Lust

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

“We have to leave you here,” Violet spoke carefully and directly to me. She did that a lot, but it wasn’t going to help her this time.

  “No. I’m not leaving Daisy.” I hadn’t come this far to be left behind.

  “If it helps, I’ll stay with you,” Hugh offered.

  “That doesn’t help. I’m staying with Daisy.”

  “You can’t.” Wyatt transformed, his large wings spanning out behind him. “You must be invited first.”

  “Get me invited before she goes.”

  “Owen,” Violet touched my arm. “Look at her.”

  I gazed down at Daisy’s tired, yet absolutely beautiful face.

  “She’s running out of time.”

  “I can’t trust you.”

  “You have to right now.”

  “You can put me down.” Daisy ran her hand over my chest. “I can stand.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  I set her feet down gently on the ground next to me. “I don’t want to make you do this on your own.”

  “She won’t be alone. I’ll be with her.” Violet caught my eye.

  “I can do this.” Daisy seemed to be telling herself.

  “Of course you can.” Violet nodded. “But we need to go now.”

  “She’ll be safe.” Wyatt gestured for her to move toward him.

  “One minute.” She slowly walked toward me and kissed me lightly on the lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Tears welled in my eyes and threatened to fall. I’d never felt so strongly about anyone or anything in my life.

  “Always and forever.” Tears streamed down her face.

  “Always and forever.” I forced myself to stay strong for her. Fighting and insisting I go would only slow things down. Violet was right. She was running out of time.

  Wyatt and Troy took off with both of them, leaving Hugh, Glendale, and me in the valley. Watching Daisy fly off with Wyatt was one of the most difficult things I'd ever done. I was supposed to be with her, to protect her, but instead I was helpless.

  "She's tough," Hugh glanced up to watch them fly off.

  "Did I ask for your opinion?"

  "No, but you should have. I have plenty of advice to give."

  "None that I want."

  "If things don't go your way today, you'll need it. I know how you can move on."

  "I'm not moving on. Daisy is going to be okay." Losing confidence wasn't an option. She was going up there to face powerful creatures like none we’d ever seen. If she could do that, I could stay strong.

  "You are not as bad as I originally thought." Hugh sat down on a boulder that stuck out of the thick grass at the foot of the mountain. Another one stood next to him.

  "Is that because your expectations were low or because of something I've done?” I stayed standing.

  "A little of both." He patted the boulder. "You should sit too. We are going to be here a while."

  “That's just another reason to stand. I can't sit for long.”

  "We'll see what you are saying in a few hours."

  "Hours? You think it's going to take that long?”

  "Absolutely. Just hope it’s not days."

  “We don't have days."

  "Exactly." He looked off into the distance.

  19

  Daisy

  Flying with Wyatt was terrifying. I always felt safe with Owen, but Wyatt didn’t put me at ease in the same way. He kept flying higher and higher, and all I could do was close my eyes. Owen was down there somewhere. He was waiting for me to come back to him as a human. I could do this. Everything would be fine if we could stop the change. We’d make it back home, and I’d see my family. Owen and I would make a life together.

  I opened my eyes again, expecting to be close to the peak already, but we were only about halfway up. My ears hurt and my eyes burned, and I was already having difficulty breathing the thin air.

  “You alive?” Wyatt asked over the wind.

  “Kind of.”

  He laughed. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”

  “Just barely.”

  “It’s something.”

  I closed my eyes again and thought of Owen. Soon I’d be back in his arms, and this experience would be a distant memory. Thankfully Wyatt didn’t talk to me again. I could barely breathe, so talking wasn’t going to work well.

  Finally, what felt like hours later, he landed. I stumbled out of his arms, and nearly fell to the ground, but he caught me at the last second. “Take a moment. Regain your equilibrium.”

  “You make that sound easy.” We were surrounded by clouds on all sides. I could barely see anything other than what was right in front of me. My breathing was labored.

  “You’re mostly Allure, so it should be easy.”

  “Mostly, but not completely.”

  “Things will be easier for you after the change.”

  Troy landed with Violet beside us.

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “Daisy, you stay here with Troy and Wyatt. I’ll be back.” She started to walk away.

  “Wait!” I followed after her.

  She turned back around.

  I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. “You’re just going to leave?”

  “I have to get us an audience. It will be easier this way.”

  “So what are we supposed to do?”

  “Wait.” She headed toward a spiral staircase that wound further up the mountain. I guess we weren’t fully at the peak.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone.” Troy smirked. He really wasn’t my favorite person. Wyatt had been standoffish in the beginning, but I liked him a whole lot more.

  “Great.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Violet hurried off.

  “So, what should we do?” Troy kicked a rock off the side of the mountain. An image of him kicking me off the mountain ran through my head, and I stepped further away from the edge.

  “I’d never hurt you.” He looked at me funny. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  “I never said you would.” I straightened up as tall as I could. “I’m not worried.”

  “You were thinking about how I’d want to toss you off this mountain.”

  “I was not.” I crossed my arms. What the hell? Was this guy reading my mind?

  “Ok, sorry. More specifically you were worried about me kicking you off the mountain.”

  “How?” I was at a loss for words.

  “Did you have to tell her already?” Wyatt groaned. “Now she’s going to be all paranoid and try to hide her thoughts, which will only make them louder.”

  I rested my forehead in my hand. “I already had a headache.”

  “Get her some water,” Wyatt instructed Troy. “Use the fountain.”

  “You get it yourself.”

  “She likes me better. You heard it as well as I did.”

  I was mortified. They’d heard me think that too? I felt blood rushing to my face.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. It happens.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Troy walked off the same way Violet had gone.

  “This nightmare keeps getting worse.”

  “It’s not a nightmare.”

  “No, because that would be too easy. I could wake up from a nightmare.”

  “This wasn’t your choice?” He wrinkled his brow.

  “No.” I sat down on the rocky ground. My head was spinning from the altitude, and I was out of energy.

  Wyatt sat down next to me. “That sucks. You should have had a choice.”

  “Were you born as a Drago?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “The gene is dominant like with Pterons, so when a Drago finally mates any children are always Dragos.”

  “I do envy your ability to fly.”

  “You like wings.” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, but I only love one set.” I smiled.

  “I can’t tell you what he thinks.”

  “You mean you can’t rea
d his mind?”

  “Nope. I’d heard Pterons were like that. We are too. I guess we’re more similar than I thought.”

  “Did you also evolve? Like you used to turn into true dragons?”

  “A long, long time ago.”

  “Cool. I like your form now. A lot of girls would find it attractive.”

  He laughed. “My guess is if you weren’t in love with a Pteron you would too.”

  “What do those mean?” I pointed to the tattoos on his abdomen.

  “They mark me as part of a clan.”

  “Oh?” My eyes traced over the winding design of black and grey that crossed his abs and continued around to his back. “Did you have them done when you were young?”

  He scrunched up his face. “These aren’t tattoos. I was born with them. All Dragos are born with a set. They are all a little different. Not a single set is the same.”

  “Like people. No two are the same.”

  “And snowflakes.” He smiled. “I know you were thinking that first.”

  I buried my face in my hands. “Can I have no privacy?”

  “You can. I can shut it off.”

  “Then why aren’t you?”

  “It takes some effort, and right now I need to keep my senses sharp.”

  “In case something happens.”

  “Exactly. If you get hurt, Violet is going to kill me.”

  “Can she?” I asked with real curiosity.

  “Are you asking if I’m immortal?”

  “Basically.”

  “In the same way an Allure is.”

  “How old are you?” I was asking more out of curiosity this time.

  “Old.”

  “Old like Violet?”

  “Older.”

  “What? Everyone acts like Violet is the oldest thing around!”

  “Excuse me?” Violet’s voice had me jumping.

  I slowly turned around. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”

  “I know.” She held out a crystal goblet. “Drink this, it will help the altitude sickness.”

  “Great, all that work for nothing.” Troy walked over holding a cup.

  “That was thoughtful of you. Surprising even.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “Wyatt made me.”

  Violet nodded. “That makes more sense.”

  “How did it go? Did they grant us an audience?”

  She nodded. “Drink this first, and then we’ll get ready.”

  I sipped the cool liquid. It went down easy, and I drank more. I could breathe easier. “What do you mean get ready?”

  “We both need to change.”

  “Why would we need to do that?”

  “It’s the rules.” Troy rolled his shoulders back. “For everyone but us.”

  “What do we wear, and why don’t you have to?”

  “You wear robes, and remember the treaty and our powers.”

  “Do you have another ability besides mind reading?”

  “Abilities and yes.”

  Violet’s eyebrows drew together. “You know about the mind reading?”

  “It slipped when she got worried about me kicking her off the side of the mountain.”

  She turned to me. “Did you actually believe I’d leave you with people who would hurt you?”

  “Considering you dumped us alone on a deserted beach, maybe.”

  “That wasn’t my fault. I assumed they’d come speak to us later.”

  I wasn’t going to argue. “Where are these robes?”

  “Inside.” She gestured to the spiral staircase. “Let’s go.”

  “Good luck.” Wyatt smiled.

  “You guys aren’t coming?”

  “No, this is Allure business.”

  “Okay.” I followed her despite my nerves. There was no reason to put it off any longer.

  20

  Daisy

  My bare feet were cold as I walked across the marble floors of the palace. I understood removing my shoes out of respect, but wearing a white robe seemed a bit extreme even if Violet claimed it was an equalizer.

  Although the robe covered me more than my usual clothes, I still felt naked. I took small and deliberate steps, purposely letting myself fall behind Violet. The bright white room felt endless, and maybe it was. I couldn’t even see the ceilings because it was so tall, and other than the doorway I’d walked through, I hadn’t seen another wall. Ahead of us all I could see was a bright light. It was so intense, I had to look at the floor in order to keep my eyes open.

  I continued to follow Violet. Despite my concerns with her trustworthiness, she knew what she was doing, and she seemed to know the Elders. Staying behind her seemed like the safest option.

  A shriek escaped my mouth before I realized what was happening as someone grabbed my shoulder from behind. Once the momentary panic passed, I was hit by a wave of relaxation. I turned, not at all surprised to find Roland standing there.

  He grinned as soon as our eyes met. “I’ve missed you.”

  I stared into his brown eyes at a loss for words. Why was he here? My headache returned. There was too much going on for me to handle. I turned back to find Violet facing us. She had her arms crossed over her chest.

  She glared at him. “Interesting time to choose to show up.”

  “I couldn’t let Daisy face the Elders without me. She has no maker, but I’m the closest thing she has to one. The question is why you think you had the authority to bring her here.” He put his hands on my shoulders.

  I tried to move out of his embrace.

  Violet glowered. “I’m helping her.”

  “Helping her? No. You are trying to help yourself.” Roland’s hands tightened on my shoulders.

  “How would this help her?” I thought back on everything Gabriel had said. The memories, her motive. Was it all coming to light?

  “She still hasn’t told you?” Roland spoke with his lips right next to my ear.

  I struggled away from him. “Told me what?”

  Violet shook her head. “Stop putting negative thoughts in her head. I’m here to help her. She wants to stay human. I want to help. We all willingly accepted the gift. She should have been given the choice too.”

  “Are you all done prattling?” A booming voice had me jumping for the second time in a few minutes.

  “Yes.” Violet linked her arm with mine and tugged me away from Roland. He easily caught up and took my other arm, reminding me of the first night we’d met. It felt like a lifetime ago.

  My heart was beating a mile a minute as we walked toward the bright light. I couldn’t see anything but the light, and that made things even scarier.

  “It’s fine. Everything is going to be okay,” Violet whispered the soothing words into my ear.

  “Just tell them the truth. Only the truth.” Roland’s words weren’t nearly as soothing. Despite the comfort his touch gave me, his words sent shivers down my spine.

  “I’ll lead everything. Speak when you’re asked direct questions. I will handle the rest.” Violet pulled me closer.

  “Be careful who you trust,” Roland warned.

  I felt like a ping pong ball being volleyed back and forth between Violet and Roland. I longed for Owen. He’d keep me focused. I shook my head. No. He’d be in danger. It was important I was doing this without him. I never wanted to put him at risk.

  The light became brighter the closer we walked toward it. I continued to look down. The glare was so strong it hurt my eyes.

  “Stay calm,” Violet said quietly. “The worst thing you can do right now is get upset.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. The Elders will use your fear against you. Fear is your greatest weakness.” She spoke in a breathless tone that made me question whether she was nervous too. And if she was, what did that mean? Was she going to turn on me?

  We continued walking through the seemingly endless room until we suddenly stepped through the light.

  I blinked a few times.

  “Now you don’t
see that every day, do you?” a low and sultry female voice said.

  I looked up. The intense light had vanished. In front of us were ten men and women sitting in ornate golden chairs that resembled thrones. They may have been called Elders, but they didn’t look it. Each was breathtakingly attractive and in their prime. Just like Violet. None looked to be over thirty. Each was dressed differently, in clothes that varied from formal wear to jeans. Evidently they had no dress code.

  “Aren’t you going to answer?” The blond woman sitting second from the right spoke again. “It’s rude not to.”

  I looked at Violet. She gestured for me to talk. “You were speaking to me?”

  “Do you usually answer questions with questions?”

  “No.” It took every ounce of strength I had to talk. I’d never felt so intimidated in my entire life.

  “Then say something.” She made it sound so simple.

  “I don’t even understand what you asked.” My head spun. I had never remembered feeling so confused.

  “Permission to speak, Arabella?” Violet’s voice was strong and unwavering.

  “Granted.” Arabella nodded.

  Violet cleared her throat. “Daisy has had a lot to digest in the past few days. Please forgive her difficulty responding.”

  “I still do not understand your presence here.” Arabella crossed her legs.

  “I am here to champion her cause.”

  “Isn’t that her maker’s job?” She gestured to Roland.

  Violet held up her chin. “He’s not her maker.”

  “Yet they share part of an essence. How is that possible?” Arabella shifted in her seat, revealing more of her elegant black gown.

  “She was given an Allure essence against her will.” Violet’s face was expressionless. I braced myself. How would these people react?

  They looked horror struck. “How do you know it was against her will?” one of the men asked.

  Another Elder jumped in next. “Do you take the child’s word as truth?”

  Child? Maybe compared to them.

  “It was the result of misguided witchcraft. The residue was still on her when we met her.” Roland stepped in front of me. “I can assure you she did not willingly take the essence.”

  “I couldn’t imagine she’d be able to. She doesn’t appear particularly strong.” A male elder sized me up and evidently wasn’t impressed. First a child and now weak. These people were not flattering me at all.