Love (The Allure Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  Owen

  “Allie?” I waited until we were halfway down the hall before showing my surprise. Levi had less than subtlety suggested we take a walk as soon as we brought Daisy and Taylor to where Allie waited. “You used Allie as a distraction to keep Daisy away?”

  “I didn’t use Allie as anything. She likes Daisy. You love Daisy. They’ll need to be friends.” Levi looked down the otherwise empty corridor.

  “You used her as a distraction.”

  Levi shrugged. “I did what I had to do.”

  “What couldn’t you say in front of Daisy?” I couldn’t shrug off guilt that I was about to engage in secretive talk behind her back. But she’d had a private conversation with Taylor—a semi-private conversation. I’d listened in for key words.

  “She’s in trouble.”

  “And that’s news? She’s been in trouble since she first got that paste from the witch.” Which was from when I first met her. I still wanted to kick myself for not asking her out the second I set eyes on her.

  “I mean even more trouble.”

  “Is this coming from Wyatt?” I wasn’t sure I’d ever put my full trust in the Drago.

  “Partially.”

  “Where is he?” I strained my ears and eyes to find him. I saw and heard nothing but the low hum of the girls’ voices.

  “Waiting outside.” Levi nodded in the direction of the elevator.

  “Is there a reason for that?”

  “I needed to talk to you first. Make sure you were okay with what I’m about to do.”

  “What are you about to do?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.

  “I’ve agreed to a meeting with the other Drago leaders.”

  A meeting? I let his words sink in. “Wait.” Understanding dawned on me. “You aren’t using Allie to distract Daisy. You are using Daisy to distract Allie.”

  Levi shrugged. “I guess you’ll never know.”

  “Where are you meeting them?”

  “Out west. A neutral spot.”

  “You aren’t going alone.” As the king, and as a dad and husband, he couldn’t be that reckless.

  “No. Jared is coming.”

  “I’m coming too. You can’t enter into anything with the Dragos without me. I know them better than any of us.” And I had a lot invested in the outcome of any agreements. I had everything invested.

  “But that would mean leaving Daisy.” He watched me. “Can you do that?”

  “I don’t want to, but I also need to go with you. I was the one who brought you into this.” And we shared an enemy with the Dragos. Our interests may have only been aligned temporarily, but the Elders were in the way of keeping Daisy safe.

  “No.” Levi shook his head. “I entered into this on my own accord. Besides, Wyatt is right. The Society will be the target next.”

  “Not if Daisy and I leave…” I didn’t want to leave the relative protection of The Society headquarters, or really I didn’t want Daisy to leave it, but I’d do what I had to.

  “Come with me. We’ll handle this the way we used to. The three of us. We’ll get back here as fast as possible. Daisy is safe here.” He didn’t need to mention Jared’s name for me to know what three of us he was referring to.

  I didn’t have the same nostalgia over the three of us as Levi did, mainly because my friendship with Jared was far too complicated for that, but I had to admit we worked well as a team. It was Levi’s last statement I worried about. “We hope she’s safe here.” I’d learned to never take anything for granted anymore.

  “I’m leaving my wife here. It’s safe. Allie might not be their direct interest, but she’s my wife which means she’s going to be of direct interest soon.”

  “Fine, but I have to talk to Daisy first.”

  “Do you?” Levi held out a hand and flipped it over palm up. “Allie is quite the talker. Daisy might not know we’ve left.”

  “How quickly do you think we’re going to pull off this talk?”

  “Quick.”

  I turned toward the doorway. I was torn. I didn’t want to worry Daisy unnecessarily, but I felt bad leaving without an explanation. “Where’s Jared? Did he already leave?”

  “He’s waiting for us upstairs.”

  “Watching the lobby?” It wasn’t like Jared to miss out on the action. Well, if you could call all the talking going on downstairs action.

  “Having a drink.”

  “He barely drinks anymore.” Alcohol doesn’t affect Pterons the way it does humans, but even still, drinking excessively wasn’t good for anyone.

  “I think he got into some sort of thing with Vera. You know how it is.”

  “Those two fight more than any couple I know.” Jared and his wife had been that way since they met.

  “Does that surprise you in the slightest?’

  I thought about Jared’s hot-head personality. “Not at all.”

  “So are you coming?” Levi nodded toward the elevator.

  I made up my mind. I needed to get to the bottom of what was happening with the Dragos. “I’m coming, but I have to say something to Daisy.”

  “Suit yourself but no getting me in trouble.”

  I nodded. “I’ll try not to.” I walked down the hall and knocked on the door to Allie’s office suite.

  “Come in.” Allie called.

  I pushed open the door. Designed with neutral colors, and filled with comfortable and neat furniture, Allie’s office was more inviting than Levi’s. Both Allie and Daisy turned to me as soon as I walked in. Taylor barely looked up.

  “Hey, everything okay?” Daisy watched me warily.

  “Yes.” I walked over and sat down on the arm of the couch next to her. “I just wanted to tell you I have to run out.”

  “Run out?” Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Likely.”

  “I’m meeting with the Dragos.” I ran my hand down her back.” I need to find out what’s going on.”

  Daisy leaned into my touch. “And you don’t want me to come?”

  “You’ll be safer here.”

  “In other words he’s keeping you out of it.” Taylor finally looked up. “Typical.”

  “Let me guess, Levi is going too, but he didn’t want me to know?” Allie raised an eyebrow. There were faint bags under her eyes, but otherwise Allie looked as put together as she always did.

  “Something like that.” The cat was out of the bag. No reason to piss off both the king and queen.

  “Thanks for having my back, man.” Levi appeared in the doorway and punched my shoulder.

  “She figured me out.”

  “When will you be back?” Allie crossed her arms.

  “By morning,” Levi answered. “I hope.”

  “Be safe.” Allie uncrossed her legs.

  “Aren’t I always?” Levi kissed the top of Allie’s head. No matter how many years those two were together, their love never seemed to dull.

  “You’re lucky your Mom’s in town to babysit. Otherwise I’d be sending you home.”

  “Sending me home?” Levi nudged her shoulder.

  “Yes. But your mom saved you. She’s staying at our house.”

  Levi smiled. “We can discuss this later. I’ll be back soon.”

  I leaned my head down to Daisy. “I hope this doesn’t take long.”

  “I appreciate you’re not pretending to know it won’t.” Her lips twisted into a bare hint of a smile.

  “There’s no reason to pretend. It will take whatever time it takes.” I took her hand. “Can you walk outside with me for a minute?”

  “Sure?” She appeared startled but followed me out.

  As soon as I had her past the doorway I pulled her into my arms and kissed her hard on the mouth. I pushed for entry, and she eagerly responded both with her mouth and with her arms winding around my neck.

  Her mouth tasted just as sweet as always, and it was only when I sensed we had company that I broke the kiss.

  She gasped at me in surprise as I pulled my head back. “Didn�
�t think I could leave without a kiss, did you?”

  She smiled brightly. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Not to break up this lovely display, but are you ready, Owen?” Levi waited with a hand on the door frame.

  “I guess so.” I kissed Daisy lightly one more time before following Levi to the elevator. I took one glance over my shoulder to make sure she’d returned to Allie’s office. Leaving her, even if only for a few hours, was hard to do.

  Jared was exactly where Levi said he’d be. He was sitting on his usual stool in front of the large mahogany bar in the center of the lobby. We’d spent countless hours sitting at the bar, as well as at the bar that came before it. I’d spent nearly as much of my teenage years in that hotel as I did in my parents’ house.

  “You’re leaving Daisy to do this?” Jared glanced up from his drink when we walked over.

  “I’m doing this to help Daisy—even if it’s indirectly.” I found she was at the root of almost all of my motivations now.

  “No you’re not.” Jared took a long sip of the brown liquid in his glass. I was nearly positive it was whiskey.

  “Then why am I doing it?”

  “Because you refuse to be left out of things. It doesn’t work for you.” He pushed the empty glass toward the bartender who refilled it.

  “Sounds like you are talking about yourself.” I could say exactly the same thing to Jared. He was involved in everything, and he thought he could do anything better than anyone. That was especially true when he was comparing himself to me. “Why are you even involved in this?”

  “Because you need me involved. This is what I do best.” He nodded in thanks to the bartender and accepted his refilled glass.

  “I think you’re taking your job too seriously.” He didn’t need to be part of everything.

  “Which job?” Jared took a long swig of his drink. “I wear many hats.”

  “Yes you do. Including a bonnet sometimes,” I ribbed.

  Jared moved to punch me, but I stepped out of the way.

  Levi laughed. “Will there ever be a time when you two stop fighting?”

  “No,” I answered immediately. “But that’s not a bad thing.”

  “Agreed. If we ever get along, worry. It means one or both of us have lost our mind.”

  “You’ve both already lost your minds.” Levi grinned.

  “Where’s the dragon?” Jared glanced around the lobby. “Did you lose him?”

  “He’s meeting us there.” Levi shook his head as the bartender once again looked over to see if he wanted something. I wasn’t sure how much the bartender knew about Levi’s position—it couldn’t have been much, but I was sure he sensed Levi’s importance.

  “Are you sure this isn’t a trap?” Jared pushed his half-finished drink away. “Not that we can’t handle a bunch of fire breathers, but couldn’t he have waited for us?”

  “He needed to give word to the others to get them to meet us.”

  “And he didn’t call them for what reason exactly?” Jared’s voice was laced with skepticism.

  “Most of them don’t have phones,” Levi explained.

  “Why not?” Jared stood from his stool.

  “Phones aren’t used much where they are from.” At least not from what I’d seen in my brief time there.

  Jared lowered his voice to a whisper. “Do you really believe they’ve been living in another world? The gates have all been sealed for years.”

  “I’ve seen the other world.” I matched the whisper. “So yes, I believe it.”

  “Oh yeah…” Jared nodded.

  “Oh yeah? You forget I nearly lost everything when I went there.” I would never forget. The memory was blazed into my mind.

  “But you didn’t.” He shrugged. “Daisy’s here.”

  “She is.” And she would stay here. Or with me. I had no intention of spending all of our time at the hotel. I didn’t even plan to stay in New Orleans unless Daisy particularly wanted too.

  “All right.” Jared left a twenty on the bar. “Let’s do this.”

  Levi put a hand on the bar top and leaned in toward Jared. “Just get it out.”

  “Get what out?” Jared stared at Levi.

  “Why are you drinking? What did you do to piss off Vera this time?”

  Jared groaned. “Don’t.”

  “Why?” Levi played innocent.

  “I’m not telling you, it’s stupid.”

  “What is it?”

  Jared walked away from the bar. “Kids.”

  “What?” Levi asked. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

  “Kids, ok? We fought about having kids.” Jared continued walking.

  “You having cold feet about being a dad or something?” I caught up with him.

  “No. It’s the opposite.”

  “Wait. What?” I stopped short.

  “What?” Jared stopped. “I didn’t say I wanted them today, but someday.”

  “And Vera doesn’t want any?” Levi asked.

  “She doesn’t know. “

  “Then she doesn’t know.” Levi shrugged. “You’re young, and no one is pushing you to have an heir—at least I don’t think so. I don’t actually understand that bear world you’re part of now.”

  “No push.” Jared ran a hand through his black hair. “Yet.”

  I smiled. It was funny to watch Jared in a position I never thought I’d see him in.

  “Wipe that smirk off your face.” Jared scowled.

  “I can’t help it.”

  “Help it, or I’ll help you.”

  “Let’s go. The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back.” And I didn’t want to be away from Daisy a second more than I had to be.

  “Fine. Let’s go.” Levi led the remaining way toward the front doors of the hotel.

  As soon as we walked into the shadows, I pulled off my shirt and took off into the sky. I met up with Levi and Jared, enjoying the wind as I ascended. We soared toward the Dragos. I wasn’t excited to see more of them, but at least we had a common enemy.

  As little as I liked the Dragos I’d met, I liked the Elders even less.

  5

  Daisy

  "Why am I not surprised they left?" I wasn't annoyed at Owen exactly. How could I be? He'd done so much to help me, and I knew his visit to the Dragos wasn’t a social one, but I was afraid. I was afraid of him getting hurt, and I was afraid the numbness would return now that we were separated. I already felt it spreading when I dealt with Taylor. I couldn’t handle if I lost all emotion again. Would I have the strength to fight to get them back? It wouldn't happen. I could hold off the numbness. I was strong enough, and it was worth any effort. Owen was worth it.

  "Because those boys never stay out of trouble." Allie leaned back against the couch. "Eventually you get used to it."

  "Is Levi's life always like this?"

  "This hard to predict? Always involved in something?" Allie stretched out her long legs. She looked far more tired than the last time I’d seen her. I felt guilty knowing Levi was away because of me. Even if she was used to it—it couldn’t have been easy.

  "Yes." I nodded.

  "Mostly, but he's tried to be home more." She rested her head back.

  "How's your job going?" I was making small talk, but I was also curious. I couldn’t imagine what life was like for a queen.

  "Busy." Allie tugged down on the fabric of her navy blue dress. "But I like it that way."

  "You have a job?" Taylor’s eyes widened. “As in a real job?”

  "Why do you sound so surprised?" Allie put a hand to her chest.

  "Because you’re a supernatural queen. Isn't your job to smile and look pretty?" Taylor crossed her arms.

  Allie took in a sharp breath. "Yeah. I'm not that kind of queen."

  Taylor nodded. "Ok. Maybe The Society has changed."

  "You're older than you look?” Allie asked.

  "Yes, but nothing crazy. I’m not a hundred or anything. And I didn't ever really kn
ow The Society. I mean my mom is friends with your grandmother-in-law.”

  "Your mother is friends with Georgina?" Allie crossed her legs and leaned forward.

  "Yes." Taylor smiled. “Old friends. Her name is Mayanne, but I can’t imagine you’ve heard of her.”

  “Mayanne?” I froze. Was she serious? "The witch who’s a healer?”

  “That’s one way to describe her sort of magic.” Taylor grinned. “You have heard of her?”

  "Yes. She’s helped me." More than once. She’d saved me. She was also the first person to suggest I had an actual chance with Owen. She’d seen something the first time she met us—even if I was close to death.

  "She's helped me too." Allie rested her hands in her lap. "I owe her my life."

  "Same here." I would never be able to repay the debt I owed her.

  "Wow.” Taylor rolled her shoulders back. “My mom has been busy."

  "Haven't you missed her?” Allie leaned back. It was a subject change, but one that made sense.

  "Recently yes, but I haven't had the nerve to face her. I felt nothing when I was an Allure." She looked at me as she said the last part.

  "The nerve?" Allie asked for clarification.

  “I left with the man my mother had a crush on.”

  "Wow. This story gets more and more interesting." Allie leaned forward.

  “Had a crush on?” That wasn’t a saying I associated with adults.

  "Yes, a crush.” Taylor shook out her long brown hair. “She didn't love him."

  “How can you be sure of that?” I was being unnecessarily nosy and borderline rude, but I didn’t care. The numbness was spreading. I was sure of it.

  "If it had been love he would have chosen her. He didn’t.”

  "Who's the he?" Allie asked.

  My stomach turned as I realized exactly who it was. Could a mother and daughter have really fought over Louie?

  My distaste must have shown on my face.

  Taylor turned to me. "You don't find Louie attractive?"

  "I haven’t seen him in a while, and I hope to avoid him for the foreseeable future."

  "Not a fan of my creator or the one I created.” Taylor stood up. “It's odd."

  "Should she be?" Allie asked. “A fan of them?”