The hum of conversation and the scent of mystery were heavy as I walked through the open double doors. I scanned the tables, spying the Thompsons near the back. My gaze collided with Ash’s. Her eyes narrowed, and I looked to my right, immediately spotting Kat. Her back was to me, but the rigidness in her shoulders told me she knew I was there. My sister sat across from Kat, two plates in front of Dee. Nothing in front of Kat.
Cutting around the line still picking up food, I walked up and dropped down in the empty seat next to her. Without saying a word, I handed over the smoothie, well aware that everyone at the table was eyeballing us.
Kat’s eyes widened a bit, but like I expected, she didn’t refuse the smoothie. She took it from me, her fingers brushing mine. A shock of electricity jumped from her hand to my skin. She moved her hand away and took a sip.
Peeking up at me through thick, dark lashes, she said, “Thank you.”
I smiled at her.
“Where’re ours?” Lesa quipped.
Looking across the table, I laughed. “I’m only at the service of one person in particular.”
Kat scooted her chair over, away from me. “You are not servicing me in any way.”
I moved my chair closer to hers. “Not yet.”
Lesa watched, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
“Oh, come on, Daemon. I’m right here.” Dee frowned at me. “You’re about to make me lose my appetite.”
“Like that will ever happen.” Lesa rolled her eyes, and that was so true.
I pulled my sub out and then the little bag. Fishing out an oatmeal cookie, I handed it to Dee. Her face lit up like I’d handed her a diamond. She pulled a Gollum, snatching it from my hand and holding it close.
“Don’t we have plans to make?” Carissa asked softly.
“Yep.” Dee grinned at Lesa. “Big plans.”
Kat lifted a hand, wiping it across her forehead. “What plans?”
“Dee and I were talking in English about throwing a party,” Carissa explained, and I swear, that was the most I’d ever heard her speak. “Something—”
“Huge,” Lesa said.
“Small.” Carissa’s eyes narrowed at her friend. “Just something with a few people.”
Excitement poured off Dee. “Our parents are going to be out of town that Friday, so it works out perfectly.”
Kat glanced at me, and I winked while wondering exactly when this said party was going to happen.
“That’s so cool that your parents are letting you have a party at your house,” Carissa said.
That caught my attention.
“Mine would stroke out if I even suggested something like that,” she continued.
Dee shrugged one shoulder as she avoided my gaze. “Our parents are pretty cool.”
Yeah, as in “our parents are long since dead.” Taking a huge bite out of my sub, I decided to see where Dee was going with this conversation. So far our house was going to be the party spot. Interesting. It took quite a bit of effort to not ask Dee, right in front of everyone, why she thought this was a grand idea.
Kat was quiet as Dee and their friends discussed this party that was apparently taking place on a Friday a few weeks from now. I was doubtful that it was going to remain small.
“You okay with all of this?” Kat whispered to me.
Honestly? Hell no. But whatever. I shrugged. “Not like I can stop her.”
She eyed me as disbelief crept into her features, and I didn’t blame her for that. A handful of months ago, I would’ve shut down this conversation in a nanosecond. Why I wasn’t doing it now I wasn’t sure. Actually I was.
By then, the trace would be off Kat, and she’d have no reason to put up with me being attached to her hip. Having a party meant Kat would be in my house. I liked that.
I pulled out a cookie full of chocolate chips. “Cookie?”
She glanced at my hand, and the tip of her pink tongue sneaked out, wetting her lower lip. “Sure.”
Partly because I wanted to get a rise out of Kat, I lifted the cookie higher. Admittedly more controlled by the other half of me that was ridiculously affected by everything she did, I leaned toward her. “Come and get it.” I placed half the cookie in my mouth, leaving the other half there for her taking.
Delicate brown brows furrowed together as she stared at me, but the confusion quickly gave way to understanding. Her lips parted as a fire swept across her cheeks. I arched a brow, waiting for her—daring her.
Dee choked. “I think I’m going to hurl.”
She made no move to take the cookie, but she didn’t punch me in the stomach, so I considered this a win…of some sort. I took the cookie. “Time’s up, Kitten.”
Kat still stared at me.
Highly amused with myself, I broke the cookie in half and handed over the large piece. Kat snatched it with slim fingers. All but shoving the cookie in her mouth, her brows were pinched and eyes a stormy gray. A laugh rushed its way up my throat, cutting off when I caught my sister gawking at me.
I shot her a bland look.
She returned said look with her widened eyes.
Popping the piece of cookie in my mouth, I glanced over at Kat. She was fiddling with the chain around her neck, the one connected to the piece of obsidian I’d given her. Amusement evaporated at the very blunt reminder that a very real danger still existed as long as Kat was still traced.
I needed to get it off her.
Now.