“That is true.”
There was another explosion of laughter that I recognized as Daemon’s. I was smiling like a goofball before I even realized it.
“Look at you. Aren’t you chipper today.” Dee elbowed me. “What’s going on?”
I shrugged. “Just a really good day. I’ll have to tell you about it soon.”
She handed me a cold cut. “If it’s what you two have been doing in that room upstairs all afternoon, I don’t even want to know.”
I laughed. “I’m not talking about that.”
“Thank God.” Ash slinked between us, grabbing the jar of mayo. “Because no one wants to hear about that.”
Unless it involved Ash’s past with Daemon, then she was all kinds of talkative, but whatever. I smiled at her, which earned me a strange look.
Ash grabbed a spoon, scooped up some mayo, and popped it in her mouth. My stomach turned. “The fact that you’re so damn skinny and you eat mayo by the spoonful is universally messed up.”
She winked a catlike eye. “Be jealous.”
The funny thing was, I wasn’t.
“Then again, maybe I’m the one who should be jealous, Kitten.”
Dee smacked Ash’s arm. “Don’t start.”
She grinned as she tossed the spoon in the sink. “I didn’t say I wanted to be his Kitten, but if I did, well…this story may have a different ending.”
A couple of months ago, she would’ve gotten a rise out of me. Now I just smiled.
She stared at me a moment, and then her blue eyes rolled. “Whatever.”
I watched her leave the kitchen. “I think I’m growing on her,” I said to Dee.
She giggled as she put the last sandwich on the platter. There were more than a dozen. “Actually, I think the biggest problem is that Ash wants to dislike you.”
“She does a good job at it.”
“But I don’t think that’s how she really feels.” Dee picked up the platter, cocking her head to the side. “She really did care for Daemon. I don’t think it was ever love, but I think she always believed that they’d be together. That’s a lot to get over.”
I sort of felt guilty. “I know.”
“But she will. Besides, she’ll find someone who can tolerate her bitchiness, and all will be right in the world.”
“And you?”
She giggled and winked. “I just want everything to be right in the world for one night—if you know what I mean.”
I choked on my laugh. “Good God, do not let Daemon or Dawson hear that.”
“No kidding.”
Everyone was in the rec room—bodies draped over couches, settees, and lounges. The biggest TV I’d ever seen hung on the wall, damn near the size of a theater screen.
Daemon patted the spot beside him on the couch, and I sat down, handing him his plate and soda. “Thank you.”
“Your sister made them. I just carried ours.”
Dee placed the platter on the coffee table and glanced over to where Archer sat with Luc and Paris. Then she took two sandwiches and retreated to the burgundy settee. Two pink spots bloomed on her cheeks, and I hoped she was having nice, clean thoughts.
One glance at Archer, who was now staring at Dee, had me assuming that she wasn’t.
On the other side of me, Dawson leaned forward and grabbed two of the subs, one for him and the other for Beth. The girl was bundled up in a quilt, looking half asleep. Our eyes met, and a tentative smile brightened her face.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Great.” She picked at the bread, pulling off little brown patches. “I’m just tired.”
Again, I wondered what could possibly be wrong with her, because something was. She didn’t look just tired; she looked absolutely exhausted.
“It’s been a lot of traveling,” Dawson elaborated. “It’s kind of worn me out, too.”
He didn’t look worn out. If anything, he looked like he was bursting at the seams. His green eyes were particularly bright, especially every time he looked at Beth.
Which was all the time.
“Eat,” he said quietly to her. “You need to eat at least two of these.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t know about two.”
We stayed there for a while, long after the food was gone, and I think everyone was delaying the inevitable—the big talk. So much so that Matthew left the room, telling us he’d be back in a few moments.
Daemon leaned forward, dropping his hands to his knees. “Time to get down to business.”
“True dat,” Luc said. “We need to get on the road soon. Tomorrow would be best.”
“I think that’s assumed,” Andrew said. “But where exactly on the road are we heading to?”
Luc opened his mouth, but Archer held up a hand, silencing him. “Hold that thought.”
The younger origin’s eyes narrowed, but then he sat back, his jaw clenched. Archer stood and strode out of the room, hands closing into fists.
“What’s going on?” Daemon asked.
Unease snaked down my spine. I glanced over at Dawson, who also was suddenly on alert. “Luc,” I said, feeling my heart trip up.
Luc stood, his chest rising sharply. One second he was standing in front of the settee and the next he was across the room, a hand around Lyla’s throat. “How long?” he demanded.
“Holy shit.” Andrew jumped to his feet, moving in front of his sister and Dee.
“How long?” Luc demanded again, his fingers tightening on her throat.