Lust (17 page)

creature walked into the light.

“You’re a cat. A cat who can

talk?” I stared at the orange and

white stripped animal.

“You’re a man with wings. A

man with wings that can talk?” he

mocked.

“Have you been here the whole

time?” Daisy asked.

“Concerned I witnessed your

scene of intimacy?” He walked

toward us. “Don’t concern yourself

with that, I’ve seen plenty, although

much less over the past decades.”

“Are you Violet’s cat?” I couldn’t

really believe we were engaging in

conversation with a feline.

“I prefer to view our relationship

as that of equals.”

“But how does she view it?”

Daisy put a hand on her hip.

“I don’t know. I’ve never asked

her. Maybe you should next time

you see her.”

“And when that will happen is

the million dollar question.”

“Where is she?” Glendale walked

around us in the circle. “What are

you doing here?”

“Isn’t the bigger question who

we are?” I still couldn’t believe I

was talking to a cat. At first I

assumed he was a shifter, but most

shifters couldn’t talk in their animal

form. Pterons are the exception

since we stay partially human when

we shift. I wondered if Glendale

was something else entirely.

“I know who you are. Do you

think I’d have been so hospitable if

I didn’t?”

“I don’t know much about cats

being hospitable.” Daisy fidgeted

uncomfortably as Glendale rubbed

against her legs.

“Violet told me all about you.”

He moved over to my legs. I

wanted to push him away, but he

seemed talkative. “Both of you.”

“Did she tell you what she was

going to do to help me?” Daisy bent

down to his level.

He bumped his head against

hers. She startled and moved back.

“No.”

“And here I thought you could

help.”

“I can help.” He purred.

“But you don’t know anything.” I

held out a hand to Daisy and

helped her up.

“I know plenty.” The word

plenty came out like a purr.

Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Then

why is Violet in trouble with the

Force?”

“Because of you.”

“Because of me?” Daisy put her

hand to her chest.

“Daisy has done nothing wrong.”

“Except refuse the gift.”

Glendale rubbed against Daisy’s

legs again. “But I said she was in

trouble because of Daisy, not that

Daisy caused it.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning she’s in trouble for

aiding you when her superior told

her not to.”

“Louie.” His name slipped off my

tongue with distaste.

“Exactly.”

“What are they going to do to

her? And Hugh?”

“They have Hugh too?” Glendale

twitched his tail.

“Yes.”

“Wonderful.” He purred loud and

deep.

“Wonderful?”

“That man needs to be put in his

place.”

“Please answer me. What are

they going to do with her?”

“They’ll let her go with a

warning. No one really wants to

mess with Violet. It’s too

dangerous. She’s stronger than half

the Force.”

“Then why did she let them take

her in?”

“Because it’s the rules.”

“Do you know how to find the

Force? The island it’s on?”

“Yes, we will leave tomorrow

first thing.”

“You’re coming?”

“I need to see that Violet is

released immediately.”

“But not tonight?”

“No. Not on the first night of the

blood moon festival.”

“Scared of the Dryads?” I raised

an eyebrow. Unless these Dryads

were completely different than the

ones back home, the cat had

nothing to worry about. They loved

nature and animals no matter what

form.

“It’s not the Dryads I’m afraid

of.” His eyes narrowed down into

small slits.

“Then who is it?”

“I want you to sleep tonight.

You’ll be safer if you stay indoors.”

He circled Daisy’s legs.

“The Dryads invited us to the

festival.”

“Sure they did. I’m not surprised

at all.”

“So they were knowingly luring

us to danger?”

“The festival itself is safe, but

traveling to and from isn’t.”

“But I thought Allures were

super powerful. Who would hurt

me?” Daisy sounded more confident

than usual.

“You are still partly human. I

can tell.”

“What if you’re the one trapping

us?” I asked. “You want us to stay

here.”

“You were already planning on

staying. I heard the two of you.”

“I’ve changed my mind.” I

wasn’t getting tricked again,

especially not by a cat.

“I’m not going out there

tonight.” Glendale turned his back

and raised his tail.

“Not even to get to Violet

sooner?” Daisy made her voice low

and sweet.

“Violet will be fine another

night. Me, on the other hand, do

you think I’m good at defending

myself?”

“Cats are really clever, and don’t

you have claws and sharp teeth?”

“I appreciate you making me

sound like a lion, but I’m small in

size.”

I heard footsteps. “Where you

expecting someone else?” I asked

the cat.

The fur on the back of Glendale

stuck up. “No, this is trouble. Hide

Daisy. They came for her.”

“Where?” Daisy asked quietly.

“Where can we hide?”

The front door swung open, and

I instinctively jumped in front of

Daisy. Glendale arched his back.

A man dressed in a black suit

with a matching black tie strode

into the room. “Well, well, well.

This was easy.”

“What are you doing here?” I

glared at the intruder. He was even

taller and larger than me. Since

he’d opened the door on his own

without the sound of a key, I

assumed he was an Allure.

“I’m collecting my bounty. It was

much easier than expected.”

“What bounty?” I didn’t know

what he was talking about, but I

knew it couldn’t be good.

“For the new Allure. It was twice

the usual bounty reward. The Force

must really want her.”

“The Force?” I struggled to stay

in control. I needed a plan. I

couldn’t let him take Daisy, but I

had no idea how many others were

waiting outside.

“Yes. I see you’ve heard of our

esteemed body of law

enforcement.”

“Maybe.”

“Daisy? Come out little one.”

I held a hand behind me to keep

her back. There was no reason for

her to engage with this guy. I

glanced around the room. I didn’t

see anywhere to hide her if a fight

broke out. Hopefully she’d stay low.

“You’ve been a bad girl, and

you’re leaving Violet and Hugh to

pay for it all alone.” He snickered.

Daisy made a low noise behind

me.

“You can make this easy or

hard.”

“We’re not going with you.”

Daisy stepped to my side.

“Of course you are. The question

is whether you come easily, or

whether you get yourself hurt in the

process. Either way, you are coming

with us.”

“Us? I only see you.”

“Oh yeah?” He smiled. “Come in,

Barton.”

Another man, dressed in a

similar manner as the first one

walked in carrying a small cane.

I smiled to myself. I could take

two Allures easily, with or without a

cane. The trick was keeping Daisy

out of the way so she didn’t get

hurt. “We’re not going with you.”

“I don’t really care whether you

come. The bounty is on the girl, not

you.”

“She isn’t going anywhere

without me.” I gritted my teeth.

“Then come join the fun.” His

lips twisted into an evil smile.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Have it your way.” He gestured

for Barton to turn off the light.

As soon as the light switched off

my eyes quickly adjusted to the

darkness. Suddenly a hazy black

shadow appeared in front of me. I

stepped away, but then the

shadowy haze appeared to multiply,

until a half dozen surrounded me. I

was separated from Daisy.

I punched one, but my arm went

through it as though it were a

vapor. I tried to step outside of it,

but I couldn’t. I was completely

engulfed by the darkness. All of the

black vapors coalesced together

around me, creating a single form

that nearly suffocated me.

“Owen!” Daisy screamed from

behind me. I turned to watch the

first intruder throw her over his

shoulder.

I fought harder against the dark

vapor, but I couldn’t move. I was

stuck in the dark presence. The

harder I fought, the more labored

my breathing became until I felt

suffocated.

“Have fun with the Shadow,” He

called before he walked to the door.

“Daisy!” I screamed in vain as

she was pulled from the house. Out

of the corner of my eye I noticed

Glendale slip outside. I hoped he

was really on our side and stronger

than he claimed to be.

13

DAISY

Istruggled against the man holding

me. He was an Allure, I could feel

it, but he seemed even stronger as

I kicked his chest as hard as I could.

“Stop fighting me.” He pressed

down on my legs so I couldn’t kick

anymore.

“No.” I punched his back. “I will

not stop fighting until you let me go

and bring me back to my friend.”

“Your friend?” His voice was

hoarse and low. “Something tells

me he’s more than a friend.”

“What the hell do you care?”

“Because that’s what is causing

all the problems.”

“Last time I checked I wasn’t

causing any problems. Other people

were causing the problems.” I

wriggled against him again, but all

that got me was a tighter grip.

“Violet and Hugh are in a heap

of trouble because of you. You’ve

been given a gift, quit fighting it.”

“You’re an Allure?”

“No kidding, cupcake.” He pulled

me along across a dense forest.

Wasn’t there anyone around to see?

I was in trouble, but that didn’t

mean I wasn’t worried about Owen.

“That’s why you’re such a jerk.”

“Oh yeah?” He roughly adjusted

me in his arms. “Hating your own

now?”

“Not my own. I don’t want to be

one.” I gritted my teeth. I was

angry, and there was no one

around to calm me down. Maybe

that was a good thing.

“Not wanting something doesn’t

change it.”

“It should.”

“You sound like a spoiled brat.”

He tightened his grip.

“You’re hurting me,” I grunted.

“No I’m not.”

“How would you—”

He laughed. “Can’t fool an

Allure, sweetie.”

“Could you stop with the pet

names?”

“Don’t like them?”

“No. Not at all.” I kept him

talking to keep myself sane. Silence

wasn’t going to be a good thing.

“What would you rather me call

you?”

“Nothing.” I tried again to

loosen his grip. It resulted in him

holding me even tighter.

“I have to call you something.

You won’t care what I call you in a

few days anyway.”

“A few days?” My chest

clenched. “That’s all the time I have

left?”

“You make it sound like you’re

dying.”

“I am. Losing my ability to feel

is death.” I stopped struggling. If he

tightened his hold again I wouldn’t

be able to breath.

“Quit it. Stop feeling sorry for

yourself.”

“Why?” I ground my teeth. “I’m

about to lose everything I’ve ever

loved and makes me who I am.”

“You’re going to live forever.

You’re going to be one of the most

powerful creatures any world has

ever seen. You should feel lucky.”

“There’s nothing lucky about my

life.” That wasn’t entirely true. I

was lucky to be born to a loving

family and to have found Owen.

Having his love was lucky, but then

there was everything else. The

magic, the vampires, becoming an

Allure. They were the antithesis of

luck.

“Stop.” He spun me around. “It’s

time for you to face the music.”

I shook my head. It was the only

resistance I could give. “I know you

can’t feel, but I can. I’m going to

enjoy the last days I have. Please.

Let me see Owen.”

“Why? What’s the point?”

“I love him.”

“And that matters? Spending

more time with him will only make

it harder on him. It’s been a long

time since I’ve loved anyone, but I

wouldn’t think that’s how you’d

want to treat him. Is it?” He

sounded like Violet. Maybe that’s