Reluctant pride shone in Matthew’s eyes. “That is…admirable.”
“It was a hell of a lot more than admirable,” Dee interjected, turning a wide stare on Kat. “She didn’t have to do that. That has to account for more than being admirable.”
“It’s courageous,” Adam said quietly, staring at the throw rug. “It is what any of us would’ve done.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that she knows about us,” Andrew shot back, casting his triplet a scornful look. “And we are forbidden from telling any human.”
“We didn’t tell her,” Dee said, stirring restlessly. “It kind of happened.”
“Oh, like it happened last time.” Andrew rolled his eyes as he turned to Matthew. “This is unbelievable.”
Matthew shook his head. “After Labor Day weekend, you told me that something occurred but you took care of it.”
“What happened?” Ash demanded. “You’re talking about the first time she was glowing?”
“I walked out in front of a truck,” Kat muttered.
Ash stared at me, her blue eyes growing to the size of saucers. “You stopped the truck?”
I nodded.
The anger washed away from her face as she blinked rapidly. “Obviously that couldn’t be explained away. She’s known since then?”
“She didn’t freak out,” Dee said. “She listened to us, understood why it’s important, and that’s it. Until last night, what we are hasn’t even been an issue.”
“But you lied to me—both of you.” Matthew leaned against the wall, between the TV and overflowing bookcase. “How am I to trust you now?”
Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw Kat lift two fingers to her temple.
“Look, I understand the risk. More than any of you in the room.” I rubbed the heel of my palm where my chest still ached from where the Arum had gotten me. “But what is done is done. We need to move forward.”
“As in contacting the DOD?” Andrew asked. “I’m sure they’d know what to do with her.”
My voice was low and calm, but that was not how I felt. “I’d like to see you try that, Andrew. Really I would, because even after last night, and I’m not yet fully charged, I could still kick your ass.”
Matthew cleared his throat. “Daemon, threats aren’t necessary.”
“Aren’t they?” I challenged.
A heavy silence fell in the room, broken only when Matthew spoke again. “I don’t think this is wise. Not with what…with what happened before, but I’m not going to turn you over.” He looked at Kat, sighing heavily. “Not unless you give me reason to. And maybe you won’t. I don’t know. Humans are such…fickle creatures. What we are, what we can do, has to be protected at all costs. I think you understand that. You’re safe, but we aren’t.”
Andrew cursed under his breath and Ash looked ready to throw something, but it was Matthew’s call. He was like our very own Elder. All of us knew that. A bit of relief eased the tension in my muscles. At least I wasn’t going to have to fight those I’d grown up with and considered family.
“You said there was one Arum left?” Adam asked, shifting the conversation. “What’s the plan? He knows there are Luxen here obviously. He’s going to come back.”
“He won’t wait. They’re not known for being patient.” Matthew moved over to the couch and sat down next to Dee. “I could contact the other Luxen, but I’m not sure if that would be smart. Where we may be more confident in her, they won’t be.”
“And there’s the problem that she’s a megawatt lightbulb right now,” Ash added, her upper lip curling. “It doesn’t even matter if we don’t say anything. The moment she goes anywhere in town, they are going to know that something big happened again.”
“Well, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about that,” Kat replied.
“Any suggestions?” I asked. “Because the sooner she’s not carrying a trace, the better all of this is going to be.”
“Who cares?” Andrew rolled his eyes. “We have the Arum issue to worry about. He’s gonna see her no matter where we put her. All of us, right now, are in danger. Any of us near her are in danger. We can’t wait around. We have to find the last Arum.”
Dee shook her head. “If we can get the trace off her, then that will buy us time to find him. Getting rid of the trace should be the first priority.”
“I say we drive her out to the middle of nowhere and leave her ass there,” Andrew muttered.
“Thanks.” Kat rubbed at her temples with her fingers. “You’re so very helpful with all of this.”
He smiled back at her. “Hey, just offering my suggestions.”
“Shut up, Andrew,” I said.
Andrew’s eyes rolled once more.
“Once we get the trace off her, she’d be safe,” Dee insisted as she tucked her hair back, face pinched. “The Arum don’t mess with humans, really.”