Somehow, she made the whole glowing thing sound like I was covered in boils instead of light. I glared at her openly.
“She was with me last night when the Arum attacked,” Daemon responded calmly. “You know that. Things got a little…explosive. There was no way I could cover what happened.”
Mr. Garrison ran a hand through his brown hair. “Daemon, of all people, I expected you to know better, to be more careful.”
“What the hell was I supposed to do exactly? Knock her out before the Arum attacked?”
Ash arched a brow. The look on her face said it wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Katy has known about us since the beginning of school,” Daemon said. “And trust me when I say I did everything possible to keep her from knowing.”
One of the Thompson boys sucked in a sharp breath. “She’s known this entire time? How could you allow this, Daemon? All of our lives have been in the hands of some human?”
Dee rolled her eyes. “Obviously she hasn’t said a word, Andrew. Chill out.”
“Chill out?” Andrew’s scowl matched Ash’s perfectly. And now I knew which one was Andrew, I could tell them apart. Andrew had an earring in the left ear. Adam, who was quiet, did not. “She’s a stupid—”
“Be careful with what you say next.” Daemon’s voice was low but carried. “Because what you don’t know and what you can’t possibly understand will get a bolt of light in your face.”
My eyes widened, as did pretty much everyone’s in the room. Ash swallowed thickly and turned her cheek, letting her blonde hair cover her face.
“Daemon,” Mr. Garrison said, stepping forward. “Threatening one of your own for her? I didn’t expect this from you.”
His shoulders stiffened. “It’s not like that.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m not going to tell anyone about you guys. I know the risks to you and to me if I did. You all don’t have anything to worry about.”
“And who are you for us to trust?” Mr. Garrison asked, his eyes narrowed on me. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you’re a great girl. You’re smart and you seem to have your head on straight, but this is life or death for us. Our freedom. Trusting a human is not something we can afford.”
“She saved my life last night,” Daemon said.
Andrew laughed. “Oh, come on, Daemon. The Arum must’ve knocked you around. There is no way a human could’ve saved any of our lives.”
“What is it with you?” I snapped, unable to stop myself. “You act like we’re incapable of doing anything. Sure, you guys are whatever, but that doesn’t mean we’re single-celled organisms.”
A choked laugh came from Adam.
“She did save my life.” Daemon stood, drawing everyone’s attention. “There were three Arum that attacked, the brethren of one I killed. I was able to destroy one, but the two overpowered me. They had me down and had already begun reaching for my powers. I was a goner.”
“Daemon,” Dee said, paling. “You didn’t tell us any of this.”
Mr. Garrison still looked doubtful. “I don’t see how she could’ve helped. She’s a human. The Arum are powerful, amoral, and vicious. How can one girl stand against them?”
“I’d given her the obsidian blade I carry and told her to run.”
“You gave her the blade when you could’ve used it?” Ash sounded stunned. “Why?” Her eyes darted to me. “You don’t even like her.”
“That may be the case, but I wasn’t going to let her die because I don’t like her.”
I flinched. Dayum. An ache started in my chest, like a burning coal, even though I didn’t care.
“But you could’ve been hurt,” Ash protested. Fear thickened her voice. “You could’ve been killed because you gave your best defense to her.”
Daemon sighed, sitting back down on the arm of the recliner. “I have other ways to defend myself. She did not. She didn’t run like I told her. Instead she came back and she killed the Arum who was about to end me.” Reluctant pride shone in my bio teacher’s eyes. “That is…admirable.”
I rolled my eyes, starting to get a headache.
“It was a hell of a lot more than admirable,” Dee interjected, staring at me. “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 twin 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 Mr. Garrison. “This is unbelievable.”
Mr. Garrison shook his head. “After Labor Day weekend, you told me that something occurred but you took care of it.”
“What happened?” Ash asked, obvious this was the first she’d heard of anything. “You’re talking about the first time she was glowing?”
I was like a glowworm, apparently.
“What happened?” asked Adam, sounding curious.
“I walked out in front of a truck.” I waited for the inevitable “duh” look, which I got.
Ash stared at Daemon, her blue eyes growing to the size of saucers. “You stopped the truck?”