Love (The Allure Chronicles Book 4) (7 page)

Allie hit unlock and the lights flashed on a lavender Land Rover.

"Purple." Taylor rocked back on her heels.

"My dad had it special ordered. Don't ask." Allie opened the driver’s side. 

"It's pretty." It was. Different, but pretty.

"Thanks." Allie smiled.  

I got into the backseat behind Allie. Taylor sat next to me after Hailey immediately settled herself into the front seat. She turned around to look at us. "I'm sure this goes without saying, but Allie can't get hurt on this trip. Neither can you, Daisy."

"What about me?" Taylor put a hand to her chest.

Hailey seemed to mull it over. "You're in the same category as me. If you get hurt, that sucks, but the first priority is to protect the others."

"I agree with the Daisy thing. The essence she carries is worth more than my mortal life." Taylor nodded as if to herself.

"And Allie is queen." Hailey touched Allie’s headrest.

Taylor stretched out her legs in front of her. "I could care less about the queen thing, but she's a mom. Her kids need her, which means she takes priority."

Hailey and I exchanged glances. Then Hailey and Allie did. That was not the response any of us expected.

"I can feel again. Kind of. It's not my fault,” Taylor mumbled.

"That's thoughtful." Allie turned to look at her.

"Don’t dwell on it. It's not likely to happen again." Taylor stared down at the floor.

"Won’t you miss getting to be a mom if you become an Allure again?" I couldn't resist the question because it was one I'd started to think about myself. Having kids had never been a worry of mine— until I met Owen. Now that I knew who I wanted to have kids with, I found I cared. 

“Although I look young, I’m not. That ship has sailed.”

“But your body is young. I bet you could still.” I pressed even though I knew it wasn’t a good idea.

“I get it. You want to make babies with Owen.”

“Oh please. None of that.” Hailey turned and made a face.

“I’m just saying.” Taylor put a hand between us on the seat. “Just because you want something doesn’t mean the rest of us do.”

“Ok. I won’t bring it up again.” I was also done trying to convince her to become human. It was her choice. Not mine.

“Tell me where I need to go.” Allie pulled away from the curb and out onto the road. 

“This is your last chance to stay back.” Hailey turned to Allie.

“Why are you wasting your breath trying to convince me of something you know I’ll never agree to?”

“I’m easing my conscious.” Hailey leaned back in her seat.

“Ok. You’ve done it. Let’s move on.”

“Ok then. Head toward the interstate.”

N
ow that I
knew our visit with the Dragos would be even less friendly than I originally thought, I was reluctant to enter their den. A den. What high level creature even called their home a den anymore? It's as if they were stuck in ancient times. And maybe they were. Unfortunately their time and ours now matched up, and we were going to have to work together.

I would have blamed my lack of knowledge about Dragos on my ignoring history lessons, but those history lessons didn’t exist. The Society was concerned with reminding Pterons that we were the strongest and most powerful beings. Acknowledging that at other times we had enemies equal to us in strength didn’t fit into the grand scheme. We were told Dragos and Allures were no longer in our world, and that many of the other creatures I’d encounter recently didn’t even exist. I’d like to think they were protecting us, but they weren’t. Our leaders were protecting themselves.

I glanced at Levi. Would he have done the same thing? I couldn’t imagine him willfully withholding information from the next generation, but I didn’t really know what he’d do if he thought his power was in jeopardy.

He’d be doing
this
. His power—and his kingdom—was in jeopardy, and he was meeting with potential allies. Levi wouldn’t make the same mistakes as his father. I was sure of it.

Wyatt walked into the den first. "Gentleman, our guests have arrived."

I followed behind him and took in the five men seated in a semi-circle around a roaring fire. Each was dressed in matching black pants and black leather boots. Their shirtless torsos and arms all bore intricate tattoos much the way Wyatt’s and Troy’s did.

All five men turned and stared as we entered. 

"Oh no." One man with long dark hair stood up. "Wyatt, you didn't." 

I exchanged a look with Jared and Levi. Did he know what we were? It wouldn't have surprised me. Levi was very well known in the paranormal world, but I hadn't realized he was well known by creatures that usually lived in other realms.

Wyatt held up his hands in front of him. "They can help." 

"Birds?" The long haired Drago said with disdain. "You brought in birds?”

"You didn't just call the King of The Society a bird." A vein in Jared’s neck bulged. I felt the same anger he did, but I forced myself to keep my cool.

"He's not my king." The man scowled.

"Who I am is not the issue. We were called in." Levi strode further into the den. "We are here by the invitation of your leader."

"Leader?" The man laughed. "You think Wyatt is our leader?”

"That is what he led us to believe." Levi turned toward Wyatt. "I do hope we weren't further misled."

“You were not misled.” Wyatt shook his head. "I am one of the leaders. Remember I told you I was taking you to meet with the others. There were seven of us."

"Where's the seventh?" Jared glanced around the small, dark den.

"Didn't Wyatt tell you?" The man rubbed the back of his neck.

"About Troy?" I asked. “He told Levi and me. Evidently Jared didn't know yet."

"Wyatt is of equal stature to us. Do not confuse that again.” The still unidentified Drago stepped toward us.

"Or what?" Jared thrust out his chest. He didn't do well with people telling him what to do. 

"Or you don't want to know. You are too young to remember what Dragos will do to birds they no longer wish to deal with." The Drago’s eyes brightened as if excited to show us exactly what he meant.

"Ok. We're out of here." Jared pointed his thumb toward the entrance.

"Wait." Wyatt stepped between Jared and the other Drago. "My brothers will hold their tongues. I asked you here for a reason. We need to work together."

"I thought you found real help." Another of the Dragos stood from the circle. He had a large scar that ran over his entire torso.

"They are real. I can vouch for the blond one at least." Wyatt pointed to me.

He was going to vouch for me? I hadn't been aware he even tolerated my presence. To be fair I hadn’t been a big fan of him when we first met. I still wasn’t a big fan, but he had led me to Daisy.

"Is he the one in love with the Allure?" A third Drago stood. "The one who nearly gave up his wings?"

"That's me." I had no problem owning up to my decision. I would make the same one over and over again. I would do anything for Daisy. "Love can require sacrifice."

"But your wings?" The man touched his back on the spot where his own wings likely hid. 

"I did say sacrifice." I assumed wings held the same significance for Dragos as they did for Pterons. They were our strongest tie to our supernatural side. A part that was almost impossible to separate from our identity. Almost being the key word. I would have done it for her.

"That is admirable." One of the previously quiet men said. He was the only one of the group to wear a beard. "It is rare that a man is willing to give so much of himself for a mate."

"Owen is a rare one." Jared grinned. With Jared it was often hard to tell whether he was insulting you or not. When in doubt, I always assumed he was. That was how our friendship worked. And it was a friendship despite the strain. We'd known each other since we were kids, and I never doubted he would have my back even if he wanted me to believe he wouldn't. Plus, I respected his dedication to Levi. I knew what it was like to be best friends with a king. It came with its perks but also its drawbacks. There were many expectations, some that were impossible to live up to. 

"Do they understand what's at stake?" The first man asked. "The danger we all face if we let the Elders continue their plan for domination?” 

"Possibly." Wyatt nodded. "Although I doubt they fully understand the repercussions if we fail at this war.”

"War?" Jared arched an eyebrow. "No one said anything about war. Unless that was another detail you left out, Levi."

"I didn't leave that one out." Levi kept his eyes on the Dragos. "That would be quite a substantial one to forget."

"We are still hoping to avoid an outright war." Wyatt seemed to playing the peacekeeper. He wanted our help even if none of his colleagues, or brothers as he called them, agreed. "That's why you're here."

"Yes, why we're here." I grabbed onto what actually mattered. "Let's get down to that." Usually I wasn't the impatient one, but I was now. I needed to get back to Daisy. What if she needed me? Or what if she became numb? I couldn't ignore the fear I might lose her again.  

"We need to weaken them now." The bearded man crossed his muscular arms. "It's the only way. If we wait until the time it takes to mount a traditional offensive it will be too late."

"Too late for what?" Jared asked. 

"For everything."  The Drago with the scar spoke in a low voice.

"Again I will repeat myself.” Jared rolled his shoulders. "Before what happens?"

"Before the Elders completely destroy us all." The first Drago who stood up explained. “Including The Society.”

"Or worse." The bearded one leaned in. "Take it over."

"A takeover would be worse than destruction?” Levi asked.

"If you're questioning that, then you've definitely never met the Elders." 

 I had met them, and I didn't doubt the Dragos on this for a minute. The Elders were ruthless and would hurt others for sheer amusement. The untold pain and suffering they could cause might well be worse than the destruction of The Society. I hated to agree with a Drago, but I did. 

"What's your plan?" It was time to get down to business. 

"We are going to need Daisy for that." Wyatt averted his eyes from me.

"Daisy?" Rage swelled through me. “Are you kidding me?" I could barely speak. Had they brought us out here for that ridiculous idea?  

"She's who they want most." Wyatt finally met my eyes. “And no. I’m not kidding.”

"Which is why she's going nowhere near them." They were crazy if they thought I’d put her in that kind of danger. “Do you think giving them what they want will help anything?” I was so angry I could barely see straight. The rock walls of the cave felt as if they were closing in.

"I get you want to protect her, but this might be our only chance." The bearded man tried to calm me.

“The only chance for what?” I strode toward him. “Your only chance to get your friend back?”

"This involves more than Troy. Don’t pretend otherwise." Wyatt shifted his weight from foot to foot.

I shrugged it off. “Oh yeah? Then why are you willing to turn over Daisy to get him back?”

“I never said turn her over.” Wyatt grunted.

“What do you mean then?” Levi put a hand on my arm. "There has to be another way. We're not putting Daisy in danger."

"She's already in danger.” The Drago with the scar stoked the fire. “The Elders want her, and the Elders get whatever they want."

"We're protecting her. She’s safe." Otherwise I never would have left her side. 

"For right now maybe." He dropped the stick he was using beside the fire.

"For the sake of argument, not saying we're going to do it, but what would this plan involve exactly?" Jared stepped closer to the fire.

"Don't you dare." I glared at him. I would fight him if I had to.

"Chill. We need to examine all angles, and I never said we'd do it." Jared sent me a warning with his eyes.  

"If this was about Vera—"

"Don't bring my wife into this. And yes, I would be scared, but I also know she would insist on doing what needed to be done. She hates hiding. I'm not going to pretend to know Daisy well, but from what I've seen she isn't one to hide either. If she was she'd have never come back to New Orleans to get answers." His expression softened.

"He's right you know." Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. "She's not the type to sit back and let things happen around her."

"I never asked your opinion." I scowled.

"They make a good point, Owen." Levi spoke carefully.

"Oh no you don't. You of all people know how I feel." Levi had been beside himself each and every time Allie was in danger. 

"I do know, which is why I understand we might want to listen to them. Allie never wanted to sit back. It terrified her more than the actual threats she faced."

"We should listen?" My entire body tensed. “You think the decision of whether to involve Daisy is yours to make?" King or not, I wasn’t letting Levi put Daisy in danger.

"You love her. I get that. We all get that. But what's happening involves us all." Levi locked his eyes with mine.

"I'm leaving." I turned toward the mouth of the cave. "You don't want to help me, then don't."

"That's not what I’m saying. But let's say you get her and leave. What's your plan?" He pulled my arm.

"Hide? Even if your uncle finds a cure for the Allure stuff, do you really think the Elders will sit back and let you live a happily ever after?" Wyatt walked over.  

I buried my face in my hands. "This sucks."

"Most things like this do suck." Jared shrugged. “It’s called life.”

"I'm not saying I’ll agree, but I'll listen to the plan."

The bearded guy nodded. "At least that's a start."

N
o matter
how comfortable a car is, there is something unsettling about sitting in the backseat. It works for short trips, but not for long ones. Especially when it’s a trip that may be leading you toward danger. I’d spent nearly the whole trip across country with the Allures sitting in the back, and here I was doing it again. It was like a return to childhood.

“Please tell me you’re not getting car sick.” Taylor scooted closer to the door on her side.

“Nope. Not car sick.” Thankfully I’d outgrown that problem. But I was nauseous. My stomach was lurching, and I felt clammy.

“Then why do you look sick?” She scrunched up her face.

“I’m stressed. I guess I can feel that still.” I figured I had every reason to be. My life was spiraling out of control, and I saw no end of it in sight. Stress made me sick sometimes when I let it get too bad. The silver lining was that I wouldn’t have been stressed if I were completely numb.

“I’m stressed, and I don’t look like that.” Taylor leaned on her door.

“You’re stressed?” I raised an eyebrow. “Somehow I doubt that.”

“Of course I am. My future is in the balance as well as yours. Of course you are too focused on your own problems to realize that. I get it, no offense taken.”

“I realize I’m not the only one with problems, but stressed is not a word I’d use for you.”

“What words would you use?” Taylor pulled her legs up on the seat next to her.

I chose my response carefully. “Determined.”

“Crazy,” Hailey said at nearly the same time as I spoke.

“Crazy?” Taylor leaned forward toward the front. “Did you just call me crazy?”

“I described you as crazy. You asked, and I answered.”

“I asked Daisy.” Taylor leaned back in her seat. “Not you.”

“Next time make that clearer.” Hailey looked back at us.

“Why would you call me crazy?” Taylor crossed her arms.

“Because you want to be an emotionless zombie.” Hailey kept facing forward.

“That’s not what an Allure is.” Taylor sighed. “Any other Allure would tell you that. Daisy’s situation isn’t normal.”

“Except that Allures can’t feel, so they don’t know what they are missing. I’m not going to trust their judgement.”

“It’s amazing.” Taylor closed her eyes. “The power, the weightlessness.”

“Uh, weightlessness?” Hailey turned around. “You fly?”

“No.” Taylor sighed dramatically. “I am talking figurative weightlessness. There is nothing to weigh you down.”

“Meaning no people,” I said under my breath.

Taylor heard me. “There are people. I can’t help that you’re messed up, and it didn’t work.”

“How bad did it hurt?” I asked a question that had been bothering me for a while. “I mean when they took it.”

“You’re asking how bad it hurt when my essence was stolen from me?” She placed her feet back on the floor. “Don’t beat around the bush. It was stolen. And it hurt so bad I lost consciousness.”

I winced. Taylor had been through more than I’d given her credit for. “I know it was stolen, and I am sorry it hurt. I was trying to be delicate with the subject. And I want to know what would happen if we did find a way to give it to you.” I knew the process couldn’t be worse than the numbness, but that didn’t mean I was looking forward to it.

“A way that doesn’t involve killing you.” Allie changed lanes. “You’re not giving anyone anything if it involves that.”

“I think I’d rather be dead than lose feeling.” I accidentally spoke the words out loud. I wasn’t going back to the numbness. I refused to.

The car got silent. I watched the flat landscape whirl by. I’d never imagined I’d spend so much time driving the interstates. If I never had to go on a road trip again I’d be thrilled. I preferred traveling the Pteron way. Flight.

“The numbness was that bad?” Taylor asked surprisingly softly.

I tore my eyes from the window. “Yes. Worse than anything I’d experienced. I lost myself. I lost everything.”

Allie caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “That sounds horrible.”

“It was.” I tried to push the memories from my mind. Instead I focused on feelings. On the way Owen’s hand felt in mine.

“We won’t let that happen again.” She met my eyes again. “I promise.”

No one could promise that, but I appreciated the sentiment. “Thank you.”

“Do we have a plan?” Taylor asked.

“Shouldn’t you be the one with the plan?” Hailey rolled down her window, filling the car with wind and road noise. “You are the one who suggested we do this.”

“You’re supposed to be the super strong Pteron. I assumed you had one.” Taylor’s leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“You didn’t know that until after you suggested this road trip. Plus, you were willing to go with just Daisy,” Hailey replied without turning around.

Taylor opened her eyes. “I knew you would go. You wouldn’t let your brother’s girlfriend get hurt.”

“You didn’t know that when you made the suggestion.” Hailey closed her window, sending the car back into silence aside from her argument with Taylor.

“I did. I figured that much out as soon as I met you.”

“Ok. Who cares?” Allie snapped. “As riveting as your argument is, it doesn’t help us. We need a plan. I’m doing my part. I’m driving us.”

“Hopefully in the right direction,” Hailey mumbled.

“Hopefully?” Allie turned to Hailey. “What does that mean?”

“Only that we’re going toward where I last saw the Shadow. That doesn’t mean it will still be there.”

“Isn’t this something we should have discussed before we left?” Allie slowed down a little.

“We didn’t have much time.” Hailey shot Taylor a pointed look. “She rushed us out of there.”

“Because we have no time to waste, ok?” Taylor glared. “Do you want Daisy to lose her ability to feel again? Or have her captured by the Elders before we have time to change her?”

“Then we plan now.” Allie sped back up to her previous speed. “We still have a ways to go. What is a Shadow’s weakness?”

“I’m not sure it even has a weakness.” Hailey looked out the weekend. “It’s horrible. Horrible.”

“Then what are we even doing?” I asked. “If there is no way to defeat a Shadow?”

“There are ways.” Taylor twirled a piece of her hair around her finger. “There are always ways.”

“Ways that don’t lead to one of us getting killed?” Allie glanced at us in the rearview mirror.

“Getting picky, are you?” Taylor smiled.

Had she actually made a joke? “Let’s get back to the first problem. How do we find it?”

“It’s either still there, or it’s been called back to whoever sent it in the first place.” Taylor looked out the window.

“Or it could be waiting for Hailey to return?” I suggested.

“That’s a possibility.” Hailey appeared to mull it over. “It knows I escaped. I’m sure of it.”

“Then maybe we can draw it out.” That would help with the finding part. I still had no clue how we would defeat it if we ever got the chance.

“Draw it out?” Allie returned to the right lane. “That doesn’t sound like the best idea.”

“But it’s our only idea. Whoever sent the Shadow didn’t want us to get the herb. It might be waiting for us. But even more, why didn’t they want Hailey getting the herb?”

“Because they didn’t want you having it.” Hailey followed my logic.

“Exactly. So if I show up, it’s going to come after me, because I’m the one it really wants to kill or bring back. I don’t even know which.”

“What if instead of sending the Shadow out they send themselves?” Allie asked. “Then what? We walk right into their trap.”

“We’re likely walking into a trap either way.” Taylor tore her eyes from the window. “It’s all about knowing about the trap so you don’t get stuck.”

“As Allie just pointed out, we don’t know what’s going to be there.” Hailey rested her arm on the center console. “This would be a whole lot easier if we knew.”

“Wouldn’t everything be easier that way?” Taylor stretched her arm out along the top of the back seat.

“There’s one other option.” Hailey pulled her legs up and turned toward Allie.

“What’s that?” I waited anxiously to hear.

“We try to get more of the herb.”

“By the way you described things, I assumed the Shadow got all of it.” It had seemed so do or die, as if there was no other choice.

“The Shadow took all of the easy stuff to get…” Hailey trailed off.

“Meaning what exactly?” I asked for clarification. “There’s some that’s harder to get to?”

“Very hard to get to.” Hailey grazed her teeth over her bottom lip.

“But not impossible?” A small ray of hope swelled through me.

“Not impossible… in theory.”

“We need to find that Shadow anyway.” Allie turned her brights on momentarily as if to see better. She turned them off. “It took your uncle.”

“Yes. We do need to, but he would tell us to find the herb first.”

“You only just met Jim, yet you know what he’d tell you to do?” Taylor rolled her eyes.

“And you know him so well?” Hailey turned around. “Care to tell us what you think he’d really say?”

“I was a friend of Jim back when I was human. He was the type who was all about focusing on the big picture. Which would mean get the herb.” Taylor put her arms behind her head and leaned back.

“How is that any different than what I said?” Hailey frowned.

“The way you made it sound it was about sacrificing himself. That’s not what Jim would be thinking. He’d be thinking about proving his point. Showing everyone he was right. He set out to find an herb. He told you it would work. He wants to be proven right. On a broader scale he probably wants to be proven right about other things. About the Allures I’m sure.”

“Does the motivation matter?” Hailey sighed. “It leads us to the same conclusion. We find the herb before worrying about Jim.”

“Unless we easily find the Shadow.” I figured ‘not impossible’ meant it wouldn’t be easy to find more of the herb. Of course defeating a Shadow wouldn’t be any easier.

“Yes. Because it might be safer than trying to find more of the herb.” Hailey said exactly what I was afraid of.

“Fighting a vapor that suffocates you might be safer than hunting for more of the herb?” Allie gasped. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“I never got a chance to answer.” Taylor complained.

“Answer what?” Hailey turned around.

“Whether the motivation matters.” Taylor ran her fingers over the leather of the seats.

“That was a rhetorical question.” Hailey shook her head and looked back toward the front. “Don’t go too fast here. I’ve gotten a ticket on this stretch.”

“When were you driving this way?” Allie asked. “You always fly.”

“I was with someone who I couldn’t fly.” She gave Allie the universal look to stop asking questions. I wondered what secret Hailey was trying to hide.

“Oh.” Allie nodded. “Gotcha.”

I figured it wasn’t my place to ask questions, but there were so many secrets swirling around that I couldn’t quite keep up.

Taylor returned to her point even if no one else cared to listen. “But it does matter. Motivation matters a lot.”

Hailey sighed. “Why?”

“Because motivation always matters.” Taylor crossed her arms.

“And a statement like that is enough? You think that proves anything?” Hailey asked. “That’s so circular.”

“Guys, stop fighting.” Allie tightened her hands on the wheel.

“We will once she stops antagonizing me.” Taylor groaned.

“No, seriously. Stop. I just heard something funny.” Allie leaned in closer to the wheel.

“What do you mean?” Hailey leaned forward as well. “I hear better than you, and I didn’t hear anything.”

“You were probably too busy arguing to hear. Let’s all shut up and listen.” Allie gritted her teeth.

The car fell into silence.

There was a wailing sound like a strong wind. It wasn’t coming from outside the windows like it normally would. It sounded almost like it was coming from the engine. At another time or place I would have written it off as engine trouble, but at the current moment, we had to assume it was something far worse than that.

“Ok. That’s weird.” Hailey broke the silence. The wailing got louder, and it almost sounded like a cry.

“Do I keep driving?” Allie whispered.

“Yes.” Hailey answered immediately. “Until we figure out what we’re going to do.”

“We’re going to keep driving with something under the hood of the car?” Taylor’s eyes bugged out. “That’s nuts.”

“What should we do instead? Stop and walk the rest of the way? Or how about stop and open the hood and face whatever it is woefully unprepared?” Hailey put her ear to the dashboard. “It’s not getting louder. That’s a good thing. I guess.”

“We’ve been unprepared this whole trip. What’s going to change now?” Taylor looked over her shoulder out the back window. The wailing grew louder again, and this time it was clearly a cry.

“We have no good options right now.” I admitted the truth. “But we haven’t had any good options this whole time. I think we need to find a safe place to stop. And I mean safe in relative terms.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere.” Allie pointed out the front. “Do we pick an exit and hope for the best, or pull over on the side of the road?”

Hailey nodded. “Ok, let’s be logical here. Is there something wrong with the engine? Is that possible or does it have to be something supernatural?”

“What normal engine problem sounds like that?” Taylor asked. “I may not be a mechanic, but I’ve never heard a sound like that before.”

“I don’t know.” Hailey put her head in her hand. “I’m just trying to be thorough.”

“Maybe it’s the Shadow.” Taylor folded her arms over her chest. “Maybe it found us.”

I shivered. “A Shadow in the engine?”

“Stop the car.” Hailey gripped the dashboard. “Stop it.”

“Now?” Allie asked with alarm.

“If Taylor’s right… even if there’s a chance… We can’t just stay in this car and wait it out like sitting ducks.” Hailey’s face had gone ashen.

“A Shadow could hurt us through a car?” Allie slowed down and pulled over to the shoulder.

“Based on what I saw that Shadow do earlier?” Hailey unlocked her door. “Yes. I’d believe it could do anything. “