she said. “What are you doing?” 

“Nothing,” I replied, jumping from the swing. I glanced at a silent, dazed looking Kat. Her gray eyes were still hazy and wide. Freaking beautiful. “Just earning bonus points.” 

Kat went ramrod straight, her eyes flashing and hands curling in her lap as my words sunk in. 

Ah, there it was—there was the kitten coming out, claws sharpening. The warm, cuddly creature was gone in an instant. I’d done that. Taken her up and slammed her right back down to earth, to reality. That was all me. 

I wasn’t proud. 

I spun toward the steps, leaving her with my sister, feeling like the biggest tool on the planet.  

 

 

“The last thing I do” 

 

Everything was falling apart and when Dee fell to the ground, her form flickering in and out, I turned away from the Arum. A split second later I realized my mistake.  

Never take your eye off your enemy.  

The blast caught me in the back, sending me through the air, ass over teacup. Pain made it difficult to hold form, and I felt myself slipping back and forth. My thoughts were consumed with my sister… and Kat.  

Kat stood no chance against Baruck.  

I smacked into the ground, stunned as I heard the Arum’s voice. Three for one 

ssspecial. 

Trying to maintain one form, I twisted and my gaze cleared. Kat—I was next to Kat, so close I could touch her. I tried to sit up, but aftershocks forced me down and my muscles spasmed. It was like being hit by a supercharged Taser.  

It’sss over. All of you will die. Baruck advanced. 

I turned toward Kat, saw the tears blurring her eyes. This wasn’t right. She didn’t deserve any of this, and I’d brought it all to her—everything.  

Our eyes locked. I wanted to tell her I was sorry. I was sorry she moved here and met us. Not in the way she’d think—that it was her fault, but that she had no idea what she was stepping into. I wanted to turn back time, stop her from going to the library and erase the spaghetti incident, because without that, we would’ve never talked in the woods that night and she would’ve never walked out in front of that truck. So many mistakes. 

Kat would be safe right now, watching stupid Halloween movies, maybe even in the arms of some guy who would never hurt her or put her in harm’s way. She would be safe. Out of my reach, but safe nonetheless. 

Most of all, I wanted to go back and change the way I acted toward her. Because now, as she shuddered on the damp ground, as death loomed over us all, I was willing to acknowledge I never wanted to push her away. As selfish as it was, I was glad she had moved here. It was too late for us, but I cared for her…more than I should, but I did. 

Too late to tell her how I felt, to touch her, to just hold her, to make up for every terrible thing I’d done and said. It was too late for me.  

But she was going to walk out of here. She was going to live if it was the last thing I did. 

Letting my human form go, I was at my most vulnerable, but I was going to need everything.  I extended an arm toward her and she reached out, her fingers disappearing in my light.  

I focused everything into that touch, sending a jolt of energy into her body, knowing that whatever was in us would do its thing, healing her from the inside out. It would give her a chance to get away. Hopefully Baruck would be more focused on me and Dee.  

A sob rocked her body, and I squeezed her hand. Then I saw her eyes flare with realization. She knew what I was doing, what it meant.  

“No.” Her voice was a hoarse, tired whisper.  

She tried to pull away, but I held on, ignoring the desperate panic in her eyes. I squeezed her hand. 

Suddenly she sat up and grabbed my sister’s arm while she still held my hand. A pulse of light went through me, shining so bright that Burack seemed to disappear.  It arced high in the air, crackling and spitting. It went down into Dee. Her light connected with mine.  

Baruck’s shadow halted. 

The arc of light streamed above and shot down, right into the center of Kat’s chest. A second later she was above us—above me, hovering, her hair flying out around her. Power built between the three of us. As it sparked, Dee and I slipped back into our human forms.  

I pushed to my knees, reaching for Kat. What was she doing…? 

I could feel her pulling the particles out of the air, holding them close to her.  It wasn’t possible, but power coiled inside her, a tremor of the very some power shuddering deep inside me.  

Screaming, she let it go.  

Climbing to my feet, I stared in awe as it smacked into Baruck’s chest. The air pulled tight and snapped. Intense light flared, and I threw my arm up, shielding my eyes. When it receded, Baruck was gone and Kat…  

Oh, God. “Kat?” 

She was on her back and her chest… it barely moved. The scent of death was in the air. I shot to her side, dropping to my knees. She let out a rattling breath and raw panic exploded in my gut.  

All of this… we came this far—I saved her and she took everything I’d given her, and instead of getting the hell out of there, she used it to save us.  

She scarified herself for us.  

I didn’t deserve that. No way did I deserve this from her.  

I pulled her into my arms, and she felt as light as a breath, as if a part of her that made her whole was already gone. “Kat, say something insulting. Come on.” 

Dee stirred and rose to her feet, panic filling her voice. I didn’t take my eyes off Kat. Moving my fingers along her face, wiping away the traces of blood… but there was so much. Under her nose, the corners of her lips, her ears… and even pooling under her eyes. 

“Dee, go back to the house now. Get Adam—he’s out there somewhere.” 

 “I don’t want to leave,” Dee protested, wrapping her arms around her waist.  “She’s bleeding! We have to get her to a hospital.” 

Kat’s eyes fixed on me, but she didn’t move. Horror climbed through my chest, digging in with claws.   

 “Go back to the house now!” I yelled and then forced myself to take it down a notch. Dee couldn’t know what I was about to do again. “Please. Leave us. Go. She’s okay. She…she just needs a minute.” 

I turned my back on Dee, pushing the tangled waves of hair out of Kat’s face. When I was sure Dee was gone, I let out a ragged breath. “Kat, you’re not going to die. Don’t move or do anything. Just relax and trust me. Don’t fight what’s about to happen.” 

There was no sign she’d heard me, but I wasn’t giving up. No way. Lowering my head, I pressed my forehead against hers. My body faded out, and I slipped into my true form. Heat coursed from me into her.  

Hold on. Don’t let go. I knew she couldn’t hear me, but I kept talking as I cradled her head. Just hold on. 

Focusing on her, I felt myself slip inside her. Then I could see it all: bones knitting, cuts healing closed, torn muscles repairing, and blood flowing through her veins fast, but flowing without obstruction.  

I felt something click inside me. For a moment, I felt a strange feeling—a fluttering in my chest, next to my own heart, like ours hearts were one, beating in sync, but then… then something else was happening. There was a tearing inside me, a rendering of my being—splitting into halves.  

Her lips brushed mine. Colors swirled around me—bright reds and whites. I didn’t know where I ended and she began. 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 now. She was alive. We all were alive, and that was all that mattered.  

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

 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 anything 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.  

“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.” 

 

Don’t Go into the Lake 

 

There wasn’t a damn thing on the TV. No Ghost Investigators marathon, or anything. The Internet bores me. Dee was out sucking face with Adam—God, I wished I hadn’t even had that thought, because now I sort of wanted to barf up the pizza I ate—and picking up a book required waaay too much effort. 

And books made me think of Kat and her middle finger.  

She didn’t want me? Yeah, and people in hell didn’t want ice water. God, what a stupid ass saying. People in hell were dead. They didn’t drink water, iced or not.  

Flipping onto my back, I groaned. Night had fallen, so instead of turning on the lamp like a good, normal human, I lifted my hand. White light with a reddish tinge radiated from my open palm and lit up the ceiling. Night lights? Ha. Who needed one? 

My gaze followed a thin crack, starting at one corner of the ceiling and spreading to the middle, webbing out into a million tiny crevices. The foundation of the house was most definitely damaged.  

As was my brain right now. 

I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this restless. Well, that’s a lie. The night and morning before I’d learned that Dawson had died, it was like this. Equally tired and hyper, I was keyed up and too damn lazy to do anything. An itching deep under the skin, a stirring to take on my true form and do… what? 

“Jesus,” I muttered, letting the light fade out around my palm.  

Sitting up, I swung my legs off the bed and stood, stretching out cramped and tight muscles. Sleep so wasn’t happening anytime soon. I could always do some patrols. Yay. 

Man, I was about as exciting as a game of golf. 

A year ago, I would’ve called up Ash. She was always good with easing a serious case of boredom. Or Dawson, and I would have… 

I derailed that train of thought before it could completely form. 

I wouldn’t be calling Ash, and there was no Dawson.  

Leaving the bedroom, I hurried downstairs and out the front door. Brisk November wind slammed into me as I stopped in the driveway.  

Not going to look. Not going to look. Not going to look.  

Twisting around, I looked up at the house beside mine, to the bedroom on the second floor. Lights were off. Wonder what Kat would do if I woke her up and said we had to work off the trace? And I wasn’t thinking about the running kind of workout. Horizontal cardio. Hell, stand up, sit down, on the floor, anywhere anytime kind of cardio. I wasn’t picky.  

Body said yes please, common sense said no.  

Kat would punch me in the face. 

Hmm. Maybe then I could ask her to kiss it and make it better. 

I’d taken a step toward her house before I stopped myself. Kat hadn’t been feeling well earlier. Humans were so ridiculously fragile. They could die tripping over a damn chair leg. Car accidents could kill them. Colds turned into pneumonia and killed people.  

Mental note: pick up Vitamin C before school tomorrow and force it down Kat’s throat. 

Spinning around, I sighed and started toward the lake. From there I could head down toward the colony, make sure everything was kosher, and keep circling until I was ready to collapse. Sounded like a damn good plan. 

Halfway there, that strange tingling whenever Kat was near—and not the fun kind—broke out across the nape of my neck. It couldn’t be her.  

I picked up my pace 

She had no reason to be out in the woods in the middle of the night. It was late and cold and— 

Holy crap. 

As the still waters of the lake came into view, so did Kat.  

My pulse sped into uncharted territories. Was I dreaming? Because she was standing there with her back to me, her bare feet sinking into the loose soil at the edge of the lake, and she was only in loose white shirt. Those legs—God, I really had a thing for her legs—and her long hair blowing in the breeze.  

This was a mirage created to torment me, no doubt. 

“Kat?” 

Slowly, as if it took some great effort for her to move, she turned and I knew this was no dream. Tonight just got a hell of a lot more interesting.  

“What are you doing, Kitten?” I asked. 

She stared at me for so long I started to get a bit worried. “I…I need to cool down.” 

She needed…. Understanding whipped through me. “Don’t you dare go into that lake.” 

Because Kat never, ever listened to me—why start now?—she moved backward. Water lapped at her ankles and then her knees. “Why?” 

“Why?” I took a step forward. “It’s too cold. Kitten, don’t make me come in there and get you.” 

Considering how fast I was and how incredibly slow all humans were, I was a little boggled by how quickly Kat went into the lake. Her head slipped under, and I knew it had to be freezing.  

What in the hell was she doing? Kat could be weird at times. After all, she really thought she could convince herself that she wasn’t obsessed with me, but this? There was no logical explanation.  

Shooting forward, I hit the lake at breakneck speed and sunk down, wincing as icy water swept over my head. I grabbed her around the waist and shot back up, not even touching the water or the ground until I had her safely on her feet.  

So I could strangle her. Hello. Colds. Pneumonia. Death. Jesus.  

“What’s wrong with you?” I demanded, grasping her shoulders and giving her a light shake. “Have you lost your mind?” 

“Don’t.” She pushed at me weakly. “I’m so hot.” 

My gaze drifted all the way down, getting hung up on several areas. I’d seen most of it before, but she was…wow. Like no one else and a whole slew of warm and fuzzy things.  

“Yeah, you’re hot,” I said, ignoring the near primal urge to take her down on the grass and do all kinds of things. “The whole wet white shirt… It’s working, Kitten, but a midnight swim in November? That’s a little daring, don’t you think?” 

Kat stared up at me with eyes that were kind of glassy, and the she wiggled free, heading back toward that lake.  

I caught her before she took two steps and turned her toward me. Okay, I was starting to get worried again. “Kat, you can’t get in the lake. It’s too cold. You’re going to get sick.” I brushed back the hair plastered to her cheeks and felt how hot she really was. “Hell—sicker than you already are. You’re burning up.” 

Blinking once and then twice, she leaned into me, pressing her cheek against my chest. I think she sniffed me before saying,  “I don’t want you.” 

 Yeah, and I would be voted ‘Most Friendly’ in the high school yearbook. “Uh, now is not the time to get into that conversation.” 

Her arms went around me, and my brows shot up. I kind of liked this Kat. “But I do want you,” she said.  

Those words did something outrageous to my chest. I held her tighter. “I know, Kitten. You aren’t fooling anyone. Come on.” 

She let go, her arms hanging limply at her sides. “I…I don’t feel good.” 

“Kat.” I pulled back and grasped her face, holding her head up since it didn’t seem like she could by herself. Unease unfurled in my belly, quickly spreading its icy tendrils into every nook and cranny. “Kat, look at me.” 

A second later, her legs went out from underneath her. Letting out a ripe curse, I caught her, cradling her against my chest. “Kat?” 

Nothing. 

Pressure clamped down on my chest. Her head fell back like it wasn’t connected to any muscle or bone. “Kat!” 

Still nothing, and holy shit, panic exploded and my brain clicked off. Whirling around, I took off, running faster than I ever have. I hit her porch in half a second and by the time I placed her down on the bed, because I thought she’d be more comfortable that way, I called out to Dee.  

Pure terror had its claws in me as I cupped her cheeks. “Kat, open your eyes. Talk to me.” 

Her chest rose in shallow breaths, but she didn’t open her eyes and she didn’t speak. Preparing to slip into my true form to heal her, I stopped at the very last second. Had I done this to her? Made her sick by healing her? We were forbidden to heal humans. No one ever really told us why and this could be the reason.  

Could we kill them? 

“Shit.”  

This couldn’t be happening. I didn’t save her life to be the reason why I lost her all over again. That was too fucking cruel, and I would never— 

Dee appeared in Kat’s doorway, her hair messy and lips way too swollen for me even to go there. She took one look at the bed and was beside us in an instant. “What happened?” 

“I don’t know.” I grabbed for the blanket to cover her, but I didn’t know if that would help or hurt, so I threw it back toward the foot of the bed.  

“Is she wet?” Dee placed her hand on Kat’s forehead and jerked back. “Oh, my God, she’s burning up. What was she doing?” 

“She was by the lake and got in. I got her out, but she passed out.” Hovering over her, I felt absolutely helpless and useless. “Kat, wake up! Come on, girl, wake up.” 

Stricken, Dee clasped her hands together. “What’s wrong with her?” 

“I don’t know what’s wrong with her!” 

Dee paled.  

Closing my eyes, I let out a breath. “I’m sorry. She just… she won’t wake up.” 

“It’s okay. I’m sure she’ll be okay.” Dee placed a hand on my arm. “It’s probably the flu. Humans get really high fevers.” 

“But fevers are bad for humans, right? Brain damage or something like that.” Panic socked me right in the gut again, and I looked down at Kat. Her cheeks were way too flushed. “Come on, Kitten, open your eyes.” 

“Oh God…” Dee whispered. 

Heart pounding, I wanted to put my fists straight through the wall.  

“Daemon! You need to calm down.” 

My sister’s voice drew my attention. Plumes of plaster fell from the ceiling. The damn house was starting to shake.  

Calming down was not easy. I didn’t know what to do—how to make Kat better without unintentionally screwing her up.  

Dee fluttered around the bed like a nervous hummingbird. “I could get something cool—a washcloth. That might help until her mom gets home.” 

“Yeah,” I said, sitting beside Kat. I was vaguely aware of my sister leaving the bedroom and rummaging around in the bathroom. Brushing her damp hair back, I winced at how hot her skin was. How had I not noticed right off the bat that something was wrong? Hell, she was walking around in just a t-shirt. That wasn’t normal.   

Returning with the cool washcloth, Dee tossed it to the floor. “What am I thinking? She’s soaked now and it’s not helping.” 

Kat turned her head slowly, pressing against my palm, and my heart freaking fluttered. My fingers splayed across her too warm cheek. She murmured something too low for me to understand, so I leaned closer. “Kat?” 

Her body shuddered. “Daemon…” 

“I’m here.”  

She shuddered again, turning her head away. Her face pinched, and she called out for me again, and the sound of my name was like being hit by an Arum. These tiny, pitiful sounds escaped her parted lips. 

“We need to get her into something dry. Maybe that will help?” my sister offered. 

She didn’t sound convinced, but I nodded. Moving as fast as lightning, Dee grabbed a dry nightgown out of one of the dressers. It was some kind of sleep jersey, with the number eleven on the back. 

Even though I didn’t want to leave her side, I pushed away from the bed and turned my back, giving Kat privacy as Dee changed her out of the soaked shirt.  

It didn’t help. 

Nothing did, and when she started shivering uncontrollably, I was about to lose my freaking mind. I wrapped her in a blanket, but her body was shaking so hard the bed trembled.  

 I couldn’t take it anymore.  “We need to take her to the hospital.” 

Dee agreed, not that it mattered. One way or another, I was taking her there. Gathering her in my arms, I started down the stairs. I was outside, letting my human skin shed away when my sister stopped me. 

“Daemon, we have to drive there.” 

“Too slow.” 

She grabbed my arm, her eyes meeting mine. “I know you’re worried, but we can’t show up there with no car. There’s no way we can explain that. We need to take the car. I’ll drive.” 

I exhaled harshly.  

“I’ll drive really fast and break every speed limit there is, but we need to do this like normal people would.” 

Dammit, she was right, and I hated that. 

Climbing into the back of Dee’s Jetta, I held Kat close. I didn’t know what to do. So I spoke to her in my native language, then realized she probably couldn’t hear it since it wasn’t something we spoke out loud. 

But the strangest thing happened. 

Kat stilled, and her breathing deepened.  

Gathering her against my chest, I bent over, pressing my forehead to her flushed one and kept talking to her, telling her about this stupid TV show I’d seen the other day, knowing she couldn’t hear me, but it was something and that’s all I had. And after I recapped the show, I closed my eyes and told her in my own language the truth. 

I don’t know how to make you better. I wish I did, but please stay with me. I need you, and I can’t lose you. Not now. Not ever.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do this the right way  

The entire world was crashing down on us. That son of a bitch Blake—I should’ve killed him the moment I first saw him. I should’ve killed him now. Kat had lied to me. Adam was dead. Dee was destroyed. The DOD would be knocking on our doors any damn second, I still had no idea where Dawson was, and the only thing I could think about—cared about—was what Kat was telling me. That she had never felt this way about anyone before. That she couldn’t catch her breath and that she felt alive.  

And she was talking about how she felt about me.  

“But none of this matters,” she continued, “because I know you really hate me now. I understand that. I just wish I could go back and change everything! I—”  

I moved too fast for her to track and clasped her cheeks. “I never hated you.”  

She blinked, and God, I couldn’t stand it if she cried. “But—”  

“I don’t hate you now, Kat.” My gaze locked with her watery one. “I’m mad at you—at myself. I’m so angry, I can taste it. I want to find Blake and rearrange parts of his body. But do you know what I thought  

2  

Jennifer L. Armentrout  

about all day yesterday? All night? The one single thought I couldn’t escape, no matter how pissed off I am at you?”  

“No,” she whispered.  

My chest constricted. “That I’m lucky, because the person I can’t get out of my head, the person who means more to me than I can stand, is still alive. She’s still there. And that’s you.”  

A tear trailed down her cheek. “What…what does that mean?”  

“I really don’t know.” I chased after the tear with my thumb. “I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring, what a year from now is going to be like. Hell, we may end up killing each other over something stupid next week. It’s a possibility. But all I do know is what I feel for you isn’t going anywhere.”  

She started to cry harder, and it made me weak in the knees. I bent my head, kissing the tears away until that wasn’t enough and I needed a taste of her. I kissed her, growling at the way her lips felt against mine.  

But Kat pulled back. “How can you still want me?”  

I pressed my forehead against hers. “Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I’m insane. You’re crazy. Maybe that’s why. Maybe we’re meant to be together.”  

“That makes no sense.”  

“It kind of does, to me at least.” I kissed her again. I had to. “It might have to do with the fact you finally admitted you’re deeply and irrevocably in love with me.”  

She let out a weak, shaky laugh. “I so did not admit that.”  

“Not in so many words, but we both know it’s true. And I’m okay with it.”  

“You are?” She closed those beautiful, heather-gray eyes, and all I could think was how grateful I was she was still breathing.  

Man, I was turning into a pansy.
But I didn’t care. Not when it came to her.
“It’s the same for you?” she asked.
My answer was to bring our mouths together again…and again.  

The touch was like tapping into the Source, sending lightning straight to  

Onyx  

3  

the soul. The kiss deepened until there was no me, no her. It was just us, and it wasn’t enough—could never be enough.  

I was moving without realizing it, and the next thing I knew we were on the bed and she was right where I wanted her—in my lap. And then she was beside me on the bed, and my heart was doing crazy crap in my chest. Such a human thing, but it was happening.  

Kat breathed heavily. “This doesn’t change anything I’ve done. All of this is still my fault.”  

Placing my hand on her stomach, I moved so close I was practically attached to her. And I wanted to be in so many different ways. “It’s not all your fault. It’s all of ours. And we’re in this together. We’ll face whatever is waiting for us together.”  

“Us?”  

I nodded, working on the buttons of her sweater. Some of them were buttoned incorrectly, and I laughed. Only Kat could have trouble putting clothes on correctly and somehow make it sexy. “If there is anything, there is us.”  

Kat lifted her shoulders, and helped me get her out of the damn thing. Good. She was on board with where this was heading. “And what does ‘us’ really mean?”  

“You and me.” I moved down, tugging off her boots.
“No one else.”
Her cheeks flushed as she pulled off her socks and lay back down.  

Jesus, she still had on way too many clothes. “I…I kind of like the sound of that.”  

“Kind of?” Bull. Shit. I slipped my hand down her stomach, to the hem of her shirt and underneath. I bit down on the inside of my cheek. The minor burn of pain did nothing. I loved the way her skin felt like satin.“Kind of isn’t good enough.”  

“Okay. I do like that.”  

“So do I.” I lowered my head, kissing her slowly. “I bet you love that.”  

Her lips curved into a smile against mine. “I do.”  

4  

Jennifer L. Armentrout  

There was that damn constriction again, like I’d been punched in the chest, but in a good way. How you could be punched in a chest in a good way was beyond me, but damn, I sort of loved that feeling.  

The sound that came from deep in my throat was more animal than Luxen or human. I kissed her still damp cheeks as she told me everything Blake had said and done, and I wanted to kill him all over again, but right now, I was with her and Kat was the only thing that mattered.  

In between the kisses that unraveled me and then pieced me back together, I spoke things I never told anyone. How crazy I had felt after hearing Dawson was dead, and the hope I felt learning he had to be alive. I told her how badly I wished my parents were here, how sometimes I hated being the one who had to take care of things, and I admitted how jealous I had been when I saw her around Blake.  

Everything I felt was in every touch and even what I didn’t see was in the way my fingers brushed over the fragile bones of her ribcage. And with every breathy, soft moan that escaped her lips, I was snared in her web a little more.  

My hands shook as they moved up, and I hoped she didn’t notice. I was blown away, shattered by what she allowed me to do. Pieces of our clothing disappeared. My shirt. Hers. Kat’s hand drifted down my stomach, and I clenched my jaw so hard I was sure I was going to be paying a visit to a dentist soon.  

When her fingers found the button on my jeans, I was completely lost to her, but in a way I never, ever expected.  

“You have no idea how badly I want this,” I told her, bringing the tips of my fingers down her chest and over her stomach. So beautiful. “I think I’ve actually dreamed about it. Crazy, huh?”  

She lifted a small hand, running the pads of her fingers down my cheek. I turned into the touch, pressing a kiss against the palm of her hand, and then I found her mouth again. This kiss was different, more intense, and Kat—aw, God—Kat came alive. Hips rocking together, our bodies fitted so tightly there was a good chance I would slip into my  

Onyx  

5  

true form and knock out the power in the entire state.
Our explorations grew. Her hands were everywhere, and I urged  

her with words and touches to go further. Her leg curled around my hips—sweet, baby Jesus—I was nearly undone.  

With my name on her lips and with barely anything separating us, I felt the last of my control slipping. Whitish-red light radiated off of me, bathing Kat in the warm glow. There was nowhere that my hands didn’t explore, and the way her body arched into the slightest touch, I was awed and consumed. Kissing her and drawing her deep inside me, I never wanted this to end. She was perfect to me. She was mine, and I wanted her more than I wanted anything in my life.  

But I stopped.  

Everything that had happened flipped through my head like a photo album I wanted to burn. Both our emotions were all over the place. There had been death, discovery, and so much more. And we were rushing headfirst into not turning back.  

I didn’t want our first time to be like this—to be because of what happened.  

My God, I was a mushy pansy ass, but I stopped.  

Kat stared up at me, running her hands over my stomach and making it really hard to slam on the brakes. “What?” she asked.  

“You…you’re not going to believe me.” Hell, I didn’t believe it. In a couple of seconds, I was really going to regret this. “But I want to do this right.”  

She started to smile. “I doubt you could do this wrong.”  

Ha. “Yeah, I’m not talking about that. That I will do perfectly, but I want to…” Break out the subscription to the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime Movie Network. “I want us to have what normal couples have.”  

Kat looked like she was going to cry again. I’d probably be crying soon, but for a totally different reason.  

I cupped her cheek, exhaling roughly. “And the last thing I want to do is stop, but I want to take you out—go on a date or something.”  

6  

Jennifer L. Armentrout  

I sounded like an idiot. “I don’t want what we’re about to do to be overshadowed by everything else.”  

I think I might have blushed. Damn me.  

Calling on every ounce of self-control I had, I did the unthinkable and lifted off her, easing down on my side. I wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her close. I brushed my lips across her temple. “Okay?”  

Kat tipped her head back, meeting my stare. Her throat worked on her next words. “I think I might love you.”  

Air punched out of my lungs. I held her tight, and I knew right then I would burn down the whole universe for her if I had to. I would do anything to keep her safe. Kill. Heal. Die. Anything. Because she was my everything.  

And I wanted to tell her so, but I didn’t want to tempt the universe. Bad things happened to the people I loved.  

I kissed her cheek.“Told you.”
Kat stared at me.
I chuckled, and although it didn’t seem possible, I moved closer.  

“My bet—I won. I told you that you’d tell me you love me on New Year’s Day.”  

Looping her arms around my neck, she shook my head. “No. You lost.”  

I frowned.“How do you figure?”  

“Look at the time.” She tipped her chin toward the clock on the wall. “It’s past midnight. It’s January second. You lost.”  

For several moments I stared at the clock, wishing it into a black hole, but then my gaze found hers and I smiled—really smiled. “No. I didn’t lose. I still won.”  

 

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