“You’re a princess. One day soon you’ll be a queen. These people are your subjects.” He kissed me gently on the lips before moving his arm to my waist, leading me toward the crowds.
We hadn’t made it far when Robert grabbed Levi’s arm. “We have some unexpected guests.”
I turned to follow Robert’s gaze and saw a middle-aged man with a shock of gray hair and a younger man that was probably in his early twenties.
“The Dalys are here?” Levi’s voice was strained. He tightened his hold on my waist. “They never come.”
“Evidently, they decided it was worth it this time.” Robert gave Levi a look. “We couldn’t refuse them entrance.”
“She knows.” Levi didn’t look at me when he said it.
“I know what?”
He looked away. “What you are.”
I startled, and tried to move out of his arm. “What? You knew this whole time? You acted surprised!”
Anger boiled inside me. He was still lying to me.
“I never said I didn’t know…and I still didn’t understand how it affected us.”
“That’s great, absolutely great.” I tried to pull away from Levi again.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting away from you.”
“No,” he hissed. “You can’t.”
While we were arguing, the Dalys had moved closer. That’s when it hit me. I remembered the name from when I was with the cougars. This was another heir.
“Hello, Robert. Leviathan.” The older man spoke first. “And Allison, how lovely to finally meet you.”
The older man spoke, but it was the younger one who reached out a hand to mine. “You truly are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
I gave him my hand, strangely attracted to this guy I’d just met. It wasn’t like it was with Levi, but there was no question there was something there. “Thank you. I don’t think I caught your name.”
“Cade. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I felt a tug and suddenly my hand wasn’t in Cade’s anymore. “If you’ll excuse me, my mate and I have many others to greet tonight.”
Cade turned to Levi. “I’d like to request a dance with Allison.”
“Request denied. She won’t be dancing with anyone but me.” He pushed me partially behind him.
“But it’s customary. I am allowed one dance.” Cade took a step toward me.
“And I’m overruling that.” Levi turned, pulling me with him.
Cade raised his voice. “No. I demand my dance. You can’t break the rules.”
Levi turned around and scowled at Cade. “I just did.”
“Levi.” Robert’s voice was scratchy. “He has the right to one dance.”
Was this really over whether Cade could dance with me? Did an heir always have the right to dance with the prince’s mate?
Levi let out a low growl. Listening to the guttural noise reminded me that he wasn’t human. “Fine. One dance, but you better not upset her.”
“Don’t I get a say in who I dance with?” I knew I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I refused to just sit back and listen to them talking about me.
“No.” Levi and Cade said at once.
I searched the room for help. The tension was suffocating, and at that moment I was angry with Levi, and a mix of attracted and scared of Cade.
“Surely you wouldn’t mind giving my son one dance?” the so far pleasant senior Daly asked.
Considering he bothered to ask me, I wasn’t going to deny the request. “I suppose I could.”
Cade’s smile was only matched by Levi’s scowl.
Cade held out a hand, and I accepted it. I figured one dance couldn’t be that bad. He led me across the dance floor.
The music was slow, so slow that it was almost hard to dance to. Cade put one hand on my shoulder and the other clasped my hand. “It’s true. I didn’t believe it until I saw you.”
“What’s true?” I had a good idea what he was referring to, but playing stupid was sometimes the best option in those sorts of situations.
“That you have the power to choose. When I heard Levi found a mate, I figured it was only a matter of time before you gave him his heir. It wasn’t until my father heard that you had also dated the Blackwell heir that we knew what you were. He’d sensed the possibility over a year ago but thought he was out of his mind.”
“How did he hear? Is my dating life that public?”
He smiled. “A potential mate of a prince must realize her life is no longer hers to keep private.”
“It’s still my life.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart? Do you really think it’s appropriate to call me that?”
He leaned in closer. “You will be my mate soon enough…why not start now?”
“Your mate?” That’s when I thought over his prior potential mate comment. “Do you really think I won’t remain Levi’s mate?”
“I know you feel it.” He leaned in to whisper. “It’s too incredible not to.”
“Feel what?”
“Do you always play dumb? You seem otherwise intelligent.”
“Where are you from?”
He moved in closer to me. “L.A.”
“You’re from L.A.?”
“Does that surprise you?” He moved his hand slightly lower on my back.
“You don’t talk like someone from L.A.” I couldn’t place his accent, it sounded vaguely Italian, but I wasn’t the best judge.
He laughed. “That’s because I spent most of my life in Europe. I only moved back last year after I graduated.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-three. Why, are you worried about an age difference?”
“No,” I answered quickly. “I was just wondering.”
He put a hand under my chin. “I like you, Allison. We’re going to have a great time together.”
I turned my head, forcing him to let go of my chin. “It’s Allie.” I didn’t even let Levi call me by my full name. “Don’t sound so confident. I already made my choice.
“No you haven’t, and Allie? I like the nickname.”
The song ended, and I sighed with relief.
He ran a finger down my arm. “I’m staying at the hotel for the next few days. I wouldn’t mind a visit.”
“I don’t—”
“Dance is over.” Levi grabbed my arm, partially blocking Cade from view.
“That was lovely, Allie. I look forward to spending more time with you soon.”
I nodded, not sure what to do.
“What were you talking about?” Levi handed me a glass of wine.
“What do you think?”
“You’re not actually angry with me, are you?”
I groaned. “I don’t know what to feel.” I still couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me he’d known about the enchantress stuff.
“I didn’t know much, I just knew you were something more than a regular human. I would have told you, but my dad told me it could mess things up worse.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Your dad doesn’t always have the answers.”
“I know…and I’m sorry. I want to fix this as much as you do.”
“So we can be together or so you can be king?”
“You can’t doubt my feelings for you.” He took my hand, forcing my arms down.
“I don’t know what I believe anymore.” I tried to pull my hand from his.
He held my hand tighter. “Please, don’t let this get to you. It’s nothing.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” I didn’t get a chance to walk off.
“Allie.” Toby said my name like he was savoring it.
Levi released my hand only to put an arm around me again. I didn’t mind once I realized who Toby was with. “Leviathan, how nice to see you again.” The old man next to Toby talked to Levi, but his eyes never left me.
“What brings you here tonight?” Robert, materializing out of nowhere,
didn’t even let Levi respond for himself.
“That’s an unnecessary question, Robert.” The old man still watched me like a hawk.
“Who’s the boy?” Robert stepped in front of me. It was the first time he’d done anything protective.
“I forget. You’ve never met my grandson, have you?”
“It’s funny how it’s the first time you’ve publicly acknowledged him.”
“We had our reasons for keeping his presence quiet, but I don’t believe for a second you’re surprised. You’re aware of my grandson’s relationship with Allison Davis, aren’t you?”
“His prior relationship.” Robert hadn’t moved from his position in front of me.
“He had her first. He never acquiesced to her leaving. She’s his.”
Robert grunted. “He never took her as a mate. She was free to go where she pleased.”
“You expect us to believe she came to New Orleans by chance? The girl’s a New Yorker. She was enrolled at Princeton with my grandson. If you hadn’t meddled, she’d be there now.”
Normally I would have complained about someone speaking like I wasn’t there, but I was terrified of this guy. If Robert was scary, this guy was petrifying. It was like he emitted waves of fear.
Robert didn’t miss a beat. “Her reasons for coming to New Orleans have nothing to do with the matter.” Georgina was right—Robert had to have had something to do with my dad buying the hotel.
The old man sneered. “Allie never accepted your son. If she had, it would be over.”
Robert laughed dryly. “Are you really going to pretend to believe the old enchantress stories?”
“You know as well as I do that it’s true. She chose to lay with Toby first, she’s a Blackwell, and the crown will move.”
“Lay with?” I couldn’t stay quiet any longer. For some reason, I got adrenaline rushes that allowed me to stand up to scary men. “Did I sleep with Toby? Yes, but I had no idea he wasn’t just my human boyfriend. At least Levi told me what he was.”
I didn’t need to turn around to know that Levi was probably smiling.
“I formally request my dance.” Toby spoke for the first time since saying my name.
“First Cade, and now you? This is ridiculous. I’m not just some toy that can be passed around.”
“Cade? The Dalys are here?” The elder Blackwell glanced around.
Robert nodded. “Unfortunately.”
“What do they hope to accomplish? Surely they can’t believe the girl would pick a boy she doesn’t even know.”
“None of this should even be happening. Levi is the rightful heir to the throne. I’m sure they’ll have an heir soon, ending all of this.” Robert clasped his hands together like he was trying to stop himself from hurting Mr. Blackwell.
Mr. Blackwell’s eyes darkened. “How would that end anything? If their bond isn’t final, then the child wouldn’t be a true heir.”
I could feel the tension ratcheting. If someone didn’t do something, there would be a fight. “Stop! Stop talking about who I will or will not be having children with. This is all too much.” I turned to walk away when I felt a tight grip on my arm.
“You owe my grandson a dance.” The elder Blackwell seethed with anger. I wanted to argue, but all I could do was nod.
Levi pulled me into his arms, running his hand over my now tender skin. “You touch her again, and I will kill you.”
“Don’t threaten me, child.”
“If he doesn’t do it, I will. You have no right to lay a hand on her.” Robert once again blocked me.
“Tell her to give Toby the dance, and I won’t have to. You know he is owed it.”
Robert turned, not bothering to cover the annoyance and anger on his face. Even though I knew it wasn’t directed at me, it still got me. “Dance with the boy.”
I nodded, still not sure how to respond.
Toby gently took my hand. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear as we moved onto the dance floor.
“He’s horrible.”
“I’ll protect you from him. Besides, he won’t be angry once you come back.”
“I’m not coming back.”
“You have to. If not for me, do it for Jess.” His eyes were filled with emotion. He seemed almost as overwhelmed as me.
“Jess? I thought she was okay…”
“I’m not in charge anymore…my grandfather took over.”
“What?” My head started to spin.
Toby caught me before I could fall. Still lightheaded, I didn’t complain about the contact. “He’s going to hold off another two weeks, but that’s all I can get. He wants this situation taken care of.”
“Allie, are you okay?” Levi came up beside me.
“Our dance isn’t over,” Toby snapped.
“She almost fell.”
“I caught her.”
Levi reluctantly walked away. This dance thing must have been really official for him to be giving up so easily.
“You have two weeks, Allie. Two weeks or he’s going to do it.”
“Do what?”
Toby lowered his voice. “Get rid of her.”
“How can you let that happen? Jess is your friend too!”
“I had no choice, and there’s an easy solution. Just pick me.”
“There has to be another way…” I needed there to be.
“There isn’t.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I moved away.
“Is being with him really worth an innocent girl’s life?” With that he walked away.
I was left speechless in the middle of the dance floor.
“Are you okay?” Levi’s comforting arms wrapped around me.
I shook my head, unable to speak.
“What did he do to you?”
I could feel the tears starting. “Can you get us out of here?”
“Yes, of course.”
I barely realized what was happening as Levi led us out of the room. I felt too sick to think. I leaned into the arm Levi offered as we waited for the elevator to take us to the basement.
“No one will bother us here.” He closed the door to our safe room before I could argue.
“We can’t stay in here all night.”
“Since we’re not in lockdown, we can open the door at any time.”
“I can’t do this, Levi.”
“Do what?” He led me over to the couch. That piece of furniture had been conveniently missing the last time I’d been there.
“Let Jess spend another minute with those horrible people. Toby said his grandfather was going to kill her if I didn’t come.”
“And you think he won’t kill her if you turn yourself over?” His voice wasn’t cold, but nothing could make his words easier to accept.
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t just sit here. I have to do something.”
He put a hand on my bare shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do. You need to let me take care of this.”
I wanted to argue, but it wasn’t going to help anything. I was going to have to figure things out on my own. I needed time to think, and I needed some space. I wasn’t going to get any space in our safe room. “We can go back to the party.”
“We don’t have to.”
“I want to. It’s our night, we should be there.”
“If you’re sure.” He reluctantly stood up. “We’re still going back to the house tonight, right?”
I let out a deep breath. “Yes.” I was angry at Levi for not telling me he knew about the enchantress thing, but the truth was, I was doing the same thing—keeping secrets.
“All right.”
We took the elevator upstairs and walked back into the ballroom.
“There you are.” Hailey grabbed my arm. “Where have you guys been? Things are getting crazy.”
“Crazy?” Levi asked.
Hailey looked worried. “Your admirers were about to tear this place apart looking for you.”
Levi groaned. “Why? They’ve each had their dance.
They don’t get anything else.”
Hailey played with her bracelet again. “It’s insane, even your dad looks worried, Levi.”
“I need to find him, but I’m not leaving Allie. Where are Jared and Owen?”
“The last I saw, Anne and Tiffany actually had them dancing.”
“Seriously? If everything else wasn’t so crazy, I’d love to see that.”
I jumped in. “Should I just go? Would that make it easier?”
Levi seemed to think about it for a minute. “No. We need to just face them head on again. If you run, it looks like you have a reason to.”
“It’s not like I’m in trouble…”
“No, but they want it to look like we’re in trouble.”
“This is so dumb.”
“I agree, hopefully we can end all this soon.”
“Allison, may I have a word with you?” The elder Blackwell stopped several feet from us, yet I still shivered.
Levi moved in front of me. “Anything you have to say to her can be said in front of me.”
“Fine. I was just going to comment on how beautiful those green eyes of yours are. I wonder where I’ve seen ones like them before.” He ran a hand through his beard. “Oh wait, I remember. Your mother.”
“My mother? How do you know my mother?”
He grinned. “Lovely meeting you, Allison.” He started walking away.
“Wait! How do you know my mother?”
Levi put a hand on my arm. “He’s just trying to bait you.”
“It worked. I need to get my phone. It’s in my room upstairs.”
“No, it’s not.” He pulled my phone out of his jacket pocket.
“How’d you get that?”
“I grabbed it on the way out of your room. I know how much you hate to be separated from it. Call her.”
I hit the speed dial for my mom.
“Allie?” Mom picked up right away.
“Hi, Mom. Are you all right?”
“Of course, I’m all right. Why would you ask? It’s kind of loud, where are you?”
“At a party. I just wanted to tell you I love you.”
“Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Fine.”
“Well, I love you too.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.” I hung up and let out a sigh of relief.
“See, he’s just baiting you.”
I nodded, but it could still have been a threat. There was no way I was just sitting back anymore.
Found (The Crescent Chronicles #3) Page 12
