The Brightest Night Read online

  “I know you will.” I squeezed his hand. “But I also need to keep myself safe. And we need to keep others safe.”

  He didn’t respond to that, so I pressed on. “And we really don’t know if that’s the only thing that will trigger it. You told Eaton you would help me get it under control.”

  “I did.”

  “So, let’s get started. Now.” Excitement filled me, and yeah, considering what I was getting excited over, it was a little weird, but trying to get this thing in me under control was better than sitting around, doing nothing but stressing over it while everyone else also worried about whether or not I’d go all Thanos on them.

  It was doing something.

  Eaton had basically insinuated that a war was brewing, and it didn’t matter if I wanted to be a part of it or not. I was already knee deep in the whole thing, and if I was something they thought they could use to take over the world, then why couldn’t I be used to fight back? To help those here, who weren’t just trying to scrape by but also building a resistance?

  I wasn’t Evelyn Dasher anymore.

  Shock rippled through me as I stood on an unknown street, in a neighborhood that shouldn’t exist.

  I wasn’t the same girl who’d walked into Foretoken with Heidi, who would rather run than face an uncomfortable truth. I wasn’t even the same version of Evie who’d faced down an Origin, or even the girl who had been slowly coming to terms with who she was and who she was falling in love with.

  Ever since I’d met Luc, I had been in a constant state of evolution, and it hadn’t ended when I realized I was very capable of snuffing out life to protect someone I loved, nor had it ceased when I watched the life and light seep out of the only mother I knew.

  I was now someone who didn’t tuck tail and run even if I initially wanted to, who wanted to fight back instead of push back.

  Luc’s features tightened for a brief moment before smoothing out. “What we need to do right now is get some food in you before you start eating people.” He dropped a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Those who live here wouldn’t appreciate that, either.”

  I arched a brow at that, but when he tugged on my hand, I started walking, because he had a point. I did need to eat. We made it to the intersection before I said, “Luc?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re going to help me, right?” I asked as we crossed the street.

  Luc had rather amusingly guided us to the crosswalk. “I will even if I don’t want to.”

  “Why wouldn’t you want to?”

  Luc stopped, facing me. “Because I have a feeling to get what’s in you to show up and play, I’m going to have to do what I know will kill a part of me.”

  Trepidation tiptoed its way down my spine. “What would that be?”

  His eyes were like brilliant shards of broken purple sapphires. “I’ll have to make you see me as a threat.”

  3

  Luc’s words sank like a stone in my stomach, quieting me as we walked toward the house. What he’d said made sense. Luc was one of the most dangerous and powerful beings to walk Earth. Whatever was inside me had sensed that and gone after him, but while Luc was a threat to everyone else, he wasn’t to me. Never me. I had no idea how he’d make me view him as such.

  And I had no idea how he could deal with doing that.

  “Maybe we should have someone else work with me,” I suggested after a few moments. “Like Grayson?” The surliest Luxen known to man would be beside himself with glee at the opportunity. “He’d be thrilled to scare me or tick me off. He’d think of it as a reward.”

  “Do you really think I’d allow anyone else to do what’s going to need to be done?” he asked.

  My lips pursed.

  “I’m fully aware of the fact I have a vicious protective streak when it comes to you.” Luc squeezed my hand. “The moment he goes at you, I’d have to kill him.”

  Sliding him a long look, I tightened my grip on his hand. “Or you could, maybe, understand that he wouldn’t really be trying to hurt me and therefore not kill him?”

  “I’d try and fail, Peaches. The same would go for Zoe or anyone else who meant you harm, even if I knew they truly didn’t want to hurt you.” He shrugged like what he’d said was no big deal. “Like I said, it’s a flaw of mine. At least I’m aware of that.”

  “Yeah.” I drew the word out. “At least you’re aware.”

  One side of his lips kicked. “Awareness saves lives.”

  Having no idea what to say to that, I tried to come up with some other way. Grayson only seemed to have barely begun to tolerate me after learning I was Nadia, and by tolerate, I meant he was only about 20 percent less of a jerk to me. But I didn’t want to see him die.

  I also didn’t want Luc to do something that would hurt him.

  We continued on in silence, and after only a handful of steps, a prickly shiver coursed its way down my spine, pulling me from my thoughts. Scoping out the quiet street, I couldn’t shake the sudden awareness of being watched.

  I felt eyes on me, on us. Dozens of them, and it wasn’t paranoia induced by the nearly identical single-story homes with quiet porches and empty driveways. Even the trees lining the streets appeared to be free of birds, and the silence, the emptiness was creepy.

  I knew beyond a doubt that even though the decades-old cars I’d seen that morning were now gone—cars made before electric ignitions and internal computer systems—some of those homes were occupied.

  People were watching us.

  As we made our way onto the street of the house we were staying in, the feeling heightened. I zeroed in on the faded brick home with a canopied carport. The breeze caught the fabric, lifting to briefly reveal outdoor wicker couches and chairs. A water bottle sat on a low table, next to an impressive, towering stack of books. The whole setup looked so normal, like something I’d see at home back in Columbia, Maryland.

  The normalcy of it all sent another pang through my chest, and I could almost picture Zoe, Heidi, and James sitting on those brilliant, bright blue cushions, munching on junk food while pretending to study.

  The image was part memory, part fantasy, because we didn’t have a carport and Columbia wasn’t home anymore. I didn’t know if the four of us would ever be together again.

  Steps slowing, my gaze flicked to the porch. Curtains blocked the sun, so I couldn’t see anything beyond that, but I stopped.

  I stopped the same moment Luc had, feeling a weird sensation along the back of my neck, as if fingers had grazed the skin there. Lifting my hand, I slipped my fingers under my hair and rubbed at the skin.

  The heavy curtains parted, and either Daemon or Dawson appeared on the porch. The dark-haired, emerald-green-eyed Luxen were identical, but as he descended the short set of steps, I knew it was Daemon. His hair was a little shorter than his brother’s, face and body a fraction broader. That wasn’t enough to truly tell them apart, but I’d always been able to after a few moments.

  Which was weird.

  My stomach grumbled again, and I dropped my hand from my neck to my stomach, rubbing it as if that would somehow help.

  “You have been waiting all morning for me to walk by.” Luc gave a slow grin. “Haven’t you?”

  Daemon strode down the flagstone sidewalk. “I’ve just missed you that much.”

  “Not surprised.”

  The Luxen nodded in my direction, and I gave him an awkward half wave, knowing full well that he wasn’t currently a fan of mine. “How was your meeting with Eaton?” Daemon asked of Luc.

  “Enlightening,” was the response, and I almost laughed. Only Luc could sum up what we learned this morning in one word. “He dropped some pretty big news on us. Wondering if you’ve known all along.”

  My chest squeezed. I hadn’t thought of that until now. What if Daemon knew about Dasher and hadn’t given us a heads-up?

  Oh, things were about to get ugly if that was the case.

  “I’m going to need a little more detail before I can answer t
hat.” Daemon folded his arms.

  Luc glanced at me, and I could read the question in his eyes. I even fancied that I could hear him saying, It’s up to her. If Daemon didn’t know about Dasher, Luc was giving me the choice of letting the rabid cat out of the bag.

  There really wasn’t a choice to be made. Daemon needed to know who we were dealing with.

  “Eaton told us who’s running the Poseidon Project, and guess who’s pretty much in control of the Daedalus now.” Tucking the hair the wind had tossed across my face back with my free hand, I braced myself for whatever reaction Daemon might have. “It’s Jason Dasher.”

  Daemon went so still he could’ve been mistaken for a statue, but then he blinked and looked to Luc.

  “Yeah, I thought he was dead, too,” Luc answered, his hand a warm weight around mine. “Sylvia healed him after I left.”

  “How could you not know he was alive?” Daemon rang with disbelief as the pupils of his eyes turned white. “You seem to know everything else, even the stupid crap, but somehow, something as big as this, you had no idea?”

  Irritation pricked at my skin like a swarm of fire ants, and I responded before Luc had a chance. “He had no idea, because they had their thoughts shielded while he was with them and my mo—” I started to correct myself, but the woman was my mother. “My mom had to have buried the truth so deep that Luc couldn’t get to it. From what Eaton told us, she and Jason would’ve been extremely skilled at blocking their thoughts since they’d helped create the Origins, but you probably already know that little factoid, and I sincerely doubt you think Luc would keep something like that from everyone.”

  Dragging his teeth over his lower lip, Luc dipped his chin. He looked like he was trying not to smile or laugh, and I didn’t know what he’d found so funny.

  “What?” I demanded, staring at him.

  “Nothing.” His lips twitched as he glanced at Daemon. “She told you, didn’t she?”

  “Yeah.” Amusement flickered across Daemon’s striking features. “She did.”

  “Sorry,” I lied. “I didn’t like your tone.”

  “I apologize for said tone.” Daemon bowed his head ever so slightly. “I’m just a little shocked. If I’d known he was alive, I would’ve hunted that bastard down.”

  Knowing what I did about Daemon’s and Kat’s time within the Daedalus, I didn’t for one second think that was an empty threat.

  “Why did Eaton keep that to himself?” The light behind Daemon’s pupils began to fade. “Why wouldn’t he tell us?”

  That was something neither of us could answer.

  A breeze carrying the scent of apples caught my hair again, whipping it around my face as Daemon looked over his shoulder, back to the house. “I don’t want Kat to know,” he said, focusing on us once more. “Not until after she has the baby. She doesn’t need any extra stress right now.”

  “Agreed.” Luc’s gaze landed on the house. “She looks like she’s about to give birth any second now.”

  “She’s past due. Vivien said that’s normal, but…” Daemon’s shoulders tightened, and I assumed Vivien might’ve been one of the few doctors that were here. Concern bled into the air. “But if she goes too long, we’re going to have to induce, and we don’t have the best setup for that.”

  My stomach sank. “Do you have that medication that will do that?”

  Daemon’s stunning emerald gaze moved to mine. “We do biweekly runs for goods and supplies. We’ve scavenged all that can be from Houston, but luckily for us, lots of meds were left behind. The problem is many of them require certain administrative mechanisms that require a pretty steady flow of electricity, and we have to be careful on how often we power things up here.”

  That made sense. They wouldn’t want to end up drawing attention.

  “We need an easy-as-possible birth,” Daemon added, unfolding his arms and thrusting a hand through his hair. “Viv is prepared for complications, just in case, but…”

  What he wouldn’t say lingered around us.

  Women died in functional hospitals giving birth. Technology and medical advancement could only get you so far.

  “Kat is a hybrid, and she has you.” Luc’s hand slipped from mine as he stepped toward Daemon, placing a hand on Daemon’s shoulder. They were the same height, and it was hard to imagine a time when Daemon would’ve towered over Luc. “She has her family. She has me. We won’t let things go south. Kat will be fine, and so will your baby.”

  Daemon clasped Luc on the shoulder. “You’re her family, Luc. Don’t separate yourself from that statement.”

  Hearing Daemon say that made me feel even worse for almost straight up killing him in the woods, because Luc needed to know that he was a part of a family, one that included Zoe, Emery, and probably even Luc. He needed to remember that even though he kept a wall up between him and almost everyone, there were those willing to chip away at that barrier.

  “Then I’m thinking you and Kat have a little Luc or Lucy on the way?” Luc’s reply would’ve been oh-so smooth if it weren’t for the slight thickening in his voice.

  The lines of Daemon’s features softened as he let out a raspy chuckle. “We have two names picked out, and I hate to break it to you, but Luc isn’t one of them. Neither is Lucy.”

  Grinning, Luc stepped back. “I don’t know if I can forgive that.”

  A faint smile appeared, hinting at those deep dimples that must be breathtaking when he really let go and smiled. Daemon was beautiful. No doubt about that, but he didn’t send my pulse skittering the way Luc did.

  But within a heartbeat, the small grin Daemon had been rocking was gone. “You got time for that much-needed talk?”

  Warning bells went ring-a-ding-ding as I clearly recalled Daemon referencing this “much-needed” conversation more than a time or three hundred since he learned what I was.

  Since I was surely going to be the topic, I thought I should take part in said conversation, but before I could say anything, my stomach rumbled loudly.

  I really hoped Daemon hadn’t heard that.

  “Don’t really have time right now.” Luc’s gaze flipped from the cloudless sky to Daemon. “Evie’s hungry. Sounds like her stomach is eating itself. I have a feeling if it doesn’t get something that is considered red meat in her, she may start eating small animals and children.”

  Slowly, I turned my head and looked at him, lifting my brows.

  Luc shrugged. “Just being honest.”

  “Pretty sure you could’ve described my hunger any other way than that,” I told him.

  “I don’t know. It was impressively descriptive.” Daemon grinned. “Look, feed your girl, and then come see me. This conversation can’t be delayed forever.”

  “There’s no point in hiding from it,” Luc replied. “It’s as inevitable as you getting on my nerves.”

  “If I had feelings, you might’ve hurt them.”

  “If I cared, that would concern me, but since I don’t, you fill in the blanks.”

  Daemon chuckled even though I was watching both of them with wide eyes. Sometimes I wondered how these two hadn’t seriously maimed each other yet. They had the weirdest friendship.

  As Daemon and Luc went another round attempting to out-snark each other, I turned slightly, toward the city. We were on higher ground, which afforded a better view of what remained of Houston. I was struck again by how the city deserved to be captured before decay brought the buildings down. Swallowing a sigh, I started to turn back to Luc and Daemon.

  Something snagged my attention. Unsure of what I saw at first, I squinted. I didn’t know what it was, but as I scanned the landscape, sweeping over the skyscrapers on the outskirts of the city, I saw it.

  A flash of light, easily mistaken for the glare of the sun off one of the windows high up in the sky, but it flashed three times in short bursts before a longer pause and then two more.

  The sun didn’t do that.

  What the—

  Out of the corner of my
vision, I saw another burst of light coming from across the street, kitty-corner to the other building. Light flashed in a steady rhythm from a window lower down.

  “Luc, look!”

  He turned from Daemon as soon as I called his name, but he was focused on me. “Not at me,” I told him, glancing back. “Those two buildings.”

  Luc did as I asked. “What?”

  Doing the same, Daemon stepped forward. “What are we looking at?”

  “You guys don’t see the…” I trailed off, gaze darting from one building to the next. The flashing lights were gone.

  “What am I supposed to be seeing?” Luc asked.

  “I saw…” I waited to see if the lights would appear, but they didn’t. “I saw lights flashing in the windows of those two buildings.” I pointed them out to them.

  “I don’t see anything like that.” Luc’s brows furrowed. “Just the glare of the sun off the windows.”

  “That wasn’t a glare. It was a steady flash in both windows at different times, almost like—” I cut myself off before I said, Almost like the lights were communicating with each other, because that sounded weird.

  “Maybe the sunlight was catching something on the ground and it was bouncing off the windows. There’s a lot of debris left in the city, along with abandoned cars,” Daemon suggested. “And it’s windy, so God only knows what’s blowing around down there, but no one’s there. Not even scavenger teams. There’s nothing left of any value.”

  Luc nodded. “That or aliens. It’s always that or aliens.”

  Daemon snorted as I rolled my eyes, but no matter how long I stared at the buildings, no flashing light appeared, and neither did a weird reflective glare. Daemon and Luc had to be right. It was the glare of the sun or a trick of the eye.

  Because what else could be responsible in a city abandoned and dead?

  * * *

  Luc did end up “feeding his girl” with the most amazing charbroiled hamburger from ground meat provided, interestingly enough, from Daemon. He cooked it out on the little firepit that sat in the backyard someone had put a lot of effort into. Pansies that almost matched Luc’s eyes flowed in abundance along the wooden privacy fence. Orangey-red marigolds bloomed in raised flower beds. Pale pink snapdragons blossomed along the flagstone pathway. There were other flowers, some red and some yellow that I didn’t recognize, but it was beautiful, and I wished I knew how to tend to flowers.