my shoulder to make sure no one
was nearby. It was probably
pointless, half the people we were
with had super hearing. “And the
only thing that levels me out is
intimacy with Owen.”
Violet grinned. “I can think of
worse things for you to have to do.”
“I agree, but I can’t spend my
whole life having sex with him.”
“No… not every second of it.”
“So what’s the plan? Everyone
seems to think you have one.”
“We get to Mount Majest. See
the Elders.”
“The Elders who you don’t think
are actually going to help.” Very
reassuring.
“You never know. They like me.”
“What aren’t you saying?”
“You are already more
perceptive.” She straightened and
moved so she was standing in front
of me.
“I guess it comes with the
territory.” I struggled to keep my
head up. “But spit it out.”
She looked off into the distance
and didn’t say anything. I decided
to wait. Violet wasn’t going to talk
until she was ready. “You might not
like what they have to say.”
“Meaning they could refuse to
help.”
“Meaning any help they give will
be on their own terms. Not yours.”
Her words sunk in. Their terms
may not be good for everyone
around. “I need you to promise me
something.” I still didn’t know
everything about Violet, but she
struck me as someone who would
stick to her word.
“What is it?” She carefully
avoided promising anything until
she knew more. I tried to do the
same thing.
“Promise me you won’t let Owen
get hurt.”
“He’s likely to get hurt whether
you become an Allure or not.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“But I will do what I can. There
are different types of hurt.” She
looked into the forest line.
On instinct I turned and followed
her gaze. “Is something out there?”
“No, but you can never be too
safe.”
A chill ran through me. “Are you
worried about someone watching
me or you?”
“Either or both. There are
always eyes in our world.”
“Should we be doing more to
protect ourselves? Have Owen
check or something?” I was
paranoid enough already. Now I
was going to be checking over my
shoulder every few minutes.
“It’s not going to change a thing.
When you’ve lived as long a life as I
have, you begin to understand that
some things are worth expending
energy on and others are not.”
“And helping me stop the
change is worth your energy?” I still
didn’t know what to think. For a girl
who couldn’t feel, Violet seemed to
be very concerned with what
happened to me.
“Yes. It’s worth it.”
“How come you sometimes
feel?” My filter was nearly gone.
“Haven’t we gone over this
before? I don’t feel in the way you
do.”
“But you can sometimes…” I
thought over our conversation with
Myrtle. About Violet looking sad.
“Spit it out, Daisy. Is there
something you want to ask me?”
She crossed her arms, and it was an
action that didn’t fit her at all.
“What happened at the
Applerose Gala?”
“I don’t know what you are
talking about.” She looked out into
the open field again.
“Yes you do. Why lie? You
already know everything about
me.”
She blinked. “I’ll say it again. I
don’t know what you are talking
about.”
“How can you expect me to trust
you, if you don’t trust me? Things
don’t work that way. There has to
be some give and take.”
“No.” She moved in close.
“That’s not how it works. You want
my help, I’m giving it. You want me
to try to protect Owen, I’ll try, but
—”
“Fine. I’ll stop pushing you, but
please keep your promise. He
needs to survive. He needs to have
a life. Happiness. Whether that’s
with or without me.”
“Let’s focus on getting to the
Elders first. There’s no reason to
rush to a conversation we may not
need to have.”
“Fair enough. How are we
getting there?” I wanted to know
about the gala and that man, but
pushing her wasn’t going to help
anything. I’d find out eventually. I
didn’t trust Violet completely, but I
had no other choice. I had nowhere
else to go.
“There are a few options.”
“Which are?” Finally she was
giving me some information.
“There are gates… that’s the
only way to reach Energo directly
from here.”
“Ok. Where are the gates?” The
sooner we reached Energo, the
better.
“Instead we can cut through
another place first.”
“Is there an advantage to this
indirect way in?”
“We are less likely to be
detected. That’s a good thing.” She
stepped back.
“What’s the catch? There has to
be one.”
“I know you’re already
nauseous. The trip isn’t going to
help matters any.”
“Great.”
“Somehow I don’t think that
band is going to be enough.” She
gestured to the motion sickness
bracelet.
“Owen can come too.” I wasn’t
actually asking a question. There
was only one possibility I could
accept.
“Yes. He’s not going to let you
go alone.”
“His feelings are real.” I needed
Violet to understand even if it didn’t
change anything.
“I can tell.”
“Mine are too.” I hopped down
off the railing.
“I can tell that too.”
“I love him.” Despite everything,
I still knew that. I refused to let go
of those feelings.
“I know.”
“I want to love him always.”
“Which is why I know you can
handle the motion sickness.”
“I know.” I straightened up. Like
it or not, I had no choice. “Do we
have time to grab some cookies?”
Violet laughed. “There’s always
time for cookies.”
“You like chocolate chip too?”
“Love them.”
“At least that doesn’t have to
disappear as an Allure.”
“It’s a different kind of love
though.”
“I knew you were going to say
that.” I sighed. Everything was
going to be different as an Allure. I
wouldn’t even enjoy cookies the
same way anymore?
“I wanted to make sure you
understood.”
“I understand.”
“Then let’s go back inside.” She
started for the door, but then
turned back. “I’m not all bad you
know.”
“I know. Why do you think I’m
talking to you?”
“None of us are. Not Hugh, or
Roland, or Louie. We’re a product of
what we’ve become.”
“Heartless.”
“No. Heartless isn’t the right
word.” Violet locked her eyes with
mine. “We have hearts.”
“Then how would you describe
it?”
“Frozen. Our hearts are frozen.”
“No. That doesn’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because a frozen heart can be
thawed. What you are can’t be
fixed,” I nearly whispered.
“Very true.” She seemed
unmoved by my words.
“But that doesn’t bother you.”
The lack of feeling was still
something I couldn’t truly
comprehend. How did you respond
to anything or anyone without it?
“Sometimes it does, but it’s less
than you would think.”
“Right now, does it?”
“My own condition doesn’t, but
yours does. I care about you as
much as it’s possible for me to
care.”
I believed her. Maybe I was
naïve, but I needed to believe her
to motivate myself to go along with
whatever crazy plan she had. “And I
appreciate that.”
“But, Daisy?” She stopped right
in front of the door.
“Yes?”
“When we’re with the Elders,
you might not believe that’s true
anymore, but remember it is. It will
always be true.”
“How do you know? How do you
know it will always be true?”
“Because I do.” She held open
the door. “Let’s get those cookies.
It might help to get something in
your stomach first.”
“Unless that makes me sick.”
“True. I guess you should make
sure to enjoy them going down. It
will make up for anything bad you
experience with it coming back up.”
“What’s coming back up?” Owen
stood just inside the doorway.
“Nothing.” I didn’t want to put
the visual of me vomiting cookies
into his head.
“Did you two discuss everything
necessary?” Owen looked between
us.
“Pretty much. Now it’s time for a
snack before we get ready for our
trip.” I glanced toward the kitchen.
The cookies smelled heavenly.
“To Energo?” Owen asked.
“Eventually.” Violet started
toward the kitchen. “But we’ve
discussed it, and we’re going to go
in a roundabout way and make a
stop. Make our entrance less
conspicuous.”
“What place are we making a
stop at?”
“My home.” Violet handed me a
cookie.
9
OWEN
“You expect us to walk through a
tree to fairy land?” Levi spat out as
we sat around the kitchen table.
“First of all, it isn’t fairyland;
second of all, I don’t expect you to
do anything. You’re not invited.”
Violet took a small bite of her
cookie.
“You can’t tell me I’m not
invited. I’m the king.” Levi slammed
his fist into the table.
Violet turned to Levi. “Yes, I
realize you are the king here, but
that doesn’t mean anything where
we’re going.”
“Unless someone else is given a
territory, it’s mine.” Levi clenched
his fist.
Violet rolled her eyes. “As I was
saying, you will not be joining us.”
“You can’t tell me what to—”
“Who is going with you, Violet?”
Georgina interrupted.
Violet smiled at Georgina.
“Daisy has requested that Owen
accompany us. Given the
circumstances, I agree that he
should come.”
“Given the circumstances, I can
come too.” Levi glowered.
I needed to calm him down.
“Levi, we have this. You need to
take care of things here, and Allie
and the kids need you.”
“Let me send someone else with
you then.” He was worried. It took
a lot to make him worried.
“No.” Hugh shook his head. “It’s
bad enough that Romeo is coming.”
“Don’t call him that.” Daisy set
down her half eaten cookie. “The
name implies we’re star crossed
lovers destined for a tragic end.
That’s not us.”
Mayanne grinned. “Now there’s
the confidence we’ve all been
waiting for.”
Daisy picked at her cookie,
creating a pile of crumbs. “How
soon do we leave?”
Violet wiped her mouth with a
napkin. “As soon as you’re ready.”
“We’re ready.” Daisy pushed
back her chair.
“I can prepare bags for
everyone.” Georgina stood.
“I will make sure they both have
everything they need.” Violet
nodded at Georgina. “I assure you
they will be well attired.”
“I’m not stealing more clothes.”
Daisy shook her head. “I know
that’s what you did in Colorado.”
Her voice was low, and there was
no question she felt ashamed she
even had the ability to do that.
“You really are a fighter.”
Violet’s eyes gleamed with pride, as
though Daisy’s strength had
something to do with her. “Too bad
you don’t want to become one of
us.”
“Here, at least change into the
slacks Allie sent over.” Georgina
stood. “I have those in the car. A
girl should always dress her best,
but she should also make sure to
have alternatives.”
“And there you have it. Expert
advice.” Levi grinned.
Georgina tried to hide a smile.
“Leviathan please get my bag from
the car.”
“Of course.” He walked outside.
Levi returned a moment later
with the bag, and Daisy hurried off
to change.
Violet pulled me to the side.
“You need to keep yourself reined
in over the next few days. We know
you care about her, but that doesn’t
mean you should argue with me
every chance you get. We need to
work together to both get what we
want.”
“And what is it that you want?” I
still didn’t believe her motivations
were as innocent as she pretended.
“It’s mine to know.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not.
That’s not good enough. We could
be walking into a trap for all I
know.”
“You’re not.” She looked toward
the doorway, probably checking for
Daisy.
“And you expect me to take your
word for it, just like that?”