Allure (The Lilituria Prophecy Book 2)

by Grace White

  “Kai, please.” Her voice cracked. “I could never hurt you.”

  Was that another lie? Was it even Daiya talking right now or the thing that lived inside her. Did it even matter anymore?

  We were doomed.

  “But I could hurt you. It’s in my blood. I feel it changing me. I’m a time bomb waiting to detonate, and you’re my trigger.”

  She angled herself toward me, reaching her hand to mine, but I ripped it away. She couldn’t touch me, not now, not with the storm raging inside me. The pull I felt in her presence was still there, urging me to comfort her, but something else was fighting for attention. Something much darker. Something I didn’t want to let out.

  “I trusted you. I fell in love with you.” My fist slammed down on the bench, the sound of skin against wood ricocheting around the park. “You’re all I see, but none of it is real, is it? I mean who are you? Who am I? What else don’t I know? What else have you been keeping from me?”

  Daiya wrapped her arms around herself as a soft whimper escaped her lips. I hated myself, hated that I’d done that to her, but everything was so confusing. I didn’t want to believe Isaac, but Daiya had confirmed it. It was true.

  The farfetched, inconceivable tale my father had told me was true.

  “It’s real,” she said. “The dreams, our intense connection, this …” Her hand covered mine, and I felt it. The pull. The way my soul gravitated to hers. “It’s real, Kai. You just have to trust it.”

  Trust it? Like I’d trusted her and let her in only to be betrayed? I needed more time. I still didn’t have a ton of answers. Part of me sensed it in her, but part of me remembered every touch, every kiss, and the way her body felt pressed against mine. I leaned into her, touching my head against hers. Daiya’s eyes fluttered closed, and she sank into my side. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.” I kissed her head. “I need time, Daiya. Time to wrap my head around all this.”

  I pulled away, and my eyes drank her in, imprinting her on my memory. The tears rolling down her cheeks. The sadness in her eyes as she watched me stand. The sound of her heart breaking as I said, “Goodbye, Daiya,” and walked away without looking back.

  DAIYA

  “Isaac?”

  He appeared out of the darkness, only his face and eyes visible.

  “Thank you for coming.” With no way to contact him, I’d stood in our small yard, hoping he would hear my whispers.

  “Miss Cattiva, what can I do for you?”

  Really? This was how he wanted to play things.

  “You told him.” It wasn’t a question.

  “My son deserves to know the truth, Miss Cattiva. I realize that now. He doesn’t understand what’s happening. I can help him harness his power, help him control it.”

  Help him kill me? The question burned my tongue like rancid milk. “We can’t be apart, Isaac,” I said. “Our bond is—”

  “Is unfounded. The prophecy is unclear.”

  I frowned. He had said he would check out my claims about the prophecy. What did he mean it was unclear?

  “Of course, you want to believe it to be true. Hope is a futile thing, Miss Cattiva. I told your mother the same thing. The lines are drawn; by God’s hand it was done.”

  My mother? I wanted to ask him what about my mother, but if he wanted me to know, he would have told me, so instead, I said, “But the prophecy—”

  “Is wrong. Let it go. And if you know what’s best for you, get as far away from Decker County as you can.”

  My eyes widened, my mouth dropping open. “You’d let us escape? Just like that?”

  “One chance, Miss Cattiva. That’s all you get. Leave now and never return. Forget about Kai, forget about the prophecy, and hope we never cross paths again. Next time, I won’t be as forgiving.”

  I didn’t understand. Heather was certain the prophecy was true. My sisters seemed to be coming around to the idea. And Mom had died because she believed it.

  “I- I don’t understand. How can you be sure it’s untrue? Kai is …” I searched for the right words but came up blank. This was happening too fast. I needed more time to digest what he was saying. “Our bond is—”

  “A case of teenage lust. It happens. You’re newly awakened. You’re confusing your urge to feed, to connect, with love.”

  “But …”

  Another figure stepped out of the shadows and leaned in close to Isaac, whispering something. I recognized the man as Michael from the first time Isaac had come to my house. Isaac listened intently, never taking his eyes from me. He nodded curtly and said, “I suggest you heed my words, Miss Cattiva, and pray we never meet again.”

  They disappeared into the shadows, and I stood paralyzed, the warning in Isaac’s voice seeping into every pore. He wanted me gone—out of Kai’s life for good. But something about his words didn’t add up. For once, my demon agreed. I heard the words over and over. He’s lying. He’s lying. He’s lying.

  And I needed to know why.

  When school rolled around, I felt sick. I hadn’t told Demi about Isaac’s latest visit. I’d called him here, after all, so she wouldn’t understand. I’d also refused to tell her anything about Kai’s visit. She knew something was wrong, but I spent the weekend in my room, avoiding questions I didn’t want to answer.

  “Daiya?” A light knock on the door sounded.

  “Yeah?”

  “It’s almost time to leave for school.”

  “I don’t feel so good,” I grumbled, trying my best to sound sick.

  The doorknob rattled, and Demi’s head peeked inside. “Can I come in?”

  “Sure.” I shuffled against the headboard.

  Demi rounded the bed and sat down, her eyes pinning me to the spot. She looked so much like Mom it was a little unsettling. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Do you think the prophecy is wrong?” I rushed out.

  Her eyes fluttered shut, and she sucked in a small breath. When they opened again, I had my answer, and my stomach sank. “It doesn’t matter what I think, Daiya. What do you think? In your heart of hearts, what do you believe?”

  “We’re connected, Demi; I feel it. I don’t know if it’s the prophecy or fate or a cruel joke someone is playing, but I feel it.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “I’m here, remember. I know I haven’t made this easy on you, but I’m here. Tell me what you need.”

  “Can you take some time off work?”

  “Like right now?”

  I nodded.

  “Daiya, is there something I need to know? Did something happen?”

  “Yes. No. Maybe. I just think we should skip town for a few days. I need to see Heather again, and you and Devlin need to feed somewhere.”

  “And Kai?”

  “He’ll be okay.” I had to believe Isaac wouldn’t warn me away if he thought our separation would place Kai in immediate risk. It wasn’t like he wanted to see me anyway. I hadn’t heard from him since he walked away from me in the park. I tried calling him in my dreams but nothing. He’d asked for space, and somehow, some way, his wish had been granted.

  “I’ll call my boss, and see if I can take a couple of days. Should I call Devlin? She left already.”

  I nodded again. Isaac would be watching the house, and if not him, Michael would be. If they saw us leave, it might buy me some time to figure out my next move. Because I refused to believe it was over. Just like that. Because Isaac decided so.

  Kai was hurting, and he was confused and angry, but he felt it. I knew he did. We hadn’t had enough time to give this thing a chance … to explore what it really meant. It couldn’t be over.

  It couldn’t.

  “Daiya?”

  I swallowed down the huge lump in my throat and wiped the tears away with a quick shake of my head. “I’m fine. I just need to get away for a few days. Please.”

  “Okay. I’ll go make the calls.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered as she left the room.
<
br />   Three hours later, after Demi finally managed to persuade Devlin to pack a bag, we pulled into a motel on the outskirts of the city.

  “Nice.” Devlin sneered, and I rolled my eyes at Demi in the rearview mirror.

  “It’s nothing fancy, but Google said it had rooms with three beds for us.”

  “Whatever. I just want to hit the bars.”

  Of course, she did. Even now, with everything going on, she had a one-track mind.

  We fetched our bags from the trunk and waited while Demi got us a room. She came back dangling a key from her finger. “2b, home sweet home.”

  We’d moved around a lot. It was something you got used to. A new town, new house. But this was different. We all felt it.

  When we stepped inside the small room, Devlin slung her bag on the double bed and declared, “I need a shower.”

  Demi and I shared a look.

  “I can take the pullout,” I said, dropping my bag onto the single bed pushed against the wall separating the main room from the bathroom.

  “You know she expects to hit downtown later?” Demi eyed me warily.

  “I know; that’s fine.”

  “You don’t have to come with us.”

  “It’s okay. It might take my mind off everything.” I doubted that very much, but I didn’t like the idea of being stuck here alone. Isaac or one of his men might have followed us.

  “I won’t leave you.”

  “I know.” I did. We might not have seen eye to eye much over the past couple of months, but Demi wasn’t Devlin. She wouldn’t abandon me at some club. “But you need to feed.”

  “I’m okay for now. You.” She paused. “You don’t feel it yet?”

  “The hunger?”

  “Yes.” Demi sat down on the edge of the bed. “You’re awakened now. You should be feeling it.”

  My mind flashed back to the basement at Tamara’s party when Joel crowded me against the wall. I’d felt something around him. It wasn’t hunger exactly, but my demon had responded to something. Shaking my head clear, I sighed. “I feel it …” My voice trailed off.

  “With Kai.”

  I nodded. “He’s all I see, Demi.”

  “What’s that like?”

  I closed my eyes. “Intense. Terrifying. Like being on a roller coaster without a harness. The climb to the top is slow and full of anticipation, and then you realize you’re not buckled in, and you start to panic because you’re almost there. At the precipice. You know without a doubt that you’re going to fall and fear paralyzes part of you because you know it could hurt. That it could end in tragedy. But the other part is high on adrenaline, living at the moment and never wanting it to end.”

  “Wow.”

  My eyes flickered open to a look of awe on my sister’s face. I shrugged, heat creeping into my cheeks at my revelation. And then she said something I never expected. “You really are in love with him.”

  “It’s loud,” I yelled across the bar at my sisters. Devlin looked in her element, shooting guys seductive smiles while Demi looked her usual demure self. She didn’t work at it. Ever. But she didn’t need to.

  “Party pooper.” Devlin stuck out her tongue before taking a long drink from her glass.

  Throwing her look that said ‘leave Daiya alone,’ our eldest sister turned to me and said, “Do you want to dance?”

  “Yes, yes, she does.” Devlin hopped down off the stool and reached for my hand, but I tucked it under my butt. “I’m good, but you guys go. I’ll be right here.”

  “I’m not sure we should split up, Daiya. We should stick together.”

  Devlin’s lip tugged into a snarl, but I didn’t give her chance to start another argument. She was here, and that was what mattered.

  “Seriously, go. I’ll be fine. I won’t budge, I promise. Besides, you can see me from the floor.” I nodded over to the small dancefloor. It was still early, so the place wasn’t packed yet, and I had a perfect line of vision.

  “Are you sure?”

  I flashed Demi my best ‘I mean it’ smile, but Devlin was already tugging her away. Barely holding it together, I resisted the urge to bolt out of the bar and return to the motel. My eyes swept over the growing crowd. I felt nothing. No prickle of familiarity. No sharp tug in my stomach. No alarm bells. The only thing I felt was the constant low rumble of my demon’s dissatisfaction at being away from Kai, but it would have to get used to that for now. Because Kai had chosen.

  And he hadn’t picked me.

  I wasn’t giving up all hope yet, though, not until I was certain Isaac was right.

  For the next hour, I watched my sisters dance. A couple of guys joined them, crowding them against one another and sliding their hands down their waists. Devlin lapped it up, grinding against her guy. Demi seemed less at ease, sending me a couple of sympathetic looks. She didn’t enjoy this—she never had—but it was a means to an end. A necessity.

  “What’s a pretty thing like yourself doing here all alone?” a male voice said.

  I angled toward the unfamiliar guy. “I’m here with my sisters.”

  He flashed me an overzealous smile. “I’m Tim.” With perfectly styled dark hair, soft eyes, and a strong, clean-shaven jaw, most girls would be flattered to have someone like him paying them attention. But I wasn’t most girls.

  “I’m not interested, sorry.”

  “Ouch. Are you always this uptight?” He leaned into my space; his bitter breath warm on my skin. I shuddered and leaned away as much as possible without seeming rude.

  “Are you always this persistent?” My hand shot out, but the demon commanded me to drop it. Tim observed me, his eyes lingering a little too long on the curve of my chest. “Eyes up here.” I snapped my fingers.

  “Sorry.” He laughed. The jerk actually laughed. “Just admiring the view.”

  “Yeah, well, go admire it from over there.” I flicked my hair over my shoulder to create a barrier between us, my pulse quickening as he began to speak.

  “Bitch,” he spat, and I spun around, my eyes wide. “What did you just say?”

  He glowered, his mouth pulling into an ugly smirk. “I said you stuck-up bitch.”

  Anger boiled through my veins, and before I knew what happening, I’d grabbed his shirt and yanked him closer.

  “You have no idea, do you? No idea what I could do to you.”

  His eyes bugged with terror, but I basked in it, feeling it feed my fury.

  “Daiya?”

  My body trembled as I gripped him in my fist, holding him only inches away from my face. He didn’t speak; he didn’t dare.

  “Daiya, let him go,” a voice said, firmer this time. Delicate fingers covered my hand, urging me to release him, and Tim flounced back, muttering, “Crazy bitch.”

  I lunged forward off the stool with a growl, but Demi caught my waist, and I pushed against her as I watched Devlin step in front of him. His scowl moved from me to her as she said something to him, and his expression softened for a second before it slipped away. He looked ready to pee himself.

  “Come on; this was a bad idea,” Demi whispered, appealing to the shred of rationality inside me. “Daiya,” she said again. “Let’s go.”

  I looked over my shoulder, watching Devlin with Tim while Demi guided us through the bar and out of the door. She was right.

  This was a very bad idea.

  KAI

  “You’re leaving already?” Mom smiled, attempting to soothe the friction between us.

  “I want to get to practice early. Do a few extra drills?”

  “Kai.” She caught my wrist as I slipped past her. “I hoped we could talk. You’ve hardly said two words to me since you talked to you father.”

  I dropped my head. I didn’t want to do this. I couldn’t. “I can’t do this, not yet.” The anger residing in me was too volatile, and I couldn’t risk losing it around her. Besides, the sting of her betrayal refused to dissolve.

  “Kai, please.” Her voice cracked, and a flash of guilt rushed
through me, but I couldn’t do it. All this time, I thought he’d just left—abandoned us—but Isaac had walked away to give me a chance at a normal life. There was no denying that he and Mom had let me believe he was just a piece of shit father who didn’t care.

  A strangled laugh worked its way up my throat.

  “Kai?”

  I finally looked over my shoulder at Mom. “What’s that saying? The past always catches up with you? Guess ours just drove right into town, didn’t it?” I hurried out of the door, letting her pleas roll off me. We’d need to discuss things eventually, but now wasn’t that time. It was too raw. And I didn’t want to say something I’d later regret.

  “Stanton, bring it in.” Coach’s voice boomed across the rink, and I dropped my head with a frustrated shake.

  When I reached the box, I threw my stick down and dropped onto the bench. Coach and a couple of my teammates shot me a look that said “What’s gotten into you,” but they all knew. Everyone knew by now.

  Daiya.

  Or more specifically, our breakup.

  It was all over school. I’d spent the whole day listening to gossip and hearsay. I’d cheated on Daiya, she’d cheated on me, we’d had a fight, she wouldn’t put out, and I ended it. I couldn’t escape from it. But no one knew the truth.

  No one except Daiya, my father, and me.

  I still couldn’t believe it, but she’d confirmed it. Daiya had sat there unfazed as I recounted what Isaac had said. And although I knew there was something about her—about her relationship with my father—I never would have predicted the truth because, let’s face it, it was implausible.

  Impossible.

  Yet I felt it—the power surging through me, looking for a release. I was a walking, talking time bomb. My father had warned me about it and tried to insist I work with him to control it. But I wanted nothing to do with that lying piece of shit. My eyes flicked over to the stands. I knew she wasn’t there—it was practice, and Coach didn’t like the distraction of spectators—but I searched for her anyway. Scraping a hand down my face, I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. How had everything turned to shit so quickly?