The Burning Shadow (Origin 2)

“Okay.”

Kent leaned over, his brown eyes wide. “We all float down here.”

“You’re Pennywise!”

“Kind of.” He rocked back, lowering his eyebrows as he pointed at the teardrops under his eyes. “I’m emo Pennywise.”

“Emo Pennywise?” I laughed as I looked him over. “I see it now. I like it. Are you as psychotic as the normal Pennywise?”

“I like to think I’m the version of Pennywise who still eats children but then feels bad about it afterward. Not just because I imagine children would give you indigestion but because eating children would make me feel like a glutton and I have a gluten intolerance. I feel like kids would be full of gluten,” he explained while Luc blinked slowly. “And it would be tiresome, you know, having to lure kids into sewers to nom nom on them. I imagine when I wasn’t eating children, I’d mope around, bemoaning how hard my life was and how everyone misunderstood me.”

I stared at him. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

“I have.”

“To a scary level, Kent.”

That grin grew and dimples appeared. “I know.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you so much,” Luc chimed in. “You’re the perfect kind of weird.”

“That I am.” Kent smiled happily, which was a weird look with the tears and all. “Where’s Grayson?”

“Probably out on the streets, stealing candy from kids,” remarked Luc, and I snorted.

I could actually picture Grayson doing just that.

Pulling my legs up, I circled my arms around them as I watched the people dancing, and nervous, antsy energy built inside me. As I watched the bodies moving in tune to the music, the urge to get out there and move my body along with them crept over me. The restlessness from earlier returned with a vengeance. There was a desire to let the music seep into my skin and muscles, to throw my head back and let the rhythm guide the way my body moved. I’d had that desire before, and now I thought I knew why.

It was something I used to do as Nadia, so why couldn’t I do it now?

“Oh, there he is,” Kent murmured, and I looked up, following his gaze.

It was Grayson.

The tall, blond Luxen dropped into the chair opposite Kent as he pulled out a Blow Pop. He also wasn’t dressed up. I doubted he’d ever celebrated Halloween. Probably hated Halloween and Christmas and Valentine’s Day and every holiday there ever was. He paused, unwrapping his Blow Pop as he looked over at us. “What?”

“You’re so pretty,” Kent said with a grin.

Grayson arched an eyebrow at him. “Everyone looks like they’re having an amazing time.” His tone could’ve dried out the Everglades. “So glad I came down here.”

“You didn’t have to,” Luc pointed out.

“And not bless you all with my presence?” Grayson smirked. “I would never be so selfish.”

I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut. Grayson wasn’t a fan of mine. I had no idea why. I’d never done anything to him. At first, I’d thought it was because I was human, but he had no problem with Kent.

My gaze drifted back to the dance floor, and once again, I could feel the tension tightening my muscles. I could do it. Go out there, find the girls, and dance. I could.

I didn’t budge.

But Luc did.

Pulling his arm off the back of the couch, he rose, offering his hand. “Come on.”

Dammit.

He’d read my thoughts.

I didn’t move as I shot him a look. There was no way in this lifetime I was going to let him drag me out onto that dance floor.

Luc wiggled his fingers. “Trust me.”

I froze.

Luc had never asked me to do that. Once I had asked if he expected me to trust him, and he’d responded that he’d never asked that of me.

And now he was?

That was kind of a big deal.

Truth was, I did trust Luc. Not when I first met him, but I knew now that he wasn’t going to make me do something I didn’t want to or wasn’t ready for. Aware of Grayson and Kent watching, I unfurled my legs and placed my hand in his.

Luc tugged me off the couch. “You all know where to find me if you need me,” he said as he led me around the glass table. “Just make sure it’s important.”

“In other words, someone had better be dying.” Kent grinned, and I shook my head. “Got it, boss.”

Luc didn’t lead me to the dance floor, thank God. He guided me around the floor and back down the hall, toward the entrance marked EMPLOYEES. Most of the letters were scratched out, leaving only the word PLOY behind. We didn’t speak as we went up to his apartment, not until we were inside, the door closed behind us. One of the lights near the couch flipped on, casting buttery yellow light.