“That sounds good.” I knew I could probably walk, but I let Levi carry me upstairs to the room we were supposed to stay in the last time we were there.
“I’m staying with you.” Levi stretched out next to me on the bed.
“Levi, I promise I’m not trying to hurt you or us. I had a reason for everything, and it’s going to work out.”
“I’m not letting you go.” He didn’t say anything else before pulling me into his arms so we could sleep.
Chapter Twenty
We made sure to get every detail right. I even changed in my room at the hotel. Levi had Hailey find “the dress” and she brought it over. I could still remember how excited I’d been the last time I put on the black, lacy dress—and how eager I was when Levi took it off. I tried to fight back the tears I knew were threatening to spill, but I couldn’t.
“You’re going to be okay. He’ll give it back.” Hailey’s words helped, but she didn’t know everything. I hadn’t told her about the deal with Cade. It had been hard enough facing her.
“I wanted this ring off so bad, but now I never want to let it go.”
“Who would have thought?” She sat down on the edge of my bed as I finished my makeup in the bathroom. I wasn’t sure if the makeup had to be the same, but I’d put on more that night.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I was doing.” The words had been on the tip of my tongue since she came over, but I hadn’t found the strength to say them yet.
“I’m sorry you didn’t feel like you could. I’m here for you, Allie. I would have helped you. You never have to feel alone.”
Her words felt real, and I wondered if I’d made a huge mistake. I should have at least talked to Hailey before approaching Cade. I’d just been so afraid of her going to Levi. I felt so overwhelmed, and I didn’t know who I could trust.
She thankfully changed the conversation. “So Georgina really trusts this Mayanne person?” Hailey was lying down by the time I finished.
I ran a hand through my hair. I had to wear it down.
“Yes, she’s a witch and somehow knows my great-grandmother.”
“Isn’t that weird?”
“Georgina did act weird when I told her where my grandmother was from. I think it’s where the other enchantresses originated. ”
Hailey laughed.
“What?”
“Isn’t it funny that the fate of The Society has been in the hands of random women from a tiny Russian town?”
I shrugged. “No weirder than anything else I’ve discovered over the last few months.”
Hailey stood up. “I should go. If I’m here when Levi shows up, I could somehow mess things up, right? Like change it too much.”
“You probably should even though I don’t want you to.”
She hugged me. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
I reluctantly broke the hug. “You make it sound like I’m dying.”
“No…that’s what would happen if you didn’t do this.”
I hugged her for a moment longer before letting go. “See you on the other side.”
She gave me a half smile before walking out the door.
I settled down on the couch to wait. I had to pull myself together. It was going to be just as hard on Levi, if not worse. He already held himself responsible for everything that had gone wrong since giving me the ring.
I jumped at the knock on the door. I was lost in the memory of the first time I’d met Levi. There had been nothing romantic about that meeting, yet it was an event I would never forget.
“Hello there, gorgeous.” Levi sent a wave of déjà vu over me.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I still remembered using that understatement. Once again, he looked incredible in his khakis and dress shirt. I wanted to jump him, not watch him break.
“Are you ready for this?” His expression fell, like he’d momentarily convinced himself this was just a date, but the reality had hit him again.
“I’ll never be ready, but we don’t have a choice.” I looked down.
His hand moved under my chin to make me look up at him. “I love you, Allie. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” That’s when the tears started for real. I ended up hysterical in his arms. I didn’t even want to know what my makeup looked like.
He rubbed my back. “We can do this.”
I nodded. “Okay. Do I need to clean up?”
He wiped away a little bit of mascara from my face. “Nope. You’re prefect.”
I laughed. “You’d say that no matter what I looked like right now, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, I would because it’s true.”
“Don’t make me cry again.”
“I can’t promise that.” He took my hand and led us to the elevator.
I shivered when we walked outside. It was only fifty degrees out, and I was wearing a tiny dress, but Mayanne had made it clear that we needed to dress exactly the same. I could tell Levi wanted to give me his coat, but he knew he couldn’t.
We were seated at the same table at Antoine’s. It was in the corner, tucked away from everyone else. The first time we’d been in there, I’d been so impressed with the decor and the menu. This time, the last thing I wanted was food.
The very same waiter approached our table. I wondered how Levi had made sure of that. It couldn’t have been random. Levi was taking this seriously. “Welcome to Antoine’s. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yes, a 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.”
“Great selection.” The waiter didn’t seem surprised by our order. Evidently, Levi must have called ahead to make sure they had a bottle.
Levi tasted the wine, and the waiter filled our glasses. “To a truly amazing summer and to many more celebrations.” His words weren’t light this time, they were hoarse.
We clinked glasses, and I sat back in my chair. I’d loved the wine the first time, but that night it tasted too dry and almost bitter.
The waiter returned and Levi ordered exactly what we’d had the first time. By the time the Oysters Rockefeller arrived, I wanted to be sick. I didn’t know how much more I could take and it was only going to get worse.
“You know this dish was invented here.” He was repeating our exact conversation. I tried to force myself to play along.
“Really?”
I pushed around the food on my plate knowing what was coming.
“I need to take something from you.” He whispered the words.
I nodded.
“Give me the ring.” Silent tears slid down Levi’s face, and I broke completely. “I need it back from you. I want it back from you.” I’m sure everyone in the restaurant watched us, trying to figure out why two people were crying while seemingly sharing a romantic meal. I was about to make it crystal clear.
“I want to give you the ring back.” The words came to me naturally, and they burned coming out. My tears matched Levi’s as I easily slid the ruby ring off my finger and placed it in his palm.
All at once, it felt like a weight had been lifted off me. I felt lighter, and my head felt clear for the first time in days. I let out a deep breath. The physical relief was in sharp contrast with the emotional toll giving the ring back had on me. Inside, I was a mess.
“How long do I have to wait before I give you my ring back?”
“Levi…”
“No. Please…you have to take it back.” He was on the verge of tears again.
“I will, just not tonight. I can’t do it now.”
“Allie, please.”
“She said no.” Cade approached the table with Toby next to him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“They wanted to make sure I really did it.” Levi sounded lifeless, and I knew it was all because of me.
“Are you ready to do what you promised, Allie?” Cade stood right next to my chair.
“Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
“How is it not what I think?” he snap
ped.
If we were attracting attention before, we were like beacons now. “Let’s talk about this somewhere else.”
Levi quickly paid the bill, and we walked outside. I slipped my arms into the jacket Levi offered. The sun had gone down hours before, and a chill had set in since we left the hotel. “Thanks.”
“Of course.” Levi’s words were soft, but his face was hard. I’d hurt him by refusing to take his ring back. I just knew it had to be done differently this time, done on my own terms.
“Should we go to the hotel?” I asked, wanting a destination even if the thought of sitting in a room with three angry Pteron heirs scared me.
“Works for me.” Levi remained glued to my side.
The others agreed, and we started to head back toward the hotel. I snuggled into Levi’s jacket, loving that it still smelled faintly like him.
We’d just turned the corner when all three guys tensed.
“Stay close.” Levi wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned in. Something had the guys on edge.
“How many are there?” Toby said quietly.
Levi answered absently. “I don’t know yet.”
“What’s going on—”
Cade cut me off. “Pterons.”
“Pterons?” I barely whispered but I was sure they could all hear.
Toby’s voice came from right behind me. “We’re surrounded.”
I glanced around and saw nothing but darkness. We’d taken a back way home, through a dark alley, something I didn’t question considering who I was walking with. Once again, I wished I hadn’t placed my safety in others’ hands. I didn’t see a single soul, something surprising even on the back streets of the French Quarter.
“They’re yours, aren’t they?” Cade spun around to face Toby.
Toby tensed. “I have no idea how they knew how to find us, I swear.”
“They’re your grandfather’s men?” We passed under a street light, and for the first time I caught a glimpse of something moving on a rooftop.
“Yes.” Toby’s hands were in fists.
“Get help as soon as possible,” Levi ordered Cade. “Get your men and mine.”
Cade visibly stiffened. “I’m not leaving Allie with you.”
“She doesn’t break promises. If she promised you something, you’ll get it. I’m strongest and you know it, but you’re faster. Get help. That’s the only way we’re going to protect her.”
Cade nodded before stripping off his shirt and transforming. He flew off and even in the dim lighting, I saw several other Pterons following him.
As soon as Cade left, at least a dozen transformed Pterons jumped down from the buildings above.
Levi tried to push me behind him, but more and more men emerged. We were surrounded. I searched for Toby. He was nowhere to be seen. Had he abandoned us that easily? There had to have been well over twenty Pterons. I clutched Levi’s arm until my fingers were pried off at the same time I was grabbed from behind. I was too terrified to scream as I was dragged further into the alley.
Levi fought off the first few Pterons. They wriggled on the ground as he prepared to take on the next set. Then everything changed as another dozen Pterons jumped in. I watched with horror as Levi was hauled in the other direction. At least six men had to hold him back, but eventually he disappeared from my view. I let out a whimper, and I was rewarded with a hand across my mouth. If these men could take Levi, I was in serious trouble.
Struggling was no use. It was like fighting against chains. The more I squirmed, the tighter the arm held me. I eventually stopped fighting, but the arm didn’t loosen. I couldn’t see anything but large brown wings.
The sea of wings parted, and out of the shadows walked my nightmare, Mr. Blackwell. The wall of Pterons moved back into place behind him. “Hello again, Allison.” His voice was sharp and angry.
Suddenly, the empty space next to him was filled by Toby. My body relaxed a small amount knowing he was near. Despite everything, I trusted him. “You’re not touching her.”
Mr. Blackwell glared at his grandson. “Like hell I’m not. She’s coming with us now. You’re coming too.”
Toby glanced at me before looking back at his grandfather. “You can’t force her to choose me.”
“True, but I can make it impossible for her not too.” He cracked his knuckles.
“What do you mean?” Toby took a step closer to me. The Pteron holding me dropped his hand from my mouth, but I knew better than to yell. They weren’t going to give me a chance to call for help.
Mr. Blackwell turned his angry gaze on me. “It’s amazing what a few days, or weeks, in a dungeon can do to someone…”
“You can’t mean that! You can’t treat her that way!” Toby seethed. He had moved right next to me, and I could see his already black eyes getting even less human.
“Why not? She just needs to accept your ring and let you take her. It’s not too complicated, child.”
Toby growled. “That’s it? That’s all you view her as?”
Mr. Blackwell got that evil grin again. It was dark, but I could still see his white teeth. “Well, she also needs to give you an heir, and she’s the only girl you can be with so I suppose you’ll have to take her more than once.”
“No.” Toby stepped in front of me, blocking his grandfather from my view.
Screams and grunts filled the air. I hoped that Cade had gotten help. The thought of anyone hurting Levi made me break inside. He was strong, but he couldn’t take on that many Pterons alone.
“Don’t forget your place,” Mr. Blackwell snapped.
Toby brushed against me, and I knew it was his way of letting me know he would protect me. “I only wanted to be king so I could have Allie back. But not like this. She deserves better than this.”
“This has nothing to do with what you want or what she deserves. Although, I think it’s exactly what the girl deserves,” Mr. Blackwell spit.
That seemed to set Toby off more. “Over my dead body.”
“I wish I could do just that, but unfortunately only an heir can take power. I need you alive, for a while.” Only the most evil man could say that about his grandson. But then again, Mr. Blackwell wasn’t a man.
The distant noise got louder, and I knew the fight had found us. A wall of Pterons blocked the fighting from me, but I could imagine what it looked like. I hoped they were at least keeping humans away. They’d only become collateral damage.
“Take the girl, we’re leaving before this mess gets worse,” Mr. Blackwell directed the two men next to him. They appeared to be his body guards. Aside from the one holding me, they were the only ones watching us talk.
“I said no.” Toby lunged at his grandfather, easily pushing off the guards who tried to stop him. He was stronger than I imagined. Toby wrapped his hands around the older man’s throat, and I was released as my captor tried to pry Toby off. It was too late. I nearly vomited when I heard a cracking sound. Toby let go of his grandfather and the old man’s lifeless body fell to the ground.
Before I’d even processed what was happening, I was grabbed from behind again. I struggled and managed to land a groin shot before he pulled me back against him. “Bitch.”
“Release her!” Toby yelled, but it fell on deaf ears. Other brown-winged Pterons had figured out what happened and were surrounding Toby.
I screamed as another Pteron stepped toward me with what appeared to be a burlap sack.
Before the bag could be put over my head, the figures blocking the entrance to the alley fell back, and the Pteron I wanted more than anything stepped into view.
“Levi?”
He walked toward me with a whole line of Pterons behind him, including Jared and Owen. The rest of the Blackwell Pterons stepped back. Evidently, they were ready to surrender.
“I’m here.” Levi was sweaty, with a few cuts, but otherwise he looked unharmed. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
“Stay here.” Levi moved me over to Jared, who pulled me
into a near bone crunching hug. I waited as other Laurent Pterons, as well as others with blue and gray wings like Cade’s, grabbed the remaining Blackwells.
“You did that to save her, didn’t you?” Levi wasn’t talking to me.
I tugged on Jared so he’d walk with me over to where Levi and Toby stood leaning over Mr. Blackwell’s body.
Toby nodded solemnly. “He would have treated her like an animal.”
“You did that to save me…” I said in awe. I couldn’t believe it.
Toby wiped blood off his face. Someone had broken his nose. “I couldn’t…I couldn’t let him do that to you.”
I hugged him. I hugged the first boy I’d ever loved. I understood it now. What we’d shared had been love, it was just different from what I had with Levi.
Jared called to Levi. “Get Allie out of here. We’ll take care of the rest.”
Levi hugged me, and he didn’t let go for a full minute. “Thank god you’re okay.”
I knew I couldn’t go home. There was still so much that had to be discussed, but I felt safe in his arms. I never wanted him to let go.
***
“Allie, it’s time.” Cade stepped into my room at the hotel. I hadn’t moved from where Levi set me down on the couch next to him. I held onto his arm almost as intensely as I had on the street. This time, I was worried about someone else taking me away.
I forced myself to meet Cade’s gaze. “I will keep my promise.”
“Allie, no. Please,” Levi begged. The desperation in his voice rocked me to the core.
I took a deep breath. “I promised Cade he could be a king if he saved Jess.”
Levi’s face fell. “Did you really swear an oath?”
“Yes—but.”
Levi shook his head. “No.”
“Let me finish. I promised he could be a king, not that I’d be his mate.”
“Where’s the difference, Allie? I don’t see any,” Cade watched me carefully. He must have gone to his room, because unlike the rest of us, he wore a clean shirt.
I sat up. “Levi has two choices.”
“Me? I have choices?” Levi asked.
“Yes.” I took his hands in mine. “You can either say goodbye and let me go as Cade’s mate…”
Found (The Crescent Chronicles #3) Page 17