Arabella was dressed to the nines?
“If we stop the change, you’ll
regret it. You’ll spend the rest of
your dismal short life wondering
‘what if’. ‘What if’ you had taken the
chance?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’d
always regret if I did change.”
She laughed dryly. “Now we
both know that’s not true. You
won’t feel regret as an Allure.”
“And that changes everything?”
“Yes.” She stood.
“Please stop the change. I’ll do
anything.” I wasn’t above groveling
at her feet if it would help.
“Be careful what you offer.”
“I already told you I’d rather die
than lose the ability to feel.” I
wasn’t suicidal. I’d never do that to
the people in my life, but I wouldn’t
be me if I changed. I wasn’t about
to spend thousands of years
roaming the earth as a paranormal
creature that manipulated people,
even destroyed their lives, on a
whim. It couldn’t happen. That
wasn’t me at all.
“Do you want to see?”
“See what?”
“What your life could be?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you ever stop asking
questions?”
“Not when my life and future are
on the line.”
“Answer me. Do you want to
know?”
“I don’t understand what you
are even asking. What are you
offering to show me?”
“The future.”
“You can see into the future?”
“I can show you.”
“I don’t want to know.” The
decision came swiftly, and I
stormed back inside. Some things
were better left unseen.
21
OWEN
Ipractically ran inside the palace.
Violet had to grab my arm to slow
me down, and even then I was
tempted to brush her off. I needed
to get to Daisy. Violet had assured
me she was fine, but how would
she even know? She’d been gone
awhile to come get me.
I’d accepted the simple white
robe without protest. I’d have
walked around naked if it meant
seeing Daisy. As soon as the doors
open I sprinted across the infinite
marble floors of the palace.
“Owen!” Daisy ran toward me
with her dark hair falling down her
back. I pulled her into my arms and
let my lips immediately find hers. I
didn’t care about the audience. We
were together, and that was all that
mattered.
“Are they always like this?” A
male voice asked.
Daisy broke the kiss, and I
reluctantly pulled away. I satisfied
myself by slipping her hand in mine
before we continued toward the
semi-circle of thrones that seated
the Elders.
“Usually. They are rather lovey-
dovey.” Violet smiled.
“We have never had a Pteron
inside this palace.”
“I appreciate the grant of an
audience. I would do anything to
secure Daisy’s human nature.” I
kept my voice even and calm even
though my heart was racing.
“You did it too. Promising
anything? That’s a dangerous
promise to make.” An attractive
blonde stood from her throne and
walked toward us. “I would have
thought your king would have
taught you better.”
“My king taught me to stand up
for what I believe in and protect
those I love with every ounce of
strength I have.” I intended to do
both no matter what it cost me.
“Daisy is agreeing to decline the
greatest gift imaginable,
immortality and power beyond your
wildest dreams.” The apparent
leader stepped down and joined the
blonde.
“She knows what she wants.” I
squeezed her hand.
“But would you do the same?
Would you give up your greatest
gift?” The leader studied my face.
“Yes.” I didn’t waver.
“That’s what love is about it,
isn’t it? Sacrifice.” He stood
completely still in front of us.
“That’s part of it, but it’s so
much more.” I kept eye contact,
wanting him to understand there
wasn’t a chance I would step down.
“But sacrifice is always part of it.
Whether it’s a small sacrifice of
where or how to live, or a big one,
like who and what you will be.”
“We both agree we’d do
anything to save her ability to feel.”
“But do you really mean it?” He
leaned in toward me.
“Yes. I would give my life.” That
reality shook me to my core, but it
was true. I’d risk anything to
protect her.
“But life isn’t your greatest gift.
You weren’t given immortality.”
“No, and I never asked for it.”
Living forever didn’t appeal to me.
I’d miss my friends and family too
much.
“But you were given other gifts.”
“Yes.” I wondered what he was
thinking.
“The biggest gift is hiding under
that robe.” The blonde walked
behind me and slipped down my
robe, running her finger down my
back.
That’s when it hit me. My wings.
“Would you give your wings up?”
The blonde moved back around in
front of us. “Would you give up the
ability to fly?”
“No!” Daisy’s yell echoed
through the room.
I ran my thumb over Daisy’s
hand to calm her down. “If that’s
what it takes.” I’d always thought
my wings made me who I was, but
I was wrong. I was more than a
Pteron. I was a man, and I had a
heart. “I would give my wings for a
guarantee that Daisy would stay
human, and we could live a life in
peace.”
“No! Don’t listen to him. He
doesn’t know what he’s talking
about!” Daisy yelled. She tried to
pull her hand from mine. “You can’t
do this, Owen. You’ll regret it, and
you’ll end up hating me. I’m not
worth it.” Tears streamed down her
face.
I took both of her hands in mine.
“It’s completely worth it. You’re
worth it and our love is. I told you
we’d love each other forever, and I
meant it.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Not
that.”
“She’s right.” Roland walked
over. I’d been so focused on Daisy
and the Elders that I hadn’t noticed
him. “You’ll regret it and hate her
forever. Is that what you really
want?”
“Shut up.” I glared at him. “You
want her to stay an Allure. Your
opinion means nothing.”
“I want her to have happiness,
but I agree with them both.” Violet
closed her eyes for several seconds
before opening them as though she
were preparing for something. “You
will regret it, just as Daisy would
always regret losing her chance to
be an Allure.”
“You’re supposed to be helping
us.” My hands balled into fists.
“Now you’re going to turn against
us?”
She shook her head. “I also told
Daisy I’d protect you. This is
protecting you both. You’d regret it,
and you’d eventually despise her.
What kind of life would that be?”
“It won’t happen. I could never
hate her.”
“I could show you.” The blonde
held out her hand. “I can show you
exactly what will happen.”
Violet stepped between us. “No.
If you watch the future, it will come
to pass. It can’t be changed.”
The blonde glared at her. “Do
you wish to spend the next century
locked up? Weren’t three decades
enough?”
Violet paled. “These years don’t
matter nearly as much as those
did.”
“Violet.” The leader cupped her
chin in an intimate way that only
lovers do. “You know I never want
to see you suffer again.”
“Then don’t allow the boy to
make such a stupid decision.”
“It is his stupid decision to
make. If he’s so in love, then let
him do it. We’ll take the essence
back and give it to someone more
worthy.”
“It won’t be easy.” Another elder
stood up. “It’s harder and harder to
find a human who can accept the
gift anymore.”
“She still gets the choice. It’s the
ultimate rule. He gets a choice too.”
“Our choice is made.” I knew
without a shred of doubt what my
answer was. “We are ready to give
up our gifts if it means we can be
together.”
“No!” Daisy pleaded.
“Let’s give them time.” The
leader gestured and all of the
Elders stood. “We will vacate the
room. When we return, you need to
have your answer.”
“We already have it.” I didn’t
need time. I wanted the change
stopped, and I wanted everything
done. I wanted it over with.
“Daisy wants time.” The leader
took Violet’s hand and led her
toward the door. He looked at
Roland. “You must leave them too.”
“Yes.” Roland nodded and
followed the line of Elders outside.
“My decision is made.” I didn’t
give Daisy a chance to argue. She
had a guilt complex, it’s all this
was. We belonged together, and I
was willing to do anything to make
sure that happened.
22
DAISY
Ihad no real choice. Only one
answer was acceptable, yet giving
it meant losing everything and
anything I cared about. It meant
losing Owen, and it meant losing
myself.
"Daisy?" Owen looked deep into
my eyes.
"I love you." I didn't think, I
didn't question. I crushed my lips
against his, needing to soak up his
taste and feel. He responded
immediately, deepening the kiss as
he wrapped me up in his arms.
Always and forever. Our
promised words swirled through my
head. Promised words that couldn't
possibly be true. But in that
moment it didn't matter. The truth
couldn't hurt us. Only time could.
“Daisy?” He broke the kiss and
looked into my eyes again. “You
understand, don’t you? You
understand I am more than willing
to give up flight for you.”
I nodded. “I understand, but
that doesn’t mean it’s right.”
“Of course it’s right. We’re
right.” He rested his hands on my
hips. My body warmed to his touch,
but I fought to stay strong.
I closed my eyes, I was about to
hurt the only man I’d ever loved.
The only man I would ever love.
“This isn’t love.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion
crossed his face. “Even the Elders
saw it. It’s the truest love there
could ever be.”
I shook my head and fought
back the tears. “We barely know
each other. It’s not love, Owen. It’s
only lust. And because of that I
can’t let you make the biggest
mistake of your life.”
“That’s a lie.” He gritted his
teeth. “Take it back. You know as
well as I do that it’s love.”
I did, but I couldn’t admit it. I
couldn’t give myself any room to
back down. Abe was right. Love
involved sacrifice, and sometimes
the greatest sacrifice was letting
someone go even when you wanted
to hold on to them more than
anything. “I have to go.”
He captured my wrist as soon as
I turned. “No. You can’t leave.
We’re almost out of time. We have
to do this now.”
“It’s too late, Owen. I’ve made
up my mind.” My heart broke, but I
had to say the words. I had to
convince him to save his wings.
They meant more to him than me
even if he couldn’t see it yet.
“No. It’s not your choice.” He
shook me. “Stop this. I’m the one
giving up the wings. It’s my choice.”
“I don’t want you making the
choice. I already told you. It’s lust.”
The dam of tears broke, and I fell
to the floor. I’d never kiss him
again. I’d never know the intense
passion we shared. I’d never know
any passion.
“Daisy, stop this.” His eyes
widened. “Stop this now.”
“Do we have a decision?” Abe
and Violet walked back in.
I nodded, forcing up the courage
to do what was right. “I changed
my mind. I want to be an Allure.”
Understanding crossed Violet’s
face. “Come with me, Daisy.
Everything is going to be okay.”
“No. Daisy you can’t do this!”
Owen grabbed for me.
Abe pushed him back. “You
heard her. She changed her mind.
Your audience is over. Troy will
escort you back to your home realm
immediately.”
“Daisy, no.” Owen shook his
head and tears slid down his face.
“Please, don’t do this.”
I ran from the room into the
courtyard. I couldn’t face him. I
couldn’t see the pain I caused the
man I loved, but I knew I was doing
the right thing. I still had the ability
to feel, to make decisions based on
my emotions. Owen couldn’t be
separated from his wings. They
were what made him who he was.
I’d rather live eternity without him