Oblivion (Lux 1.5)

How in the world could someone have so many books?

I heard her moving around upstairs. I turned off the light and returned to the foyer. A few seconds later, she started down the stairs, carrying a small tote bag. “I’m ready.”

Kat locked up, and then we headed toward my house. On the way, she kept peeking in my direction. I could tell she had more questions. Who wouldn’t after finding out they were living next door to aliens? But I figured she had to have a breaking point, and I really didn’t want to be the one to push her over the edge. That was one reason I didn’t want her talking to Dee.

But I also needed to make sure we were on the same page, that Kat realized what she’d just stepped in and the consequences of knowing what she did.

When we reached the front door, I stopped and faced her. There was no light on, and we stood in the dark. “There’s something I just need to make sure of, okay?”

She held the tote close to her body. “All right?”

I lowered my voice just in case Dee was hovering inside the door. She was somewhere in the house. I could feel her. “What I’ve told you? What you know? I can’t stress enough how much of a big deal this is. This goes beyond a normal level of trust. It’s my life—our lives—you’re holding in your hands,” I told her. “I don’t expect you to care too much about tossing me under a speeding bus, but you’d also be tossing Dee under it.”

Kat stepped closer, so close, her tote bag brushed against my stomach. “I do get that, Daemon. Honestly? What you said earlier was true. No one would believe me. They’d think I was crazy, but I would never do anything to betray Dee.” She paused, exhaling softly as she tipped her chin up. “And even though you’re a giant douchebag, I wouldn’t do that to you, either.”

My lips twitched. “Well, that’s good to hear.”

“I’m serious,” she insisted. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”

Some of the icy unease faded off, but the thing was, only time would tell if Kat could seriously be trusted. I hoped so. Not just for Dee’s sake or mine, but for her own.

I led her into the house and took her upstairs. She was looking around, her gaze bouncing off everything, and I realized this was the first time she’d been in our house. I figured Dee was in her bedroom, and I half expected her to jump out at any movement.

I walked Katy to a guest bedroom almost never used and opened the door. Flipping on the light, I stepped into the stale, cold air of the room. “You can stay in here.” I walked toward the bed. It was made. “There’re extra blankets in the closet there.”

Kat turned slowly, eyeing the closet.

“There’s a bathroom right across from this room. My bedroom is next door,” I explained as I rubbed my palm over my chest. “Dee’s bedroom is down the hall. Just let…let it all go for tonight. She’ll still be here in the morning.”

She nodded.

My gaze flickered to hers. Dark smudges of exhaustion had formed under her eyes. I suspected she’d be out cold the moment her head hit that pillow. “Do you need anything else?”

“No.”

I stood there for a moment, feeling like there was something else I needed to say, but I couldn’t grasp on to any words, so I nodded and then turned toward the door.

“Daemon?”

Stopping, I twisted around.

She was nibbling on her lower lip. “Thank you for saving my life tonight. I would be a pancake if you hadn’t.”

I didn’t respond to that, because there was really wasn’t a reason for her to thank me.

“And…” She stepped forward, lowering the tote. “And thank you for telling me the truth. You can trust me with it.”

My lashes lifted and I met her earnest stare. I wanted to believe her. “Prove it.”

It wasn’t lost on me as I left the room, closing the door behind me, that I had parroted Ash’s words. Heading down the hall, I stopped at Dee’s door and gently rapped my knuckles on it.

The door flew open, and my sister was standing there, eyes shining. “Does she hate me?” she whispered.

“What?” I frowned, stepping inside and closing the door. “God. No. She doesn’t hate you.”

Dee folded her hands together. “Are you sure? I’ve been lying to her, and how can she like me when all I’ve done—”

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I drew her in for a hug. “She understands why you couldn’t be honest, Dee. She doesn’t hate you for it.”

She face-planted in my chest, and when she spoke, her voice was muffled. “You told her?”

“Yeah.” I lowered my cheek to the top of her head and quickly told her what had happened with the truck. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Dee was quiet for a moment. “Yeah. Yeah, you did, Daemon.”

I knew what she was referencing, and I hated that Dee believed if it had come down to it, that I would do that.

“I also think it’s nice you brought her over here,” she continued.

No response to that.

“She thinks I’m a freak, doesn’t she?” she muttered.

I laughed as I pulled back. “No. She doesn’t.”

She didn’t look like she believed me. “Kat’s tired. She’s barely standing on her feet. Give her till tomorrow and then you can jump all over her, okay?”

Dee relented, and after chatting with her for a few moments, I headed back to my bedroom. Burned the hell out, I changed into a pair of sleep pants and was about the throw myself on the bed but was dying of thirst.