The Burning Shadow (Origin 2)

“And I’ll put my hand through her chest,” Zoe said, smirking. “Not that we’re engaging, but if I happen to get close enough and I accidentally kill her, then oops.”

“You guys don’t even know what April is,” I argued. “April is not a Luxen, an Arum, a hybrid, an Origin, or a magical unicorn. She’s something even Luc hasn’t seen before.”

“Really?” Grayson slid a long look in Luc’s direction. “That would be a first.”

One side of Luc’s lips kicked up. “There is a first time for everyone.”

My hands balled into fists. Nothing about this was remotely funny. “The RAC drones never hit on April,” I reminded all of them. “God only knows what she is, and you’re going to go looking for her. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“If we don’t try to find her, then who?” Grayson challenged. “Do we call the police? We don’t know if their weapons will stop her.”

“But you guys can?” I demanded.

Grayson lifted his brows. “Do you doubt our extreme awesomeness?”

I stared at him a moment and then shook my head. “I’m not suggesting calling the police. I’m not an idiot.”

“That’s good to know,” Grayson replied blandly. “I was beginning to worry.”

Whatever tedious hold I had on my self-control snapped. “That is my friend who almost died in there, and that is my friend,” I said, pointing to Zoe, “who will be risking her life. So, if you don’t have anything of value to add, how about you shut the hell up?”

Zoe had her lower lip sucked between her teeth. I knew that look. She was doing everything not to burst into laughter.

“Well, now that we got that out of the way, I think it’s time for everyone to hit the road,” Luc announced.

Lead filled my stomach as I twisted toward Zoe. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t.”

“Neither will I,” added Grayson with a sigh. “But you don’t care.”

“Nope,” I remarked, hating that I couldn’t do anything. I may have a tiny bit of alien DNA in me, but it did nothing to make me useful in these situations … unless there was a random fire alarm to pull.

Snapping forward, I hugged Zoe, squeezing her tight enough that there was a good chance I’d crack her ribs. I’d seen what Luc was capable of, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t worry about her … or even him. Or any of them … even Grayson, contrary to what I’d just said. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I glanced at Grayson. “Don’t get yourself killed, either. It might traumatize Zoe.”

He rolled his eyes.

Only then did I look at Luc, and there was an amused glint to his eyes. “Are you going with them?”

“No, you and I have something to do.”

We did?

“Come with me.” Luc took my hand, not really giving me a choice. Probably a good thing, because there was a good chance I was going to run after Zoe and tackle her, preventing her from leaving.

Luc didn’t speak as he led me upstairs to his apartment, nor did he say a word as he sat me on his wide, fluffy couch.

Rubbing my palms over my knees, I looked behind me as he stepped up onto the raised platform of what was his bedroom.

An image of me and him formed immediately. Us dancing and then us on the couch, so close to kissing.

Damn, that felt like an eternity ago.

I heard the water turn on while I thought about how fast everything could change.

Luc walked back into the room, carrying a wet cloth. He knelt in front of me. My breath hitched as he picked up my hand and began to wipe away the dark stains. I’d forgotten that I was covered in blood.

“Do you still have your stun gun?” Luc asked.

It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. “No. I, um, I haven’t seen it since that night with Micah.” I watched him for a moment. “Why didn’t you go with them?”

“I was needed here.” He went on before I could respond. “I’m going to take you home, but I need to get you cleaned up first. Once I’m done, I’ll get a clean shirt for you. Then we’ll get out of here.”

“What about Heidi?”

“She’s going to be weak for a little while.” Luc dragged the damp cloth over my hand. “Then she’ll probably feel like a million bucks.”

“Like I did?”

“Yes, but she has a trace on her. So, she’s about to come down with a nasty case of mono.”

Heidi had a trace like a human was supposed to. I didn’t have one after Luc healed me because of the Andromeda serum.

“So, she’ll stay at home where no Arum can see her?”

Arum tracked Luxen and those close to them by the traces left behind that could only be seen by the aliens and Origins.