House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)

I’d done enough science classes to know that humans were perfectly designed for Earth. We had evolved and developed as a species to suit this world, and we had very specific requirements to stay alive. Most other planets we’d discovered would not support our biology. I’d never heard of Overworld, of course, so no doubt it wasn’t in our solar system. But the same principle applied.

Lexen grumbled down at me, his previously prickly personality returning in full swing. “Clearly we’re compatible species. We’re here on your world, aren’t we?”

Way to not so subtly call me a moron. “Yes, but you all keep telling me how special you are. I assumed my inferior human genetics were going to hold me back.” I sarcastically drawled the last part so he knew I really thought his species were a bunch of dickbags.

His chest swelled as he stopped suddenly. I slammed right into him, because I was just barely managing to run and breathe at the same time. Dude was built like a rock wall. Huge hands wrapped around my biceps and I was lifted up slightly off the ground as he dragged me closer, his voice dropping ominously low. “Listen up, human. You’re going to have to get with the picture, and fast. There is no time for you to freak out, or need a period of adjustment. Suck it up, deal with it, and maybe all of us will get out of this mess alive. Do you understand?”

“Lex!” Star’s shocked voice washed over us. “What are you doing? You’re hurting her.”

It was possible it looked like that from her angle, but despite the steel-like strength I could feel in his hands he wasn’t hurting me – unless you counted the way my heart was racing, and that dull ache low in my traitorous body. I was attracted to Lexen. I couldn’t deny it any longer. But it was all chemical, because he was not good for me in so many ways, no matter how compatible our species were.

Lexen’s dark eyes bored into mine and he released me. I swallowed hard, turning as Star wrapped her arms around me. Looked like I was pretty much cured of my aversion to touch, since I let these four Darkens handle me in whatever way they saw fit.

“Are you okay?” Her beautiful face was creased in concern, her gaze sliding down my arms.

I shook my head. “I’m fine. Thanks for looking out. Lexen didn’t hurt me, though.”

I found my eyes locked on his for a brief moment. His expression was unreadable, but the look felt different. Heated somehow.

Jero and Marsil sprinted up then, distracting us. “What happened?” Marsil asked, his gentle voice still taking me by surprise. His nature was so soft, and yet he was built like a linebacker. The contrast was odd, but … I liked it.

Lexen straightened fully as he went into some sort of command mode: “Father wants us home for this council meeting. It’s called for all four houses. We will be gathering at the white field.”

I expected the boys to salute at the end, but they just nodded their heads. “We should head there now.” Jero already had his phone out, typing into it. When he was done, he seemed to notice I was still standing in his sister’s half-hug.

“Hey there, pretty girl! What are you doing here?”

I snorted. “Apparently I’m coming home with you four to … Overworld.” My calm from before was starting to disappear under the reality of how freaking weird this was. What would happen once I was on their world? I’d be stuck there. What if the Darkens forgot about me and I couldn’t get home?

While I was having my internal existential crisis, the others turned toward Lexen and he gave a single nod. “Council’s orders. She’s going to be under Darken protection. We’re to remain at her side at all times.”

I was shaking my head, mind made up. “I’m not going with you,” I decided. “It’s too risky. I don’t even know anything about you!” My voice rose at the end, and when students turned to see what was happening, Lexen stepped in close, dropping his head closer to mine.

“You don’t have a choice.” His voice was low, and soothing somehow. “If you don’t come with us now, the council will send someone for you. And they’ll be far less interested in your cooperation.”

I backed up a little, fear rattling through me. I had grown complacent … fell into the trap of trusting beings who were not of this world, allowed myself to think for a brief moment that they were friends, that there was a bond between us. But what did I really know about them? They were … aliens.

Jero nudged his brother out of the way. “Lex, man, you’re scaring her.” He held a hand out to me, not demanding, just palm open. “Listen up, sweetheart. Lexen is not lying. If the council wants something, they get it. No matter what. We want you with us because we want to protect you. Our family has some influence in Overworld. You don’t need to worry about your safety.”

“I … I could get trapped on your world. I can’t take the risk.”

Most of me knew it was stupid trying to fight this. There was no way for me to hide from their council. I was a teenager with no money and missing guardians. If the council always got their own way, then it was going to happen. But I still had to protest. That was all the control left to me.

“Sara and Michael,” I choked out. “What happens to them if I don’t go with you?”

Lexen wore a blank expression again, except for those fiery eyes. “Reading between the lines of Father’s message, the council believes your guardians are being held in Overworld. If we want their help to find them, we need to cooperate.”

Damn, if they were on Overworld I was going to be there too. “How do I know you’re not lying?” I finally said, no longer backing away.

Marsil shot me his gentle grin; it put me at ease. “You’re just going to have to trust that we are on your side.”

Trusting was hard for me, but it seemed I really didn’t have a choice. In all honesty, my gut instincts since first meeting these four had been to trust them. It was a weirdness I couldn’t explain, but my gut was usually pretty good with those things, so I would go with it for now.

And hope it didn’t bite me on the ass.

Star, who had been quietly watching, letting her brothers talk me off the ledge, stepped in then and linked our arms together. “If I could stay here with you, I would,” she said, sincerity dripping from each word.

“You want to stay?” Marsil sounded surprised.

“I only just got here…” She stamped her foot. “Literally just got here and already I have to go home. It took me almost a year to get Father to agree. A year!”

Her voice wobbled slightly. I squeezed her hand.

Marsil patted his sister’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we won’t let the overlord keep you there. When this council meeting is done, we will all be coming back to our own little slice of Earth.”

“Don’t make any promises,” Lexen growled. “I think this little experiment has failed. It was one thing when it was voluntary, but the moment they started to force compliance, everything fell apart.”

No one said anything more, and I tried to ignore the small stab of pain I felt at his need to get away from Earth and … us humans. Whatever. I shouldn’t be surprised, Lexen had never made it a secret. There was a lot of background story I didn’t know, and a part of me was excited to be going to Overworld. Terrified, of course. But excited at the same time. An emotion I was more than a little happy to feel again. When my parents died, a part of me died also, the part that cared about the world going on around me. But … this felt different. For once I was not apathetic. I wanted to know everything. Hopefully I would get all of the answers soon.

Our first stop before leaving Starslight was a set of lockers near the entrance. Huge and shiny, they were at least twice the size and depth of mine. When Lexen pressed his thumb to the scanner, I realized it was his. I had no idea what they needed lockers for; they never carried books or bags.

“Dump your stuff in here. You won’t need it.”

Oh, right. The locker was for me. I thought briefly of grabbing my wallet, but no doubt the student identification and Daelight Crescent card were not going to be useful on Overworld, so I didn’t bother to take anything.

“We have everything you need in our territory,” Star told me. “Don’t worry about a thing.”