the sun-baked rock. "How can you do things without me seeing?" Leaning back on his elbows, he looked unaffected by the cold swim. "We're made of light. We can manipulate the different spectrums around us, using them.
It's like we're fracturing the light, if that makes any sense."
"Not really." I needed to pay more attention in science class.
"You've seen me turn into my natural state, right?" When I nodded, he went on. "And I sort of vibrate until I break apart into tiny particles of light. Well, I can selectively eliminate the light, which allows us to be transparent." I pulled my knees to my chest. "That's kind of amazing, Daemon."
He smiled up at me, flashing a dimple in one cheek before he laid back on the rock, folding his hands behind his head. "I know you have questions. Ask them."
I had so many questions I wasn't sure which one to start with. "Do you guys believe in God?"
"He seems like a cool guy."
I blinked, not sure whether to laugh at that or not. "Did you guys have a God?"
"I remember there was something like a church, but that's all. The elders don't talk about any religion," he said. "Then again, we don't see any elders."
"What do you mean by 'elders'?"
"The same thing you'd mean. An old person."
I made a face at him.
He grinned. "Next question?"
"Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.
"Everyone has to excel at something, right?"
"Well, you're doing a great job." His eyes opened, meeting mine for a second before closing. "You do dislike me, don't you?" I hesitated. "I don't dislike you, Daemon.
You're hard to...like. It's hard to figure you out."
"So are you," he said, eyes closed, face relaxed. "You've accepted the impossible.
You're kind to my sister and to me - even though I admit I've been a jerk to you. You could've run right out of the house yesterday and told the world about us, but you didn't. And you don't put up with any of my crap," he added with a soft laugh. "I like that about you." Whoa.
Wait. "You like me?"
"Next question?" he said.
"Are you guys allowed to date people -
humans?"
He shrugged. "Allowed is a strange word.
Does it happen? Yes. Is it advised? No. So we can, but what would be the point? Not like we can have a lasting relationship when we have to hide what we are."
"So, you guys are like us in other, uh, departments?"
Daemon sat up, arching a brow. "Come again?"
I felt my cheeks flush. "You know, like sex?
I mean, you guys are all glowy and stuff. I don't see how certain stuff would work." Daemon's lips curled into a half smile, and that was the only warning he gave. Moving unbelievably fast, I was on my back and he was above me in a flash. "Are you asking if I'm attracted to human girls?" he asked. Dark, wet waves of hair fell forward. Tiny droplets of water fell off the ends, splashing against my cheek. "Or are you asking if I'm attracted to you?" Using his hands, he lowered himself slowly. There wasn't an inch of space between our bodies. Air fled my lungs at the contact of his body against mine. He was male and ripped in all the places I was soft. Being this close to him was startling, causing an array of sensations to zing through me. I shivered. Not from the cold, but from how warm and wonderful he felt.
I could feel every breath he took, and when he shifted his hips, my eyes went wide and I gasped.
Oh yeah, certain stuff was definitely working.
Daemon rolled off me, onto his back beside me. "Next question?" he asked, voice deep and thick.
I didn't move. I stared wide-eyed at the blue skies. "You could've just told me, you know?" I looked at him. "You didn't have to show me."
"And what fun would there be in telling you?" He turned his head toward me. "Next question, Kitten?"
"Why do you call me that?"
"You remind me of a little fuzzy kitten, all claws and no bite."
"Okay, that makes no sense."
He shrugged.
I searched my scattered thoughts for another question. I had so many, but he'd totally blown my train of thought to smithereens. "Do you think there are more Arum around?" Only the barest hint of emotion flitted across his face. He tipped his head back, studying me.
"They are always around."
"And they're hunting you?"
"It's the only thing they care about." He returned to staring