My jaw tightened. “If an Arum tracks you to your house, we’re right next door. It’s virtually the same. Plus Dee is with Matthew and Adam right now. Andrew is there, too.”
“But it’s not,” she reasoned quietly. “If he—if it—comes after me, then at least you—”
“I want you in my house,” I cut in, ignoring her logic. “Okay?”
Kat stared at me for a long moment and then nodded. She climbed out, and I followed her into her house. Once the foyer light flipped on, I realized she was missing a shoe and her knees were a scratched, dirty mess. All of her was. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but she limped ahead, pulling herself upstairs.
My eyes drifted shut as my hand tightened around the leather binding on the obsidian. My shoulders sagged with fatigue.
When I had talked to Matthew, he asked if Kat had seen what had gone down. There was no way I could lie or hide the truth. I’d answered with a yes.
“We’re going to have to talk about this later,” he’d replied.
And I knew later was going to come real quick.
Opening my eyes, I saw Kat appear at the top of the steps, carrying a tote. She was still dressed in her ruined gown, my jacket swallowing her. Exhaustion clung to her every step, and she walked as if she was ready to sit down and take a nap.
Kat had saved my life.
No matter what Matthew or the Thompsons ended up thinking or saying, I was going to have her back. She had mine.
I met her halfway, taking the tote from her, and then after she locked up, we headed over to my house.
“I told my mom I was staying with Dee,” she said, clearing her throat. “I called when I was upstairs.”
“Cool.” I opened the front door, and a rush of cold air greeted us. Kat shivered. “Sorry. We keep it pretty cold at night.”
“I remembered,” she murmured, glancing at the stairs leading to the second floor. The skin across her cheekbones was drawn and pale. “It’s okay.”
Once we were in the guest room, Kat groaned as she peered into the tote. “I’m such an idiot. I brought regular clothes with me. Nothing to sleep in. I’m going to have to go back over.”
“I’ll find you something. Just give me a second.” I went to Dee’s room and grabbed a pair of bottoms and an old shirt, knowing she wouldn’t mind. When I returned, Kat had shrugged off my jacket and laid it across the dresser. She held the front of the dress together as I placed the borrowed clothes on the bed.
Again, I wanted to say something to her, but nothing of any value came to mind. Kat gathered up the clothes and shuffled into the bathroom in the hallway. I went into my room, took a shower in the bathroom attached, and then quickly changed into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. I checked my phone, scrolling through the texts from Dee and then Andrew, who had heard about what happened via Adam. Dee was coming back home, as soon as they found Ash. Matthew would make sure of it.
I found myself back in the hallway, near the bathroom. The water was turned off, and as I stood there, I thought I heard her laugh. It wasn’t a happy laugh. Concern ratcheted up.
“Are you okay in there?” I said to the closed door.
There was a pause and then, “Yeah.”
I hesitated and then wheeled around, walking into the guest bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed. Kat could probably use some space right now, but I… Shit. I reached up, rubbing the center of my chest, where the Arum had got me. I didn’t want her to be alone right now.
I didn’t want to be alone right now.
A few minutes passed and Kat walked in, and I lifted my gaze. Her hair was damp, darkening the shoulders of the gray shirt I’d found. Shadows had formed under her eyes, and she was still too pale, but she was so…so not plain. Not average. Not like anyone I’d ever known. Realizing that was like taking a direct hit from an Arum. I didn’t know what to do with it.
Kat stopped a few feet from the bed. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, lowering my hand, sort of shocked that she was asking about my well-being. “Whenever we use our powers like that, it’s like…losing a part of ourselves. It takes a bit to recharge. I’ll be fine.” I paused. “I’m sorry you had to go through any of this. I didn’t say thank you. You should’ve run, Kat. They would’ve…killed you without thinking twice. But you saved my life. Thank you.”
Her mouth opened and then closed as she rubbed her arms. It seemed to take her a moment to respond. “Will you stay with me tonight?” She then added in a rush, “I’m not coming on to you. You don’t have to, but—”