Being that he was out on patrol, the last thing he should be doing was standing here, thinking about his brother’s love life like a freaking nosy girl. There was another Arum close by. He hadn’t seen one since he yanked the other off his brother and disposed of him, but he knew it in his bones. Well, in his human bones. Whatever.
But instead of focusing on combing the county like he should, he was worrying…while his brother rested up in his toasty bedroom. Up there having no idea that Daemon knew what he was doing.
Talking on the phone with that human girl Bethany.
It wasn’t like chatting it up with a human girl was a code red. But when you combined the way Dawson had been staring at her, how he’d ordered Daemon to back down in class, and then how he’d threatened Andrew? Yeah, there was a problem.
A big problem.
Withdrawing his hand from his pocket, he tugged it through his wind-whipped hair. His brother had always been one to do whatever he wanted. Not because he didn’t give a flying monkey about anyone, but because Dawson was just that strong. If any of them was willing to risk being cast out by the Elders and forced to live the rest of their life in exile, it was his brother.
Daemon pivoted around and waited for his head to explode or something. Needing some sort of action, he shook off his human skin before he took a step. In his natural form, he was nothing but light and quicker than air.
Zipping across the lake, he headed for the Rocks. Once he got there, he’d have to tone down the shine. But it was the best place to keep an eye on the shadows and how they moved.
On the way up, he ran through his options.
Lock Dawson in his room and keep him from school, therefore away from the girl.
Scare the crap out of the girl so she stayed away from Dawson.
Throw all the phones away and slash Dawson’s tires.
Yeah, his plans weren’t so good. First off, he wasn’t into imprisonment. Spending those years under the DOD’s thumb in New Mexico was enough of that for all of them. Secondly, he had a mean streak the size of the Grand Canyon, but he wasn’t about threatening girls. And finally, Dawson had just gotten that phone after Dee accidentally zapped the other one, and he’d cry if anything happened to his Jetta.
Maybe there was nothing to be done. Maybe they all had overreacted. This wasn’t the first time Dawson went out with a human girl. Hell, even Daemon had swung that way a few times. Anything to take a break from Ash sometimes.
It wasn’t like Dawson was in love with the girl, thank God.
Feeling better, he shot up the side of the mountain like lightning. It was just infatuation, and it would fade.
Dawson and the girl had only known each other a few days. It wasn’t like it was too late or anything.
Was it?
…
When the phone beeped in her ear, Bethany pulled it back and frowned. “Wait. The battery is dying. Don’t go anywhere.”
There was a deep chuckle. “Don’t plan on it.”
Stretching down, she plugged the cord into the wall outlet, and then settled back against the pillows. “Okay. So you’ve lived in Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota?”
“Yep. And New York.”
“Wow. Do your parents travel for work or something?”
Silence and then, “Yeah, you could say that.”
She frowned as she plucked at the comforter. That wasn’t much of an answer. He had a habit of doing that whenever the questions got too personal. “Okay, so where were you born?”
Bedsprings groaned before he answered. “My family was born on a small island off of Greece. Not sure it even has a name.”
“Wow.” She rolled onto her side, now smiling. “Well, that explains it.”
“Explains what?” Curiosity marked his tone.
“You guys don’t even look…real.” At his laugh, she blushed. “I mean, you look foreign. Like you come from someplace else.”
Another laugh and he said, “Yeah, we do come from someplace else.”
“It must be neat, though. Greece? Always wanted to visit there.”
“I don’t remember much about it, but I’d love to go back. Enough about me. I saw your drawing in the art room earlier.”
She twisted her fingers around the phone cord. “The flowers in the vase?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Man, you’ve got amazing skills. It looked just like the example Mrs. Pan had on the board. Mine looked like an elephant trunk eating weeds.”
Bethany giggled. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“That’s sweet, but I know you’re lying. Do you draw a lot?”
“No.” Her gaze went to the painting in the corner. “I paint, actually.”
“Now that is cool—a real talent. I would love to see them one day, your paintings.”
She’d die a thousand deaths before she let him see the last one she’d done. “Ah, I’m not that good.”
“Whatever,” he replied.
“How would you know? You can’t judge by flowers.”
“Ah, I just know. That’s my talent, if you’re wondering. I just know things.”
She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. “What a unique talent.”
“I know. I amaze myself.” There was a soft intake of breath.
“I bet you’re the type of guy not afraid of anything, huh?”
“Oh, no, there are things that terrify me.”
“Like what?”
“Muppets,” came his solemn reply.
“What?” She laughed. “Muppets?”
“Yes. Those things are terrifying. And you’re laughing at me.”