Lust (10 page)

be the best one to help you.”

I shivered. “I have to stop it in

time.”

“This should lengthen the

window, but it won’t work miracles.

You are still going to have to work

fast.”

“Is this going to knock me out?”

I moved around the glass in my

hand.

“Quite possibly.”

“If it does, will you have Owen

come in?”

She smiled. “Absolutely. We

won’t let you out of our sight.”

“Although I don’t know what

worse could happen to me—well,

besides Owen disappearing again.”

“He’s not going anywhere. My

guess is he’s pacing outside the

door.”

“All right. I might as well get

this over with.” I closed my eyes

and drank the pungent and sour

tasting liquid. My stomach churned

and I felt my gag reflex start, but I

fought it down. It wouldn’t do me

any good if I threw it up. I’d have to

drink it again.

I handed the empty glass to

Mayanne and laid back against the

pillow. “Ugh. I don’t remember the

last one tasting quite so bad.”

“I guess I didn’t warn you about

the taste. That seemed minor

compared to the other side effects.”

My stomach churned. “It’s a one

dose thing, right? I don’t have to

take another?”

“Only one. I’m afraid two would

kill you… or at least the human part

of you.”

“Are Allures really immortal?” I

opened my eyes.

“From everything I’ve heard, but

I’d ask Violet that question.”

“I don’t want her to think that I

was asking because I was ready to

become one.” The room started

spinning and my head pounded, so

I closed my eyes again.

“She knows you don’t want to,

and if my feeling is right, she

doesn’t want you to either. She

cares about you in the only way an

Allure can.”

“You know a lot about Allures.

More than anyone else I’ve met.”

“I have a lot of free time. I’ve

read a lot.” She patted my arm.

“How are you feeling?”

“Terrible. Beyond nauseous.”

“It’s what I figured would

happen.”

“Will it get better?”

“You’ll get used to it, and

eventually the sensation will fade

completely.”

“What happens when it fades

completely?”

“It means you’re almost out of

time,” her voice was nearly

inaudible.

“So I should embrace the

terrible sensation?”

“I do have one thing that might

help. Of course it also might make

it worse.”

“What is it?” I asked nervously. I

wasn’t sure I could handle another

concoction.

“I’ll be right back.”

I opened my eyes. “You’re

leaving?”

“I’ll be less than a minute.”

I waited anxiously, and finally

she appeared holding something

that appeared to be a sweatband.

“What is that? If I didn’t know any

better I’d think it was a motion

sickness bracelet.”

“It is a motion sickness

bracelet.”

“That’s your great idea?”

“It could help with the nausea.”

She put it around my wrist.

“I really hope it works.”

“You and me both.”

“You worried I won’t be happy

with your services?”

“I want you to make it to

wherever it is you need to go. I

want you to stay human. Mate with

Owen. Have the life you want.”

“Are you sure you’ve learned

everything from books?” It didn’t

seem like she was all that surprised

Allures were still around.

“We’re all entitled to our

secrets, Daisy. Don’t you think?”

“In theory.”

“You of all people should

understand that life doesn’t always

work out the way we plan.”

“I definitely do.” I locked eyes

with hers. “You can tell me, you

know. I can keep a secret.”

“Get better, reverse your

change, and come back. We can

celebrate and share stories.”

“Okay.” It wasn’t my place to

push her. It wasn’t fair after all she

had done for me.

She patted my hand. “Give

yourself some time to rest. I can

send Owen in if you want.”

I shook my head. “No. If he sees

me like this he’s going to freak out.”

“Yet you wanted me to get him

if you blacked out?”

“That would have been

different. I need to deal with this

myself. Find my own strength.”

“That’s the right idea, but don’t

forget it’s okay to rely on a little bit

of his strength too.”

“A little bit sure, but this is going

to take a lot.”

She nodded. “I do have one

more idea.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Does any food appeal to you?”

“My stomach is doing flips.” I put

a hand on my upset stomach.

“I know, but does anything

sound good?”

“Chocolate chip cookies.” They

always sounded good.

“Perfect. I happen to have some

cookie dough waiting in the

freezer.”

“For real?”

“Don’t act so surprised. I have a

sweet tooth.”

“How did you know I’d be

craving something?”

“This isn’t my first rodeo.”

“You’ve dealt with someone else

becoming an Allure?” I sat up with a

start. That changed things. She

knew more than she was saying.

“Not this exact situation, but I

know what this type of potion does

to a person.”

“I need a few minutes, and I’ll

be fine.”

“Should I go work on those

cookies?”

“Sure. I’ll wait here.”

“You know he’s going to want to

come in.”

“Fine.” I struggled to sit up. My

body ached, and I was

overwhelmed with exhaustion.

Mayanne quickly helped prop me

up with pillows. “I’ll let him know

you’re ready to see him.”

“Thanks.” I struggled to come

up with the words to sum up my

gratitude. “For everything.” I hoped

she knew what I was really trying

to say. That I was in debt to her.

“Of course. I’m sorry this

happened to you, but maybe in the

end it will be worth it. If you can

step up to the challenge and fix

things, you’ll get your happily ever

after.”

“I’ll settle for a happily for now.”

She smiled. “You must be

feeling better. You’re making

jokes.”

“It’s all this talk about cookies.

It’s amazing what the thought of

baked goods can do to a person.”

“I’m on it.” She patted my leg

before leaving the room and closing

the door behind her.

Within seconds the door burst

open. “Are you okay?” Owen ran

over to the bed.

“I’ve been better, but I’m fine.

Mayanne is making me cookies.”

“I heard. Should I take it as a

good sign that you have an

appetite?”

“I need to get the bad taste out

of my mouth.” I downplayed how I

really felt. There was no reason to

worry him needlessly. It would only

upset him, and he’d take it out on

Violet and Hugh. If I was going to

be with the three of them, I didn’t

want to give them any more reason

to fight.

Owen put a hand on my

forehead.

“Are you checking for a fever?”

He smiled. “Maybe.”

“This stuff is supposed to help,

not hurt.”

“The important words are

‘supposed to’. We knew there was a

risk involved.”

“I trust Mayanne. If the risk was

too great she wouldn’t have given it

to me.”

“You know I trust her. I brought

you here the first time…”

“I know.” I patted the bed.

“We’ve returned to the scene.”

“We have.” He sat down beside

me, stretching his long legs out

next to mine.

“That was an amazing kiss.”

It was. He brushed his lips

against my cheek.

I took his hand in mine. “We’ve

had other good kisses, but I’ll never

forget that one.”

“That makes two of us.” His lips

moved to meet mine.

I pressed my lips against his,

ignoring my slight headache and

upset stomach.

He kissed me back harder,

wrapping his arms around me. The

nausea started to dissipate as I

soaked up his taste.

I needed him, and I buried my

hands in his hair. He cradled my

head while his tongue pushed into

my mouth. I forgot all about the

potion and my discomfort as he

deepened the kiss.

The door opened, and we broke

the kiss.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Levi stood

in the doorway with an expression

that said it all. He wasn’t sorry. I

guess a king doesn’t need to be.

Owen groaned. “You always

have impeccable timing.”

“I have to keep you on your

toes.” His eyes twinkled with

amusement. He enjoyed making

Owen uncomfortable, but I sensed

it wasn’t in a bad way.

“Is there something you

needed?” Owen leaned up on his

elbows.

“Violet wants to talk to Daisy.”

“We’ll be ready to talk to her in

a few minutes.”

Levi leaned a hand on the

doorframe. “You know as well as I

do she doesn’t want you as part of

the conversation.”

“And you think that’s okay?”

Owen sat up. “I’m seriously

supposed to leave Daisy to talk to

Violet alone?”

“I think that’s really up to Daisy

to decide.” Levi smiled

sympathetically. “I know stepping

aside isn’t easy, but none of this is

going to be easy,”

“Would you quit sounding so

wise all the time?” Owen moved off

the bed. “I’m supposed to be the

wise one keeping you in line.” He

laughed.

“Oh, how the tables have

turned.” Levi smirked.

“I might as well get this over

with.” I stood and straightened out

my dress. “Where is she?”

“Waiting downstairs in the

sitting room.”

“Are the cookies ready yet?”

Might as well get to the important

questions.

Levi laughed. “They’re in the

oven.”

“Great.” I hadn’t craved food in

a while. It was a nice change of

pace.

“I’ll walk you down.” Owen ran a

hand through his hair as though he

were checking that it wasn’t messy.

“Thanks.” I smiled. I knew I

needed to talk to Violet alone, but I

was glad Owen would still be close.

I didn’t want to rely on him, but

that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy

being with him.

Levi moved out of the doorway

and led the way back to the stairs.

“There you are.” Violet beamed

when I reached the bottom of the

stairs.

“Finally acknowledging me?”

She’d barely recognized my

existence when we first walked in.

“Hey, it was your henchman

giving me a hard time.” She nodded

toward where Owen and Levi

flanked me, probably proving her

point.

“Henchman?” Owen put a hand

to his chest. “Try boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? How completely

adorable.” Hugh walked over.

I stood at the bottom of the

stairs. “Where did you want to

talk?”

“Outside?” she suggested.

“Sure.” Fresh air sounded nice.

Owen had helped the nausea, but it

was still there. Maybe it would also

help pass the time while I waited

for the cookies.

“I’ll be right here.” Owen’s eyes

backed up his words. He wanted

me to know that even if he was

giving me space, he was still there

if I needed him.

I nodded to let him know I

understood before following Violet

out into the hot early afternoon

sun.

“You don’t look good.” She

barely waited until the front door

closed behind us before jumping in.

“Gee, nice to see you too.” I

hopped up onto the porch railing

right next to a post so I could hold

on.

“You know what I mean.” She

watched me carefully. “Are you ill?”

“I’ve been ill for a while.”

“What did Mayanne give you?”

“I assumed you knew. All I know

is it was something to slow down

the change.”

“Your body is craving emotions.

You need to manipulate.” She

leaned back against the rail next to

me.

“I have plenty of emotion.” I

thought about the plethora of

emotions that had been swirling

through me earlier lying on the bed

with Owen.

“You’re going to have to give in.

You’ll feel better.”

“And I’ll lose more of myself. It’s

not worth the risk.” It would never

be. I refused to give up my

humanity until I had absolutely no

choice.

“How have you been doing?”

she rested her hand between us.

Her nails had grown longer.

“Is this question different from

the last one?”

“I’m asking more broadly.” She

tapped her nails.

“I’m scared, an emotional

basket case, and…” I glanced over