Oblivion (Lux, #1.5)

“He’s not bad,” she said, shifting her gaze to the people on the track. “He’s kind of nice, and he asked me.”


Kind of nice? “You’re going with him because he asked you?”

Her gaze sharpened as it returned to mine. She nodded as she fiddled with the keys. “Are you going to the dance?”

I hadn’t been planning on it. Shifting my stance caused my leg to brush her thigh. “Does it matter?”

Her lips pursed. “Not really.”

“You shouldn’t go with someone just because he asked you.”

She glanced down at her keys, and I had the feeling she wanted to stab me with them. “I don’t see why this has anything to do with you.”

“You’re my sister’s friend, and therefore it has something to do with me.” My reasoning was total bunk.

And Kat knew that, because she gaped at me. “That is the worst logic I have ever heard.” Whipping around, she headed toward the driver’s door, stopping in front of the hood. “Shouldn’t you be more concerned with what Ash is doing?”

“Ash and I aren’t together.”

Shaking her head, she started walking again. “Save your breath, Daemon. I’m not backing out because you have a problem with it.”

Did she always have to be so damn stubborn? I cursed under my breath as I trailed after her.

“I don’t want to see you get into any kind of trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” She yanked open the car door.

Catching the door, I arched a brow. “Knowing you, I can’t even begin to imagine how much trouble you’d get in.”

She glared up at me. “Oh yeah, because Simon’s going to leave a trace on me that attracts killer cows instead of killer aliens. Let go of my car door.”

“You are so frustrating,” I snapped. Although there were some cows around these parts that could probably take her out. “He has a reputation, Kat. I want you to be careful.”

For a moment, she stared at me, and I thought she got what I was saying. “Nothing is going to happen, Daemon. I can take care of myself.”

I was wrong. “Fine.”

What happened next could only happen to someone like Kat. I let go off the door at the same exact second she was yanking it back. “Kat—”

The door caught her fingers, and her yelp of pain was like being doused with cold water. Bright red blood appeared on her pointer finger, and the rest were a deep red. “Christ!” she squeaked. “That hurt.”

My hand was wrapped around her palm before I even realized what I was doing. Heat flashed from my hand to hers, and she inhaled softly.

“Daemon?” she whispered.

The redness faded from her bruised fingers. I lifted my gaze to hers. Our eyes locked. Her pupils were dilated in shock, and what I was doing sank in—what I had done.

I had healed her.

Dropping her hand, I gave a little shake of my head. “Shit…”

“Did you…is there another trace on me?” she asked as she wiped the blood off her finger, revealing completely healed skin. “Holy crap.”

I couldn’t believe what I’d done.

Kat hadn’t been seriously injured. Just a scratch and some sore fingers. She would’ve been fine. I swallowed as I scanned her. A barely-there white glow surrounded her. It wouldn’t be that noticeable, probably not even to others. “It’s faint. I don’t think it will be a problem. I can barely see it, but you might—”

“No! It’s faint. No one will see it. I’m fine. No more babysitting.” Her eyes widened as she drew in a shallow breath. “I can take care of myself.”

Denials formed on the tip of my tongue, but she…she was right. Kat was a hundred percent right. I straightened, stepping back from the car. “You’re right. Obviously you can, as long as it doesn’t involve car doors. You’ve lasted longer than any human that’s known about us.”

Kat opened her mouth, but I turned around, stalking back toward the middle of the parking lot. Anger boiled inside me, but not at her. The first time I’m around her alone for a handful of minutes, I ended up healing a very minor injury like a freaking idiot.

Apparently I needed to work on my self-control.

Glancing over to the right, I laughed drily when I spotted Simon on the field. He was carrying his helmet as he jogged toward the center, where a group was huddled together.

My eyes narrowed as I lifted my finger on my right hand.

The helmet flew out of his hand, knocking into his shoulder pads. Caught off guard, he stumbled to the side and then went down on one leg, staring at the fallen helmet like it was a pit viper. The guys in the huddle laughed. My lips twisted into a wry grin.

Yeah, I really needed to work on my self-control.



Slapping the mayo on the piece of bread, I hummed under my breath, as loudly as I could to drown out the conversation from the kitchen. It wasn’t working.

“He’s going to think you’re the hottest chick there,” Dee said, her voice pitched obnoxiously loud.

I glanced up at the ceiling, exhaling loudly through my nose.

“Um, that’s good.” Kat cleared her throat. “I guess.”