House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)(47)
Well, that was an awfully weird coincidence.
I turned back to Lexen – he was wearing an unusual expression. Almost like … worry. My stomach cramped tightly, fear spiking through me.
“What?” I said, reaching for his arm. “Is it my family?”
He shook his head. “They haven’t found them yet. Father just sent a message – the council is calling a meeting. They want to discuss some findings with the four houses.”
“And you have to be there for this meeting?” I asked.
He nodded, looking down at his phone again. I wondered again then where this “home” of his was. Was it on Earth or another world? Could I handle it if they weren’t from Alaska or the Sahara?
“What do I do while you’re gone?” I asked, resigned. “The danger should be minimal, right? If there are no … supernaturals here.”
Amusement creased the corner of his lips, only for a moment, before those hard, stressed lines reappeared. He leaned down and murmured the next part in my ear: “I think it’s time to learn exactly what world you’ve stumbled into. We’re not supernaturals. We’re called Daelighters, and we’re … more like aliens … if you want to classify us.”
Aliens. I paused, waiting to see if I was about to lose my mind with this information. Definitely not from Earth … but surprisingly enough it felt okay. It fit with everything I knew.
“Guess the street name makes sense now,” I choked out. “You’re really from another world?”
He nodded. “Overworld, and you’re coming there with us.”
11
I was hurrying to keep up with Lexen as he rushed through the school. “I don’t understand,” I said, breathlessly. Why was I so bad at running? “How can I come with you? I’m not a Daelighter or whatever. I can’t go to another world. Can I even breathe the air there? Will the gravity kill me?”
I’d done enough science classes to know that humans were perfectly designed for Earth. We had evolved and developed as a species to suit this world, and we had very specific requirements to stay alive. Most other planets we’d discovered would not support our biology. I’d never heard of Overworld, of course, so no doubt it wasn’t in our solar system. But the same principle applied.
Lexen grumbled down at me, his previously prickly personality returning in full swing. “Clearly we’re compatible species. We’re here on your world, aren’t we?”
Way to not so subtly call me a moron. “Yes, but you all keep telling me how special you are. I assumed my inferior human genetics were going to hold me back.” I sarcastically drawled the last part so he knew I really thought his species were a bunch of dickbags.
His chest swelled as he stopped suddenly. I slammed right into him, because I was just barely managing to run and breathe at the same time. Dude was built like a rock wall. Huge hands wrapped around my biceps and I was lifted up slightly off the ground as he dragged me closer, his voice dropping ominously low. “Listen up, human. You’re going to have to get with the picture, and fast. There is no time for you to freak out, or need a period of adjustment. Suck it up, deal with it, and maybe all of us will get out of this mess alive. Do you understand?”
“Lex!” Star’s shocked voice washed over us. “What are you doing? You’re hurting her.”
It was possible it looked like that from her angle, but despite the steel-like strength I could feel in his hands he wasn’t hurting me – unless you counted the way my heart was racing, and that dull ache low in my traitorous body. I was attracted to Lexen. I couldn’t deny it any longer. But it was all chemical, because he was not good for me in so many ways, no matter how compatible our species were.
Lexen’s dark eyes bored into mine and he released me. I swallowed hard, turning as Star wrapped her arms around me. Looked like I was pretty much cured of my aversion to touch, since I let these four Darkens handle me in whatever way they saw fit.
“Are you okay?” Her beautiful face was creased in concern, her gaze sliding down my arms.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. Thanks for looking out. Lexen didn’t hurt me, though.”
I found my eyes locked on his for a brief moment. His expression was unreadable, but the look felt different. Heated somehow.
Jero and Marsil sprinted up then, distracting us. “What happened?” Marsil asked, his gentle voice still taking me by surprise. His nature was so soft, and yet he was built like a linebacker. The contrast was odd, but … I liked it.
Lexen straightened fully as he went into some sort of command mode: “Father wants us home for this council meeting. It’s called for all four houses. We will be gathering at the white field.”
I expected the boys to salute at the end, but they just nodded their heads. “We should head there now.” Jero already had his phone out, typing into it. When he was done, he seemed to notice I was still standing in his sister’s half-hug.
“Hey there, pretty girl! What are you doing here?”
I snorted. “Apparently I’m coming home with you four to … Overworld.” My calm from before was starting to disappear under the reality of how freaking weird this was. What would happen once I was on their world? I’d be stuck there. What if the Darkens forgot about me and I couldn’t get home?