creature walked into the light.
“You’re a cat. A cat who can
talk?” I stared at the orange and
white stripped animal.
“You’re a man with wings. A
man with wings that can talk?” he
mocked.
“Have you been here the whole
time?” Daisy asked.
“Concerned I witnessed your
scene of intimacy?” He walked
toward us. “Don’t concern yourself
with that, I’ve seen plenty, although
much less over the past decades.”
“Are you Violet’s cat?” I couldn’t
really believe we were engaging in
conversation with a feline.
“I prefer to view our relationship
as that of equals.”
“But how does she view it?”
Daisy put a hand on her hip.
“I don’t know. I’ve never asked
her. Maybe you should next time
you see her.”
“And when that will happen is
the million dollar question.”
“Where is she?” Glendale walked
around us in the circle. “What are
you doing here?”
“Isn’t the bigger question who
we are?” I still couldn’t believe I
was talking to a cat. At first I
assumed he was a shifter, but most
shifters couldn’t talk in their animal
form. Pterons are the exception
since we stay partially human when
we shift. I wondered if Glendale
was something else entirely.
“I know who you are. Do you
think I’d have been so hospitable if
I didn’t?”
“I don’t know much about cats
being hospitable.” Daisy fidgeted
uncomfortably as Glendale rubbed
against her legs.
“Violet told me all about you.”
He moved over to my legs. I
wanted to push him away, but he
seemed talkative. “Both of you.”
“Did she tell you what she was
going to do to help me?” Daisy bent
down to his level.
He bumped his head against
hers. She startled and moved back.
“No.”
“And here I thought you could
help.”
“I can help.” He purred.
“But you don’t know anything.” I
held out a hand to Daisy and
helped her up.
“I know plenty.” The word
plenty came out like a purr.
Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Then
why is Violet in trouble with the
Force?”
“Because of you.”
“Because of me?” Daisy put her
hand to her chest.
“Daisy has done nothing wrong.”
“Except refuse the gift.”
Glendale rubbed against Daisy’s
legs again. “But I said she was in
trouble because of Daisy, not that
Daisy caused it.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning she’s in trouble for
aiding you when her superior told
her not to.”
“Louie.” His name slipped off my
tongue with distaste.
“Exactly.”
“What are they going to do to
her? And Hugh?”
“They have Hugh too?” Glendale
twitched his tail.
“Yes.”
“Wonderful.” He purred loud and
deep.
“Wonderful?”
“That man needs to be put in his
place.”
“Please answer me. What are
they going to do with her?”
“They’ll let her go with a
warning. No one really wants to
mess with Violet. It’s too
dangerous. She’s stronger than half
the Force.”
“Then why did she let them take
her in?”
“Because it’s the rules.”
“Do you know how to find the
Force? The island it’s on?”
“Yes, we will leave tomorrow
first thing.”
“You’re coming?”
“I need to see that Violet is
released immediately.”
“But not tonight?”
“No. Not on the first night of the
blood moon festival.”
“Scared of the Dryads?” I raised
an eyebrow. Unless these Dryads
were completely different than the
ones back home, the cat had
nothing to worry about. They loved
nature and animals no matter what
form.
“It’s not the Dryads I’m afraid
of.” His eyes narrowed down into
small slits.
“Then who is it?”
“I want you to sleep tonight.
You’ll be safer if you stay indoors.”
He circled Daisy’s legs.
“The Dryads invited us to the
festival.”
“Sure they did. I’m not surprised
at all.”
“So they were knowingly luring
us to danger?”
“The festival itself is safe, but
traveling to and from isn’t.”
“But I thought Allures were
super powerful. Who would hurt
me?” Daisy sounded more confident
than usual.
“You are still partly human. I
can tell.”
“What if you’re the one trapping
us?” I asked. “You want us to stay
here.”
“You were already planning on
staying. I heard the two of you.”
“I’ve changed my mind.” I
wasn’t getting tricked again,
especially not by a cat.
“I’m not going out there
tonight.” Glendale turned his back
and raised his tail.
“Not even to get to Violet
sooner?” Daisy made her voice low
and sweet.
“Violet will be fine another
night. Me, on the other hand, do
you think I’m good at defending
myself?”
“Cats are really clever, and don’t
you have claws and sharp teeth?”
“I appreciate you making me
sound like a lion, but I’m small in
size.”
I heard footsteps. “Where you
expecting someone else?” I asked
the cat.
The fur on the back of Glendale
stuck up. “No, this is trouble. Hide
Daisy. They came for her.”
“Where?” Daisy asked quietly.
“Where can we hide?”
The front door swung open, and
I instinctively jumped in front of
Daisy. Glendale arched his back.
A man dressed in a black suit
with a matching black tie strode
into the room. “Well, well, well.
This was easy.”
“What are you doing here?” I
glared at the intruder. He was even
taller and larger than me. Since
he’d opened the door on his own
without the sound of a key, I
assumed he was an Allure.
“I’m collecting my bounty. It was
much easier than expected.”
“What bounty?” I didn’t know
what he was talking about, but I
knew it couldn’t be good.
“For the new Allure. It was twice
the usual bounty reward. The Force
must really want her.”
“The Force?” I struggled to stay
in control. I needed a plan. I
couldn’t let him take Daisy, but I
had no idea how many others were
waiting outside.
“Yes. I see you’ve heard of our
esteemed body of law
enforcement.”
“Maybe.”
“Daisy? Come out little one.”
I held a hand behind me to keep
her back. There was no reason for
her to engage with this guy. I
glanced around the room. I didn’t
see anywhere to hide her if a fight
broke out. Hopefully she’d stay low.
“You’ve been a bad girl, and
you’re leaving Violet and Hugh to
pay for it all alone.” He snickered.
Daisy made a low noise behind
me.
“You can make this easy or
hard.”
“We’re not going with you.”
Daisy stepped to my side.
“Of course you are. The question
is whether you come easily, or
whether you get yourself hurt in the
process. Either way, you are coming
with us.”
“Us? I only see you.”
“Oh yeah?” He smiled. “Come in,
Barton.”
Another man, dressed in a
similar manner as the first one
walked in carrying a small cane.
I smiled to myself. I could take
two Allures easily, with or without a
cane. The trick was keeping Daisy
out of the way so she didn’t get
hurt. “We’re not going with you.”
“I don’t really care whether you
come. The bounty is on the girl, not
you.”
“She isn’t going anywhere
without me.” I gritted my teeth.
“Then come join the fun.” His
lips twisted into an evil smile.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Have it your way.” He gestured
for Barton to turn off the light.
As soon as the light switched off
my eyes quickly adjusted to the
darkness. Suddenly a hazy black
shadow appeared in front of me. I
stepped away, but then the
shadowy haze appeared to multiply,
until a half dozen surrounded me. I
was separated from Daisy.
I punched one, but my arm went
through it as though it were a
vapor. I tried to step outside of it,
but I couldn’t. I was completely
engulfed by the darkness. All of the
black vapors coalesced together
around me, creating a single form
that nearly suffocated me.
“Owen!” Daisy screamed from
behind me. I turned to watch the
first intruder throw her over his
shoulder.
I fought harder against the dark
vapor, but I couldn’t move. I was
stuck in the dark presence. The
harder I fought, the more labored
my breathing became until I felt
suffocated.
“Have fun with the Shadow,” He
called before he walked to the door.
“Daisy!” I screamed in vain as
she was pulled from the house. Out
of the corner of my eye I noticed
Glendale slip outside. I hoped he
was really on our side and stronger
than he claimed to be.
13
DAISY
Istruggled against the man holding
me. He was an Allure, I could feel
it, but he seemed even stronger as
I kicked his chest as hard as I could.
“Stop fighting me.” He pressed
down on my legs so I couldn’t kick
anymore.
“No.” I punched his back. “I will
not stop fighting until you let me go
and bring me back to my friend.”
“Your friend?” His voice was
hoarse and low. “Something tells
me he’s more than a friend.”
“What the hell do you care?”
“Because that’s what is causing
all the problems.”
“Last time I checked I wasn’t
causing any problems. Other people
were causing the problems.” I
wriggled against him again, but all
that got me was a tighter grip.
“Violet and Hugh are in a heap
of trouble because of you. You’ve
been given a gift, quit fighting it.”
“You’re an Allure?”
“No kidding, cupcake.” He pulled
me along across a dense forest.
Wasn’t there anyone around to see?
I was in trouble, but that didn’t
mean I wasn’t worried about Owen.
“That’s why you’re such a jerk.”
“Oh yeah?” He roughly adjusted
me in his arms. “Hating your own
now?”
“Not my own. I don’t want to be
one.” I gritted my teeth. I was
angry, and there was no one
around to calm me down. Maybe
that was a good thing.
“Not wanting something doesn’t
change it.”
“It should.”
“You sound like a spoiled brat.”
He tightened his grip.
“You’re hurting me,” I grunted.
“No I’m not.”
“How would you—”
He laughed. “Can’t fool an
Allure, sweetie.”
“Could you stop with the pet
names?”
“Don’t like them?”
“No. Not at all.” I kept him
talking to keep myself sane. Silence
wasn’t going to be a good thing.
“What would you rather me call
you?”
“Nothing.” I tried again to
loosen his grip. It resulted in him
holding me even tighter.
“I have to call you something.
You won’t care what I call you in a
few days anyway.”
“A few days?” My chest
clenched. “That’s all the time I have
left?”
“You make it sound like you’re
dying.”
“I am. Losing my ability to feel
is death.” I stopped struggling. If he
tightened his hold again I wouldn’t
be able to breath.
“Quit it. Stop feeling sorry for
yourself.”
“Why?” I ground my teeth. “I’m
about to lose everything I’ve ever
loved and makes me who I am.”
“You’re going to live forever.
You’re going to be one of the most
powerful creatures any world has
ever seen. You should feel lucky.”
“There’s nothing lucky about my
life.” That wasn’t entirely true. I
was lucky to be born to a loving
family and to have found Owen.
Having his love was lucky, but then
there was everything else. The
magic, the vampires, becoming an
Allure. They were the antithesis of
luck.
“Stop.” He spun me around. “It’s
time for you to face the music.”
I shook my head. It was the only
resistance I could give. “I know you
can’t feel, but I can. I’m going to
enjoy the last days I have. Please.
Let me see Owen.”
“Why? What’s the point?”
“I love him.”
“And that matters? Spending
more time with him will only make
it harder on him. It’s been a long
time since I’ve loved anyone, but I
wouldn’t think that’s how you’d
want to treat him. Is it?” He
sounded like Violet. Maybe that’s