Lust (3 page)

“Honest.” Daisy nodded with

approval.

“She knows I only do it when I

have to. I try not to bring work

home.”

“Is that possible? I mean you

are the king.”

“Someone spilled the beans I

see.” He looked at me.

“Yeah… I had no idea I’d been

rude to royalty. Sorry about that.”

She looked down.

“You’re not really sorry.”

“No.” She met his eyes again.

“But I do feel for your wife.”

“I’ll be sure to pass on the

concern, but as I can’t go home

until we finish talking and I send

another few emails, let’s do this.”

He gestured for us to take the two

chairs in front of his desk before he

settled into his own chair. I pulled

out one chair for Daisy, and then

sat down in the other.

“I’m not sure where to start.”

The story was a crazy one.

“I’d love to know how you two

found each other, but my guess is

that isn’t really why you need my

help.” He rested his hands on his

desk. Sometimes he looked so

much like his father it was eerie. He

had the same powerful gaze, and

he exuded the confidence and

strength that came with being king.

I went for the punch line. “The

Allures are still around.”

“What?” Levi sat up in a flash.

“They are back.” I slightly

reworded my comment.

“Your friends.” He turned to

Daisy. “That’s what they were.”

Understanding crossed his face.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Are they threatening you? Is

that why you need help? You need

Society protection?” Levi was sitting

up watching our every move. He

had moved into action mode.

She shook her head. “Nothing

that easy.”

He caught my eye. “That would

be easier?”

“You remember how I first met

her. She’d been given a paste—

concocted by a local witch.”

“Yes. I remember. Halloween

night. Vampires.”

“I believed Mayanne had gotten

rid of all the effects from the paste,

but she hadn’t.” I glanced over my

shoulder at the closed door. “There

was an Allure essence in the paste.”

“What?” Levi startled. “How is

that possible?”

“It is...” Daisy sighed.

“So you need help extracting it?”

“Yes, and fast.” I put a hand on

Daisy’s back. I could tell she was

getting frustrated.

“Did the Allures give you a

timeline?”

“Not exactly.” Daisy looked at

me, and I nodded. “If we can’t get

rid of it, I will become an Allure.”

“Become one?” He looked

between us.

We both nodded. “And it means

she will no longer feel.” A chill ran

through me. “That can’t happen.” It

wasn’t an option. Levi needed to

know I wasn’t giving up. I’d do

anything to stop the change.

“How much time are we

talking?”

“Not long.” Daisy sighed. “I

already feel the change happening.

Just ask Owen, I’m a basket case.

I’m not me anymore.”

“Yes, you are.” I ran my hand up

and down her back. “You are still

you.” She was moody, but that

didn’t mean her core personality

had changed.

“I can handle the truth, Owen.

You don’t have to pretend.”

“I’m not pretending.” She

slumped down further in her chair.

She shook her head. “Forget it

then. Let’s get back to discussing

the important things.”

I took Daisy’s hand. “The only

clue we have is a place called

Energo. Ever heard of it?”

“Energo?” he asked. “Is it a

town?”

“I have no clue. The witch said

we wouldn’t find it on our maps, but

it has to be on The Society ones.”

Levi nodded. “Everything exists

on our maps.” He turned back to his

laptop. “Let me finish one more

email, and then we can go back to

my house. I have all the old

documents there now.” He nodded,

which meant he’d made a plan.

Last time I’d been in town the

maps were in the Society safe. I’d

been banking on the process being

easy. “Why did you move them?”

There was no place safer than The

Society chambers. The security was

the best around.

“Security reasons,” Levi was

being purposely vague. I hoped it

wasn’t out of a lack of trust for

either of us. It was strange to be

out of the loop on anything Society

related, but that’s what happens

when you take a break for a few

months.

“Wait, we are going back to your

house?” Daisy’s eyes widened.

“Yes.” Levi typed something on

his keyboard before closing his

laptop. “Is there a problem with

that?”

“You should get permission from

your wife.” She pointed to Allie’s

picture.

“You are very concerned about

her.” He stood up.

“I know getting on her bad side

isn’t going to help.”

“I’ll call, but I promise she won’t

care. She’ll be excited about Owen’s

return.”

“I haven’t returned,” I quickly

disputed. “At least not until we fix

this.” I missed my job and my

friends and family, but I couldn’t

even think about returning until we

figured out how to stop the change.

“I understand. We will work fast.

I need you here.” Levi picked up his

phone. “Give me a second.”

We waited while he called Allie.

I knew Levi was right, she wouldn’t

care at all about him bringing us

back. Well, not if he warned her.

Daisy glanced around Levi’s

office nervously. I squeezed her

hand. “It’s going to be fine.”

“I know.”

“You’re nervous,” I whispered,

brushing my lips against her ear.

“Just anxious to find out more.”

She crossed her legs.

“Allie is really nice.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“Just know I’ll be with you the

whole time.”

“And I appreciate that.” She

smiled in a forced way.

“Because I want to be, not

because I have to be.”

“And I really appreciate that.”

Her smile was more genuine this

time.

“If all else fails, we sneak off

and have sex. That steadies you.”

She hit my arm playfully.

“Owen.”

“Yes, Daisy?” I would never get

tired of hearing her say my name,

even if she was saying it because

she was annoyed.

“Cool it.”

“What? You were in such a good

mood after that.”

“Of course I was. How could I

not be in a good mood? You were

too.”

“As you said, how could I not

be?”

“Uh, you two done talking about

sex?” Levi rubbed the back of his

neck.

I laughed, and Daisy looked

horrified.

“Don’t worry.” He touched her

arm gently. “I’m getting Owen back

for all the crap he gave me.”

“Okay…” Daisy looked toward

the door. “How are we getting

there?”

“Driving.” Levi spun his keys in

his hand. “But by the question I

assume you are a fan of flight?”

Daisy nodded. “I am, but a car is

good too.”

I smiled. “It takes longer to

drive, but we can’t fly around the

city all the time.”

“Gotcha.”

Levi led the way back to the

elevator. I took Daisy’s hand in

mine. She leaned into my side. I

loved knowing I brought her

comfort. She may have lost

confidence, but I hadn’t. We would

find a way to reverse the change. I

refused to accept any other

outcome.

3

DAISY

Istared out the window as Levi

drove us up St. Charles Avenue.

Despite the insanity of the

situation, I couldn’t help but marvel

at the beautiful homes that lined St.

Charles Avenue. Complete with

large front porches, many with

columns and surrounded by live oak

trees with hanging moss, the area

was gorgeous. If the city wasn’t

home to some of my worst

nightmares, I would have said it

was my favorite. Maybe meeting

Owen there made up for all that. Or

it would if I got to stay with him.

“Is it too hot back there?” Levi

glanced over his shoulder to where

I sat. I’d refused to sit up front,

much to Owen’s annoyance. When

he’d gotten ready to slide into the

back, Levi had promptly told him he

wasn’t playing chauffer. Owen sat

right down in the passenger seat. It

was strange watching him answer

to someone else. I knew Levi was

king, but that didn’t make it seem

any more normal.

“No, it’s fine,” I assured him.

The AC was actually so high it was

making me cold.

“Ok, just checking. You seemed

hot.”

“Can you tell that I’m sweating?”

“Yes.” Levi smiled at me in the

rearview mirror.

“Darn heightened senses.”

He laughed. “My guess is you

have some interesting talents of

your own now.”

I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“But they won’t work on your

boy, here.” He tapped the back of

Owen’s seat.

“I know. At least I know he likes

me for me.” Otherwise I’d have

been constantly worried it was all

the Allure. It was still hard to

believe he was that into me. Owen

was the kind of guy who could have

had any girl he wanted.

“I more than like you.” Owen

turned around and smiled.

I smiled in return. Despite

everything, it was nice to know my

feelings were reciprocated.

“You two need to mellow out.”

“Like you are one to talk.” Owen

stiffened.

“And you let me have it when I

did the same thing. Fair is fair.” Levi

laughed. He was different than I

expected. He had more of a sense

of humor than he’d shown me in our

first few meetings. I assumed it was

because I was with Owen. That

somehow moved me into the friend

camp instead of unknown potential

enemy. “Did you get to enjoy much

of the city the last time you were

here?”

“Some, but not enough.” Even

my leisurely exploration had gotten

me in trouble last time.

“Let’s get all this settled, and

then we’ll give you a proper tour.”

He said proper in a way that

accentuated his slight southern

accent. Owen’s was a little bit more

pronounced—and sexier.

“Your wife is really okay with us

coming back with you?” I didn’t

want to make a bad impression on

the queen.

“Yes. Surprised, but happy. She

apologized in advance that she

didn’t make enough dinner.”

“We won’t take up too much of

your time. We can leave and let you

two enjoy the rest of the evening.”

“We have a kid,” he said

casually.

“So?” I waited for the punch

line. What was his point?

“So how much do you think we’ll

be enjoying the evening?”

I laughed. “Good point. But don’t

they go to bed soon?”

“He should be in bed already,

I’m only emphasizing that you

aren’t interrupting anything.”

“How’s the little one anyway?”

Owen turned in his seat.

“Cute and annoying at the same

time.”

“He’s only acting tough.” Owen

turned around. “You should see him

when he’s in dad mode.”

I smiled. “Having kids can

change a man.”

“And a woman.” Levi laughed

quietly. “Allie has changed.”

“She’s probably much busier.”

Being queen likely wasn’t all fun

and games.

“She is. Finding a work-life

balance has taken her some time.”

“Allie works?” I didn’t hide my

surprise. “But she’s the queen.”

“You don’t know Allie yet.”

Owen turned to me again. “She’s

slowed down on work and school

since becoming a mom, but my

guess is that’s temporary. When

she’s dedicated to something, you

had better hope you are not on the

opposing side.”

“I’ve learned that the hard way.”

Levi turned onto a beautiful tree

lined street.

I took several deep breaths. I

could do this. Meeting the queen

couldn’t be any worse than meeting

the king, even if I’d already met

him before I knew who he was.

Owen turned around. “You

okay?”

“Fine.” I gritted my teeth. I

wished he realized that asking me if

I was okay made it worse. I didn’t

need any more attention drawn to

me.

I looked out the window again

to avoid meeting his gaze. Levi

turned into a stone, circular

driveway and stopped in front of a

giant white house. Tall columns

spanned up to both levels of the

house, while large southern oaks

and a magnolia tree dominated the

perfectly manicured yard.

I was so busy staring that Levi

nearly gave me a heart attack when