The Brightest Night (Origin #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,36

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.”

“Goodie.”

“What if continuously pushing you to tap into the Source kicks in that hive-mind mentality that Eaton talked about?”

Ice encased my insides. “I’ve considered that. I know Luc has to have thought about it, too, but it’s a risk we have to take. The only other option is to do nothing, and I can’t do that.”

“Agreed.”

“We need something in case I do turn into—”

“A robot programmed to return to the Daedalus?”

Shooting her a look, I nodded. “Maybe we can get ahold of an elephant tranquilizer?”

A thoughtful look crossed her pretty face.

My eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t being serious.”

“But a tranq may be an option.”

All I could do was stare at her. “How about you think of something positive?”

Her laugh was soft, and it quickly faded in the wind swirling down the wide sidewalk. “When I think of one, I’ll let you know.”

“But I’d better not hold my breath?”

“You said it, not me.”

Nice.

Up ahead, the ranchers and overgrown lawns gave way to what might have been a city park at some point. Among the tall reeds, I could just make out the shapes of benches and what might have been picnic tables. Thick vines obscured the sign at the entrance we walked past, and it was about then when I smelled … roasted meat, and then the breeze carried the sweet and spicy scent of cinnamon.

Despite all that I had just eaten, my stomach lumbered awake. “Something smells amazing.”

“Fire-roasted chicken, and I’m praying to God it’s those cinnamon-crusted pecans Larry and his wife make. Those things are like candy crack.”

Larry and his wife?

My steps slowed as I heard people for the first time since we’d arrived. The low hum of conversation, of laughter, was the first proof that everyone wasn’t lying and this wasn’t a ghost town.

Curious, I got my feet moving at a faster pace. At the end of the street, we came to what had to have been a busy intersection before the