The Brightest Night (Origin 3)

“I think he knows that, but sometimes it’s easier to blame yourself than to accept that nothing could’ve been done,” she said, sounding wiser than any eighteen-year-old I knew. “Grayson is…”

“If you say complicated, I’m going to hit you.”

Zoe laughed as the front door opened before she reached it. Honest to God, a huge part of wanting to get control of the Source was so that I could be incredibly lazy like every being I knew with alien DNA was. “I was actually going to say complicated.”

I sighed.

“He’s just … well, he’s just very layered,” she said after a moment. “He’s definitely prickly.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“But he’ll grow on you.”

“Like an STD,” I muttered under my breath.

“Before you know it, you two will be the best of friends,” she said. That was about as likely as me befriending a monkey carrying the Ebola virus like that little girl in that old movie. “Don’t lock the door. There’s no need here, and I don’t know if anyone has the key.”

As I followed her outside, my imagination ran wild with what could happen with an unlocked door. At least three serial killers who had a thing for blondes with missing memories could sneak in while we were gone and then lie in wait for my return.

Then again, if that happened, I could probably take them all out.

Feeling a little badass, a small grin tugged my lips up until I realized that I’d also probably take out anyone else who’d unfortunately be in the near vicinity.

Boy, that took the wind right out of my sails and also made me think of what I had asked of Luc. Wondering what Zoe would think, I announced, “I want to work at getting my abilities under control. I mean, not right this very second,” I added when she looked sharply at me. “But, like, tomorrow.”

“Oh,” she said, and that was all she said while we walked past Kat and Daemon’s place. There were no weird feelings of expecting someone to step out, but I wondered how Luc’s conversation was going with him.

“Is that all you have to say?” I asked. “Oh?”

“I was still thinking about it.”

“Didn’t realize there was a lot to think about.”

“There is,” she replied as we continued down the still-empty street.

“Who lives on this street?” I asked.

“Daemon and Kat. Dee and Archer are in the house on the other side of the one you’re in.” She pointed to a brick home painted the color of ivory. “That’s where Dawson and Beth are. There are a few more that are here, but you haven’t met them.”

God. If Luc hadn’t done what he did last night, I could’ve seriously hurt so many people.

I had to push that thought aside, because if I didn’t, it would send me into a panic spiral, and that was the last thing any of us needed.

Refocusing on the apparently barren street, I wondered if it was truly possible that everyone was out and about. I didn’t feel like we were being watched this time. Then again, now that I didn’t feel that way, I couldn’t be so sure what I’d felt the day before hadn’t been paranoia.

Before we turned the corner, I glanced out over the city, thinking of the flashing light I’d seen. I considered telling Zoe, but I imagined she’d have the same reaction Luc and Daemon had.

So I asked, “Are you done thinking about what I said?”

Zoe grinned. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“You do?”

She laughed then. Clearly, I hadn’t been able to hide my surprise. “You didn’t think I’d say that, did you? I’m just surprised that Luc agreed to it.”

“Because he’s going to have to coldcock my brain, basically?” I joked, even though I was so not looking forward to what that was going to feel like.

Or what it was going to do to Luc.

“Yeah, that. Which is why I’m not surprised to hear he won’t let anyone else work with you.”

The wind picked up, stirring the limbs. A few of the golden leaves shuddered free. “You sounded like there may be another reason.”

She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Luc only ever tried to train the Origins he freed, the ones Micah belonged to, and you know how that ended.”

Nearly tripping over the curb of the street we crossed, I sucked in a sharp breath. I did know exactly how that ended.

“He didn’t tell me that, either.” There seemed to be a lot Luc hadn’t told me. But right now, that wasn’t the biggest issue at hand.

A cloud slipped over the sun as we walked past the street that led to Eaton’s and continued straight. I hated the idea of Luc thinking about those Origins for even a few seconds. “I need to get control of this, Zoe.”

“Agreed.” Zoe’s lips pursed. “But I just thought of a third reason or a potential problem.”