Lust (26 page)

Arabella was dressed to the nines?

“If we stop the change, you’ll

regret it. You’ll spend the rest of

your dismal short life wondering

‘what if’. ‘What if’ you had taken the

chance?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’d

always regret if I did change.”

She laughed dryly. “Now we

both know that’s not true. You

won’t feel regret as an Allure.”

“And that changes everything?”

“Yes.” She stood.

“Please stop the change. I’ll do

anything.” I wasn’t above groveling

at her feet if it would help.

“Be careful what you offer.”

“I already told you I’d rather die

than lose the ability to feel.” I

wasn’t suicidal. I’d never do that to

the people in my life, but I wouldn’t

be me if I changed. I wasn’t about

to spend thousands of years

roaming the earth as a paranormal

creature that manipulated people,

even destroyed their lives, on a

whim. It couldn’t happen. That

wasn’t me at all.

“Do you want to see?”

“See what?”

“What your life could be?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you ever stop asking

questions?”

“Not when my life and future are

on the line.”

“Answer me. Do you want to

know?”

“I don’t understand what you

are even asking. What are you

offering to show me?”

“The future.”

“You can see into the future?”

“I can show you.”

“I don’t want to know.” The

decision came swiftly, and I

stormed back inside. Some things

were better left unseen.

21

OWEN

Ipractically ran inside the palace.

Violet had to grab my arm to slow

me down, and even then I was

tempted to brush her off. I needed

to get to Daisy. Violet had assured

me she was fine, but how would

she even know? She’d been gone

awhile to come get me.

I’d accepted the simple white

robe without protest. I’d have

walked around naked if it meant

seeing Daisy. As soon as the doors

open I sprinted across the infinite

marble floors of the palace.

“Owen!” Daisy ran toward me

with her dark hair falling down her

back. I pulled her into my arms and

let my lips immediately find hers. I

didn’t care about the audience. We

were together, and that was all that

mattered.

“Are they always like this?” A

male voice asked.

Daisy broke the kiss, and I

reluctantly pulled away. I satisfied

myself by slipping her hand in mine

before we continued toward the

semi-circle of thrones that seated

the Elders.

“Usually. They are rather lovey-

dovey.” Violet smiled.

“We have never had a Pteron

inside this palace.”

“I appreciate the grant of an

audience. I would do anything to

secure Daisy’s human nature.” I

kept my voice even and calm even

though my heart was racing.

“You did it too. Promising

anything? That’s a dangerous

promise to make.” An attractive

blonde stood from her throne and

walked toward us. “I would have

thought your king would have

taught you better.”

“My king taught me to stand up

for what I believe in and protect

those I love with every ounce of

strength I have.” I intended to do

both no matter what it cost me.

“Daisy is agreeing to decline the

greatest gift imaginable,

immortality and power beyond your

wildest dreams.” The apparent

leader stepped down and joined the

blonde.

“She knows what she wants.” I

squeezed her hand.

“But would you do the same?

Would you give up your greatest

gift?” The leader studied my face.

“Yes.” I didn’t waver.

“That’s what love is about it,

isn’t it? Sacrifice.” He stood

completely still in front of us.

“That’s part of it, but it’s so

much more.” I kept eye contact,

wanting him to understand there

wasn’t a chance I would step down.

“But sacrifice is always part of it.

Whether it’s a small sacrifice of

where or how to live, or a big one,

like who and what you will be.”

“We both agree we’d do

anything to save her ability to feel.”

“But do you really mean it?” He

leaned in toward me.

“Yes. I would give my life.” That

reality shook me to my core, but it

was true. I’d risk anything to

protect her.

“But life isn’t your greatest gift.

You weren’t given immortality.”

“No, and I never asked for it.”

Living forever didn’t appeal to me.

I’d miss my friends and family too

much.

“But you were given other gifts.”

“Yes.” I wondered what he was

thinking.

“The biggest gift is hiding under

that robe.” The blonde walked

behind me and slipped down my

robe, running her finger down my

back.

That’s when it hit me. My wings.

“Would you give your wings up?”

The blonde moved back around in

front of us. “Would you give up the

ability to fly?”

“No!” Daisy’s yell echoed

through the room.

I ran my thumb over Daisy’s

hand to calm her down. “If that’s

what it takes.” I’d always thought

my wings made me who I was, but

I was wrong. I was more than a

Pteron. I was a man, and I had a

heart. “I would give my wings for a

guarantee that Daisy would stay

human, and we could live a life in

peace.”

“No! Don’t listen to him. He

doesn’t know what he’s talking

about!” Daisy yelled. She tried to

pull her hand from mine. “You can’t

do this, Owen. You’ll regret it, and

you’ll end up hating me. I’m not

worth it.” Tears streamed down her

face.

I took both of her hands in mine.

“It’s completely worth it. You’re

worth it and our love is. I told you

we’d love each other forever, and I

meant it.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Not

that.”

“She’s right.” Roland walked

over. I’d been so focused on Daisy

and the Elders that I hadn’t noticed

him. “You’ll regret it and hate her

forever. Is that what you really

want?”

“Shut up.” I glared at him. “You

want her to stay an Allure. Your

opinion means nothing.”

“I want her to have happiness,

but I agree with them both.” Violet

closed her eyes for several seconds

before opening them as though she

were preparing for something. “You

will regret it, just as Daisy would

always regret losing her chance to

be an Allure.”

“You’re supposed to be helping

us.” My hands balled into fists.

“Now you’re going to turn against

us?”

She shook her head. “I also told

Daisy I’d protect you. This is

protecting you both. You’d regret it,

and you’d eventually despise her.

What kind of life would that be?”

“It won’t happen. I could never

hate her.”

“I could show you.” The blonde

held out her hand. “I can show you

exactly what will happen.”

Violet stepped between us. “No.

If you watch the future, it will come

to pass. It can’t be changed.”

The blonde glared at her. “Do

you wish to spend the next century

locked up? Weren’t three decades

enough?”

Violet paled. “These years don’t

matter nearly as much as those

did.”

“Violet.” The leader cupped her

chin in an intimate way that only

lovers do. “You know I never want

to see you suffer again.”

“Then don’t allow the boy to

make such a stupid decision.”

“It is his stupid decision to

make. If he’s so in love, then let

him do it. We’ll take the essence

back and give it to someone more

worthy.”

“It won’t be easy.” Another elder

stood up. “It’s harder and harder to

find a human who can accept the

gift anymore.”

“She still gets the choice. It’s the

ultimate rule. He gets a choice too.”

“Our choice is made.” I knew

without a shred of doubt what my

answer was. “We are ready to give

up our gifts if it means we can be

together.”

“No!” Daisy pleaded.

“Let’s give them time.” The

leader gestured and all of the

Elders stood. “We will vacate the

room. When we return, you need to

have your answer.”

“We already have it.” I didn’t

need time. I wanted the change

stopped, and I wanted everything

done. I wanted it over with.

“Daisy wants time.” The leader

took Violet’s hand and led her

toward the door. He looked at

Roland. “You must leave them too.”

“Yes.” Roland nodded and

followed the line of Elders outside.

“My decision is made.” I didn’t

give Daisy a chance to argue. She

had a guilt complex, it’s all this

was. We belonged together, and I

was willing to do anything to make

sure that happened.

22

DAISY

Ihad no real choice. Only one

answer was acceptable, yet giving

it meant losing everything and

anything I cared about. It meant

losing Owen, and it meant losing

myself.

"Daisy?" Owen looked deep into

my eyes.

"I love you." I didn't think, I

didn't question. I crushed my lips

against his, needing to soak up his

taste and feel. He responded

immediately, deepening the kiss as

he wrapped me up in his arms.

Always and forever. Our

promised words swirled through my

head. Promised words that couldn't

possibly be true. But in that

moment it didn't matter. The truth

couldn't hurt us. Only time could.

“Daisy?” He broke the kiss and

looked into my eyes again. “You

understand, don’t you? You

understand I am more than willing

to give up flight for you.”

I nodded. “I understand, but

that doesn’t mean it’s right.”

“Of course it’s right. We’re

right.” He rested his hands on my

hips. My body warmed to his touch,

but I fought to stay strong.

I closed my eyes, I was about to

hurt the only man I’d ever loved.

The only man I would ever love.

“This isn’t love.”

“What do you mean?” Confusion

crossed his face. “Even the Elders

saw it. It’s the truest love there

could ever be.”

I shook my head and fought

back the tears. “We barely know

each other. It’s not love, Owen. It’s

only lust. And because of that I

can’t let you make the biggest

mistake of your life.”

“That’s a lie.” He gritted his

teeth. “Take it back. You know as

well as I do that it’s love.”

I did, but I couldn’t admit it. I

couldn’t give myself any room to

back down. Abe was right. Love

involved sacrifice, and sometimes

the greatest sacrifice was letting

someone go even when you wanted

to hold on to them more than

anything. “I have to go.”

He captured my wrist as soon as

I turned. “No. You can’t leave.

We’re almost out of time. We have

to do this now.”

“It’s too late, Owen. I’ve made

up my mind.” My heart broke, but I

had to say the words. I had to

convince him to save his wings.

They meant more to him than me

even if he couldn’t see it yet.

“No. It’s not your choice.” He

shook me. “Stop this. I’m the one

giving up the wings. It’s my choice.”

“I don’t want you making the

choice. I already told you. It’s lust.”

The dam of tears broke, and I fell

to the floor. I’d never kiss him

again. I’d never know the intense

passion we shared. I’d never know

any passion.

“Daisy, stop this.” His eyes

widened. “Stop this now.”

“Do we have a decision?” Abe

and Violet walked back in.

I nodded, forcing up the courage

to do what was right. “I changed

my mind. I want to be an Allure.”

Understanding crossed Violet’s

face. “Come with me, Daisy.

Everything is going to be okay.”

“No. Daisy you can’t do this!”

Owen grabbed for me.

Abe pushed him back. “You

heard her. She changed her mind.

Your audience is over. Troy will

escort you back to your home realm

immediately.”

“Daisy, no.” Owen shook his

head and tears slid down his face.

“Please, don’t do this.”

I ran from the room into the

courtyard. I couldn’t face him. I

couldn’t see the pain I caused the

man I loved, but I knew I was doing

the right thing. I still had the ability

to feel, to make decisions based on

my emotions. Owen couldn’t be

separated from his wings. They

were what made him who he was.

I’d rather live eternity without him