“I have an idea,” Adam said. Everyone looked at him. “The light around her is a by-product of us using our power, right? And our power is concentrated energy. And we get weaker when we use our powers and use more energy.”
Matthew’s gaze sparked with interest. “I think I’m following you.”
“I’m not,” Kat muttered, and my lips twitched.
“Our powers fade the more we use them, the more energy we exert.” Adam turned to me. “It should work the same with our traces, because the trace is just residual energy we are leaving on someone. We get her to exert her own energy; it should fade what’s around her. Maybe not completely, but get it down to levels that aren’t going to draw every Arum on Earth to us.”
Matthew nodded. “It should work.”
I rubbed at my chest. “And how are we going to get her to exert energy?”
Andrew grinned from across the room. “We could take her out to a field and chase her around in our cars. That sounds fun.”
Kat dropped her feet onto the floor. “Oh, fuc—”
My laugh cut her off, earning me a dark look from one very pissed-off little kitten. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Funny, but not a good idea. Humans are fragile.”
“How about I shove my fragile foot up your ass,” she retorted, and that made me grin…up until when she pushed me clear off the arm of the chair. “I’m getting a drink. Let me know when you guys come up with anything that won’t potentially kill me in the process.”
I watched her hurry out of the room, smiling faintly. Man, she was not a happy camper right now. Couldn’t blame her. Refocusing on the room, my gaze collided with Ash’s. Aaand there was another person who did not appear to be feeling warm and fuzzy.
“This could work,” Dee said, smoothing her hands over her legs. “We just get her to exert energy, and that’s not that hard. Running will do it. Jumping jacks. Jogging in place. Sit-ups—”
“Sex,” Andrew supplied.
Everyone looked at him. The last thing I needed to think about was the words “sex” and “Kat” in the same sentence.
“What?” He chuckled. “I’m not suggesting anyone have sex with her—”
“Dear God,” Matthew muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“But you all were listing things that burn energy, and sex will do that.”
Dee was staring at the carpet. Adam looked oddly embarrassed, and Ash pushed to her feet and started to walk. “That’s disgusting for a list of reasons that have nothing to do with her being a human.” She stopped beside me and stared with an icy glare. “You can do better than that.”
“She could do better than us,” I replied without even thinking, and damn, it was the truth.
Shock splashed across Ash’s face, and then she started past me, heading toward the kitchen. I caught her arm and met her stare. “Don’t do anything that’s going to make me unhappy.”
“Everything makes you unhappy,” she spat back.
“I mean it, Ash.” I ignored her comment. “If I have to come in there and break you two up, I’m not going to like it.”
Her lips curled. “What do you think I am? Geez.” She pulled her free. “I’m not going to hurt her. I just want something to drink.”
Part of me felt like I should follow Ash, but Matthew was already eyeballing me like I was seconds away from making babies with a human, which wasn’t even something I was sure could happen. There weren’t any screams or shouts of rage coming from the kitchen, but I kept one ear out for just that as the conversation continued around me.
This had actually gone better than I thought it would, almost too easy. Unease sprouted like a noxious weed and it continued to grow, making me restless. I stood and walked over to the window. Pulling the curtain back, I peered outside even though I wasn’t sure what I was looking for.
Matthew announced that he would speak to the DOD and the colony. The destruction that had been caused to the road last night would’ve already been discovered, and the DOD would be monitoring the display of energy already. Luxen against Luxen throw-down. That’s what we were going with. While the DOD didn’t know exactly what we could do, the full extent of our powers, they did know we had greater strength than humans. It was probably likely they’d buy that two of us could have wreaked that havoc. Maybe. If we were very, very lucky they would.
Kat returned to the room, a bottle of water in her hand. Our gazes met and then held for a brief moment. She looked away quickly, sitting on the edge of the recliner. She was pale as she sucked her lower lip in between her teeth, and when Ash reappeared with nothing in her hands, I could only guess what she had said to Kat in the kitchen.
“Can we talk for a moment?” Matthew asked in a low voice.
I nodded and then glanced over at Dee. She smiled, obviously getting the message I didn’t need to say. She would keep an eye on Kat for me. Matthew and I stepped outside. “What’s up?” I asked even though I already knew where this conversation was heading.