Origin (Lux, #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Let me ask you a question, Ms. Swartz. Where exactly do you think Daemon Black, his family, and his friends fall?” “They aren’t interested in subjugating a house fly!” I barked out a harsh laugh. “Insinuating that is just ridiculous.” “Is it?” He paused. “You can never really, truly know someone. And I am sure when you first met Daemon and his family, you never would’ve assumed what they are, correct?” He had me there. “You have to admit that if they were so good at hiding the fact they weren’t even human, how good they must be at hiding something as invisible as their allegiance,” he said. “You forget that they are not human, and they are not, I can assure you, a part of the ten percent that we trust.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I didn’t—couldn’t—believe what he said, but he had said all of this without an ounce of scorn. As if he were just stating facts, like a doctor would when telling a patient he had terminal cancer.

What the h*** Katy!!! You are really going to believe this man who has been torturing you for not wanting to be forced into an intrusive medical exam??!?!! Really?!?!

They may have been drinking the Kool-Aid, but I was not. Even so, there was a tiny part of me that wondered how Daedalus could control so many if there wasn’t some truth in what they were saying?

Again, come on Katy. I know there might be some truth behind their words, but can you worry about it later and focus on hating them now?!?!

“Can I ask you a question?” “You probably shouldn’t talk anymore.” He switched the bag of ice to his other hand. I ignored that, because I was pretty sure I’d go crazy if I kept silent. “Are there really Luxen out there who want to take over? Others like Shawn?” He didn’t respond. Closing my eyes, I let out a weary sigh. “Will it kill you to just answer the question?” Another moment passed. “The fact that you’re even asking is answer enough.” Was it? “Are there good humans and bad humans, Katy?” I thought it was weird how he said humans. “Yes, but that’s different.” “Is it?” When the icy bundle landed on my cheek again, it didn’t feel so bad. “I think so.”

Go Archer!! And come on Katy!! I fell like I keep saying this, but really that's all I'm feeling in regard to her right now. Obviously not her biggest fan...but Archer is starting to grow on me, that's for sure.

Part of me was disgusted at the implications. The other half was just plain old pissed off. “Creating hybrids so they can fight stupid wars and die? You tortured my brother for this?” “You say tortured; I say motivated.” All right, this was one of the moments in my life when I really wanted to knock someone through a wall. And I think she knew that.

Definitely loved Daemon a little more for this. He's so bad-ass and jerk-y, but in just the right ways!! I swear I'm falling in love with him a little - sorry Katy.

words…words were one thing. Actions were a totally different ballpark.

Great Quote [13 April 2020]

Nancy smiled, nodding at the window. “I see you’ve noticed. They are here because they want to help. If only you’d be that accommodating.” I snorted. Who knew why the other Luxen were here, happy as clams, and I really didn’t care. I got that there were parts of Daedalus that were actually attempting to do something good, but I also knew what they did to my brother in the process.

And again, falling in love with Daemon for sure. Why couldn't Katy think like this at the beginning?? It would've saved me from being so frustrated with her at the beginning of the book.

“Well, aren’t you just a special snowflake,” Daemon murmured.

Oh, Daemon :)

Sometimes words were cheap. They could be powerful, but in those rare occasions like now, words meant nothing.

Great Quote [13 April 2020]

“The origins have some freaky abilities,” I explained, watching her eyes widen into saucers. “He can read your mind without you even knowing.” Dee’s face went from pale to bright cherry. “Oh God.” “What?” She smacked her hands over her face. “Well, the whole time we were downstairs, I was so picturing him naked.”

Oh Dee!! :)

Archer’s grip tightened, jerking Matthew’s head back. “The bastard was on the phone with Daedalus. He screwed us. Bad.”

WTH!!! Definitely didn't see that coming... I really liked Matthew; I thought he was such a great father figure to the Blacks and the Thompsons. Why did he have to betray them like that?!?!

“You told them about Beth and me?” Dawson’s voice broke halfway through. Matthew nodded his head again. “I’m sorry, but you exposed everyone to them.”

Again, still reeling from Matthew's betrayal. So sad...

Dawson reacted so quickly that if anyone in the room wanted to stop him, he or she didn’t have a chance. Rearing back, he sent a blast of pure, unstable energy straight into Matthew. The bolt slammed into Matthew’s chest, spinning him around. I knew Matthew was dead before he hit the ground.

And there I go again, being completely shocked at how fast that just happened. Not that I'm blaming Dawson for what he did, it just really threw me for a loop.

A wide, wild smile broke out across Luc’s face. “Well then, it’s time to introduce the world to a little bit of extraterrestrial awesomeness.”

Luc might have been one of those characters that I was hesitant about, but come on. With a comment like that, how could you not start falling in love with him too, the little savant.

Horror settled in my gut like stones. Anger was an acid in my veins. The news copter spun erratically as smoke billowed out of the tail. It whirled across the sky, its floodlights dipping and rising over the pirate ship and beyond. The copter kept spinning, falling out of the sky, heading straight for Treasure Island.

Yup, again, thrown for a loop with that one, yet I don't know why. Daedalus is horrible, no matter what they might have been spewing to Daemon and Katy while they were being held prisoner.

Another blast went off to our right, and I spun, grabbing Kat as I saw Paris dart in front of me. He slammed into Luc, knocking him out of the path of the PEP. Paris took a direct hit. He jerked to a stop, his body spasming as his form shifted from human to Luxen, back and forth. Electricity crawled across his body, blowing out at his elbows and kneecaps. He went still, his light dulling until he crumbled to the ground. Shimmering blue liquid pooled underneath him. Dead.

I didn't know Paris very well, but I still almost cried when he died. The first casualty of many...

She shook her head and lifted her chin. “We need to get— Oh my God, Daemon. Daemon.” My heart tripped in response to the fear in her voice. I started toward her, and then I felt it. I felt it deep and in every part of my being. I saw Dawson stop. I saw Andrew spin back. Over the neon signs for Caesar’s Palace and the Bellagio hotel, dark clouds moved incredibly fast, blocking out the stars. But they weren’t clouds…or a swarm of bats. They were Arum.

Yup; another loop was definitely thrown in my brain with that one. I wasn't even thinking about the Arum - I was way to focused on Daedalus and the current danger, not the danger coming from the dark.

The Arum and Andrew resurfaced in the pool and, rearing back, the Arum slammed its hand into Andrew’s chest. He jerked, his light flickering like a lightning bug. I started forward, but arms circled my waist. It wasn’t a friendly hug. Panic sliced through me as my feet were lifted off the ground just as I saw the Arum lift Andrew into the air. Another pulse of light, and then Andrew… Oh God… Ash’s scream confirmed what I suspected. I saw her switch into her true form and then back out again, like she couldn’t control it. A wave of energy rolled across the lanes.

I didn't even like Andrew, not really. Sure he was growing on me slowly, and I'm pretty sure he had a thing with Dee, but I didn't want to see him die - especially not like that. He was just having fun, being a typical teenage Luxen 'exposing' himself in Vegas, and then he died because of a d*** Arum.

Ash spun toward Beth, moving incredibly fast, as fast as a bullet. Her arms went around the girl and she twisted, shoving Beth out of the way. The shot hit Ash in the back. Light exploded up her spine, following the network of veins. Her head snapped back and her knees folded under her. She fell forward, lacking the grace that always seemed natural to her. She didn’t move.

Man. I disliked Ash even more than Andrew, but again, she had been growing on me and definitely didn't deserve to die as she did. She sacrificed herself for Beth, one of the Hybrids who she hated for distracting Dawson and Daemon from their own kind. She died a hero, and I almost let the tears I was feeling fall with her death...