The Brightest Night (Origin #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,146

know if I was sensing just you or both of you. It felt like a heaviness in the air—”

“And on your skin?” I clasped my knees.

He was still for a moment, and then he nodded. “Exactly.”

Looking back at Luc, I asked, “I wonder why Arums can feel me but not Luxen or Origins?”

“Hunter?” Luc asked.

The Arum gave a half grin. “I imagine it has to do with how we are able to perceive and see Luxen and anything with Luxen DNA. We are more sensitive.”

“The auras I see now? You’re talking about that?” I asked.

“Yes. Luxen like to think they are hunters. They’re not. We are. Biologically, we are natural predators. Our senses are far more heightened than Luxen’s—seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling. Apparently, the Daedalus has been able to replicate that. They have been trying for as long as I can remember.”

“I felt Sarah as soon as I approached that house. I just didn’t know what I was feeling.” I took a deep breath. “I was able to communicate with her like I can with Luc, and I think I heard her in my head when she was mutating.”

“Makes sense. We can communicate with one another that way.” His fingers continued to move. “Can you hear other thoughts like Mr. Special beside you?”

I shook my head.

“Is that really a relief?” Luc asked.

Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “Now you’re just trying to prove a point, and you’re going to annoy me.”

“Can you communicate with me like that?” I asked before the whole meeting went down the drain.

“Already tried. You didn’t hear me. And I can’t hear you.”

I frowned. “Maybe it’s only other Trojans.”

“That doesn’t explain you two.”

“He’s healed me a couple of times or a dozen.” I shrugged.

Hunter’s pale gaze sharpened as he focused on Luc. Something was clicking together behind his eyes.

“How badly did you wound the Trojan?” Luc asked.

“Blew a hole through its chest. Like I could see through the bastard,” Hunter answered. “That bad.”

“Wow,” I whispered.

“He didn’t go at us like you did with the other Trojan. He could’ve blown up any of the buildings around us.” Hunter’s fingers stilled. “I’m guessing that’s why a bullet took you down for the count. You expelled all your energy. Drained yourself dry, I imagine.”

Luc shifted forward, all lazy arrogance gone. “Refresh my memory, Hunter. What happens when you go empty on the Source? When you don’t feed?”

He arched a brow. “Like when we almost hit rock bottom? Not many choose to live that kind of life, but when they do, we grow weaker, become practically human. The first time is the worst. It’s like detoxing. We get hungry.”

I locked up. “What?”

“Hunger that no food can quench. Like the gnawing type of hunger that seizes up your stomach and chest,” he explained, and it felt like the couch moved underneath me. “Many end up sleeping the worst of it off.”

“Sleeping?” I squeaked. “Like for a couple of days?”

He eyed me. “Yes. Sometimes more.”

“Oh, crap,” I whispered.

“Jesus,” Luc muttered as he looked at me. “I should’ve thought of that. You’re part Arum. You started getting hungry after the woods, and then you slept for four days.”

“Well, that should’ve been a dead giveaway,” Hunter remarked.

Sitting there, I could only stare at the bear.

“Maybe to you, but she’s not completely an Arum. I’m sure you’ve been filled in on her background.”

“I have, but I didn’t know she slept for four days,” Hunter replied. “What happened when you woke up?”

Blinking, I eased my death grip on my knees. “I felt fine.”

“You’re part Luxen, so you probably took that time to replenish what you used. It was the first time you’d used the Source to such an extreme after activating, right? Doesn’t poke holes in the doc’s theory. Sort of proves it,” he said, then laughed.

“What’s so funny?” I demanded.

“Nothing,” Hunter said, lips curling into a smile as he focused on Luc. “So how do you feel about becoming her own personal energy drink?”

29

“What?” I jumped to my feet. “You’re saying I’m going to need to feed off Luc?”

Hunter arched a brow as he looked up at me. “Either him or a Luxen. Hybrids really won’t be worth it. You feed off one of them and you’re starving a few hours later. Humans, well, you’d feed off them for different reasons.”

I started to ask why, and then, luckily, I thought of Serena and realized I really didn’t need to ask that question.

My gaze bounced to Luc. His expression had gone thoughtful. My stomach dropped to my toes. “I’m