The Brightest Night (Origin #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,15

arms and thrusting a hand through his hair. “Viv is prepared for complications, just in case, but…”

What he wouldn’t say lingered around us.

Women died in functional hospitals giving birth. Technology and medical advancement could only get you so far.

“Kat is a hybrid, and she has you.” Luc’s hand slipped from mine as he stepped toward Daemon, placing a hand on Daemon’s shoulder. They were the same height, and it was hard to imagine a time when Daemon would’ve towered over Luc. “She has her family. She has me. We won’t let things go south. Kat will be fine, and so will your baby.”

Daemon clasped Luc on the shoulder. “You’re her family, Luc. Don’t separate yourself from that statement.”

Hearing Daemon say that made me feel even worse for almost straight up killing him in the woods, because Luc needed to know that he was a part of a family, one that included Zoe, Emery, and probably even Luc. He needed to remember that even though he kept a wall up between him and almost everyone, there were those willing to chip away at that barrier.

“Then I’m thinking you and Kat have a little Luc or Lucy on the way?” Luc’s reply would’ve been oh-so smooth if it weren’t for the slight thickening in his voice.

The lines of Daemon’s features softened as he let out a raspy chuckle. “We have two names picked out, and I hate to break it to you, but Luc isn’t one of them. Neither is Lucy.”

Grinning, Luc stepped back. “I don’t know if I can forgive that.”

A faint smile appeared, hinting at those deep dimples that must be breathtaking when he really let go and smiled. Daemon was beautiful. No doubt about that, but he didn’t send my pulse skittering the way Luc did.

But within a heartbeat, the small grin Daemon had been rocking was gone. “You got time for that much-needed talk?”

Warning bells went ring-a-ding-ding as I clearly recalled Daemon referencing this “much-needed” conversation more than a time or three hundred since he learned what I was.

Since I was surely going to be the topic, I thought I should take part in said conversation, but before I could say anything, my stomach rumbled loudly.

I really hoped Daemon hadn’t heard that.

“Don’t really have time right now.” Luc’s gaze flipped from the cloudless sky to Daemon. “Evie’s hungry. Sounds like her stomach is eating itself. I have a feeling if it doesn’t get something that is considered red meat in her, she may start eating small animals and children.”

Slowly, I turned my head and looked at him, lifting my brows.

Luc shrugged. “Just being honest.”

“Pretty sure you could’ve described my hunger any other way than that,” I told him.

“I don’t know. It was impressively descriptive.” Daemon grinned. “Look, feed your girl, and then come see me. This conversation can’t be delayed forever.”

“There’s no point in hiding from it,” Luc replied. “It’s as inevitable as you getting on my nerves.”

“If I had feelings, you might’ve hurt them.”

“If I cared, that would concern me, but since I don’t, you fill in the blanks.”

Daemon chuckled even though I was watching both of them with wide eyes. Sometimes I wondered how these two hadn’t seriously maimed each other yet. They had the weirdest friendship.

As Daemon and Luc went another round attempting to out-snark each other, I turned slightly, toward the city. We were on higher ground, which afforded a better view of what remained of Houston. I was struck again by how the city deserved to be captured before decay brought the buildings down. Swallowing a sigh, I started to turn back to Luc and Daemon.

Something snagged my attention. Unsure of what I saw at first, I squinted. I didn’t know what it was, but as I scanned the landscape, sweeping over the skyscrapers on the outskirts of the city, I saw it.

A flash of light, easily mistaken for the glare of the sun off one of the windows high up in the sky, but it flashed three times in short bursts before a longer pause and then two more.

The sun didn’t do that.

What the—

Out of the corner of my vision, I saw another burst of light coming from across the street, kitty-corner to the other building. Light flashed in a steady rhythm from a window lower down.

“Luc, look!”

He turned from Daemon as soon as I called his name, but he was focused on me. “Not at me,” I told him, glancing back. “Those two buildings.”

Luc did as I asked. “What?”

Doing the same,