be the best one to help you.”
I shivered. “I have to stop it in
time.”
“This should lengthen the
window, but it won’t work miracles.
You are still going to have to work
fast.”
“Is this going to knock me out?”
I moved around the glass in my
hand.
“Quite possibly.”
“If it does, will you have Owen
come in?”
She smiled. “Absolutely. We
won’t let you out of our sight.”
“Although I don’t know what
worse could happen to me—well,
besides Owen disappearing again.”
“He’s not going anywhere. My
guess is he’s pacing outside the
door.”
“All right. I might as well get
this over with.” I closed my eyes
and drank the pungent and sour
tasting liquid. My stomach churned
and I felt my gag reflex start, but I
fought it down. It wouldn’t do me
any good if I threw it up. I’d have to
drink it again.
I handed the empty glass to
Mayanne and laid back against the
pillow. “Ugh. I don’t remember the
last one tasting quite so bad.”
“I guess I didn’t warn you about
the taste. That seemed minor
compared to the other side effects.”
My stomach churned. “It’s a one
dose thing, right? I don’t have to
take another?”
“Only one. I’m afraid two would
kill you… or at least the human part
of you.”
“Are Allures really immortal?” I
opened my eyes.
“From everything I’ve heard, but
I’d ask Violet that question.”
“I don’t want her to think that I
was asking because I was ready to
become one.” The room started
spinning and my head pounded, so
I closed my eyes again.
“She knows you don’t want to,
and if my feeling is right, she
doesn’t want you to either. She
cares about you in the only way an
Allure can.”
“You know a lot about Allures.
More than anyone else I’ve met.”
“I have a lot of free time. I’ve
read a lot.” She patted my arm.
“How are you feeling?”
“Terrible. Beyond nauseous.”
“It’s what I figured would
happen.”
“Will it get better?”
“You’ll get used to it, and
eventually the sensation will fade
completely.”
“What happens when it fades
completely?”
“It means you’re almost out of
time,” her voice was nearly
inaudible.
“So I should embrace the
terrible sensation?”
“I do have one thing that might
help. Of course it also might make
it worse.”
“What is it?” I asked nervously. I
wasn’t sure I could handle another
concoction.
“I’ll be right back.”
I opened my eyes. “You’re
leaving?”
“I’ll be less than a minute.”
I waited anxiously, and finally
she appeared holding something
that appeared to be a sweatband.
“What is that? If I didn’t know any
better I’d think it was a motion
sickness bracelet.”
“It is a motion sickness
bracelet.”
“That’s your great idea?”
“It could help with the nausea.”
She put it around my wrist.
“I really hope it works.”
“You and me both.”
“You worried I won’t be happy
with your services?”
“I want you to make it to
wherever it is you need to go. I
want you to stay human. Mate with
Owen. Have the life you want.”
“Are you sure you’ve learned
everything from books?” It didn’t
seem like she was all that surprised
Allures were still around.
“We’re all entitled to our
secrets, Daisy. Don’t you think?”
“In theory.”
“You of all people should
understand that life doesn’t always
work out the way we plan.”
“I definitely do.” I locked eyes
with hers. “You can tell me, you
know. I can keep a secret.”
“Get better, reverse your
change, and come back. We can
celebrate and share stories.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t my place to
push her. It wasn’t fair after all she
had done for me.
She patted my hand. “Give
yourself some time to rest. I can
send Owen in if you want.”
I shook my head. “No. If he sees
me like this he’s going to freak out.”
“Yet you wanted me to get him
if you blacked out?”
“That would have been
different. I need to deal with this
myself. Find my own strength.”
“That’s the right idea, but don’t
forget it’s okay to rely on a little bit
of his strength too.”
“A little bit sure, but this is going
to take a lot.”
She nodded. “I do have one
more idea.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Does any food appeal to you?”
“My stomach is doing flips.” I put
a hand on my upset stomach.
“I know, but does anything
sound good?”
“Chocolate chip cookies.” They
always sounded good.
“Perfect. I happen to have some
cookie dough waiting in the
freezer.”
“For real?”
“Don’t act so surprised. I have a
sweet tooth.”
“How did you know I’d be
craving something?”
“This isn’t my first rodeo.”
“You’ve dealt with someone else
becoming an Allure?” I sat up with a
start. That changed things. She
knew more than she was saying.
“Not this exact situation, but I
know what this type of potion does
to a person.”
“I need a few minutes, and I’ll
be fine.”
“Should I go work on those
cookies?”
“Sure. I’ll wait here.”
“You know he’s going to want to
come in.”
“Fine.” I struggled to sit up. My
body ached, and I was
overwhelmed with exhaustion.
Mayanne quickly helped prop me
up with pillows. “I’ll let him know
you’re ready to see him.”
“Thanks.” I struggled to come
up with the words to sum up my
gratitude. “For everything.” I hoped
she knew what I was really trying
to say. That I was in debt to her.
“Of course. I’m sorry this
happened to you, but maybe in the
end it will be worth it. If you can
step up to the challenge and fix
things, you’ll get your happily ever
after.”
“I’ll settle for a happily for now.”
She smiled. “You must be
feeling better. You’re making
jokes.”
“It’s all this talk about cookies.
It’s amazing what the thought of
baked goods can do to a person.”
“I’m on it.” She patted my leg
before leaving the room and closing
the door behind her.
Within seconds the door burst
open. “Are you okay?” Owen ran
over to the bed.
“I’ve been better, but I’m fine.
Mayanne is making me cookies.”
“I heard. Should I take it as a
good sign that you have an
appetite?”
“I need to get the bad taste out
of my mouth.” I downplayed how I
really felt. There was no reason to
worry him needlessly. It would only
upset him, and he’d take it out on
Violet and Hugh. If I was going to
be with the three of them, I didn’t
want to give them any more reason
to fight.
Owen put a hand on my
forehead.
“Are you checking for a fever?”
He smiled. “Maybe.”
“This stuff is supposed to help,
not hurt.”
“The important words are
‘supposed to’. We knew there was a
risk involved.”
“I trust Mayanne. If the risk was
too great she wouldn’t have given it
to me.”
“You know I trust her. I brought
you here the first time…”
“I know.” I patted the bed.
“We’ve returned to the scene.”
“We have.” He sat down beside
me, stretching his long legs out
next to mine.
“That was an amazing kiss.”
It was. He brushed his lips
against my cheek.
I took his hand in mine. “We’ve
had other good kisses, but I’ll never
forget that one.”
“That makes two of us.” His lips
moved to meet mine.
I pressed my lips against his,
ignoring my slight headache and
upset stomach.
He kissed me back harder,
wrapping his arms around me. The
nausea started to dissipate as I
soaked up his taste.
I needed him, and I buried my
hands in his hair. He cradled my
head while his tongue pushed into
my mouth. I forgot all about the
potion and my discomfort as he
deepened the kiss.
The door opened, and we broke
the kiss.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Levi stood
in the doorway with an expression
that said it all. He wasn’t sorry. I
guess a king doesn’t need to be.
Owen groaned. “You always
have impeccable timing.”
“I have to keep you on your
toes.” His eyes twinkled with
amusement. He enjoyed making
Owen uncomfortable, but I sensed
it wasn’t in a bad way.
“Is there something you
needed?” Owen leaned up on his
elbows.
“Violet wants to talk to Daisy.”
“We’ll be ready to talk to her in
a few minutes.”
Levi leaned a hand on the
doorframe. “You know as well as I
do she doesn’t want you as part of
the conversation.”
“And you think that’s okay?”
Owen sat up. “I’m seriously
supposed to leave Daisy to talk to
Violet alone?”
“I think that’s really up to Daisy
to decide.” Levi smiled
sympathetically. “I know stepping
aside isn’t easy, but none of this is
going to be easy,”
“Would you quit sounding so
wise all the time?” Owen moved off
the bed. “I’m supposed to be the
wise one keeping you in line.” He
laughed.
“Oh, how the tables have
turned.” Levi smirked.
“I might as well get this over
with.” I stood and straightened out
my dress. “Where is she?”
“Waiting downstairs in the
sitting room.”
“Are the cookies ready yet?”
Might as well get to the important
questions.
Levi laughed. “They’re in the
oven.”
“Great.” I hadn’t craved food in
a while. It was a nice change of
pace.
“I’ll walk you down.” Owen ran a
hand through his hair as though he
were checking that it wasn’t messy.
“Thanks.” I smiled. I knew I
needed to talk to Violet alone, but I
was glad Owen would still be close.
I didn’t want to rely on him, but
that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy
being with him.
Levi moved out of the doorway
and led the way back to the stairs.
“There you are.” Violet beamed
when I reached the bottom of the
stairs.
“Finally acknowledging me?”
She’d barely recognized my
existence when we first walked in.
“Hey, it was your henchman
giving me a hard time.” She nodded
toward where Owen and Levi
flanked me, probably proving her
point.
“Henchman?” Owen put a hand
to his chest. “Try boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? How completely
adorable.” Hugh walked over.
I stood at the bottom of the
stairs. “Where did you want to
talk?”
“Outside?” she suggested.
“Sure.” Fresh air sounded nice.
Owen had helped the nausea, but it
was still there. Maybe it would also
help pass the time while I waited
for the cookies.
“I’ll be right here.” Owen’s eyes
backed up his words. He wanted
me to know that even if he was
giving me space, he was still there
if I needed him.
I nodded to let him know I
understood before following Violet
out into the hot early afternoon
sun.
“You don’t look good.” She
barely waited until the front door
closed behind us before jumping in.
“Gee, nice to see you too.” I
hopped up onto the porch railing
right next to a post so I could hold
on.
“You know what I mean.” She
watched me carefully. “Are you ill?”
“I’ve been ill for a while.”
“What did Mayanne give you?”
“I assumed you knew. All I know
is it was something to slow down
the change.”
“Your body is craving emotions.
You need to manipulate.” She
leaned back against the rail next to
me.
“I have plenty of emotion.” I
thought about the plethora of
emotions that had been swirling
through me earlier lying on the bed
with Owen.
“You’re going to have to give in.
You’ll feel better.”
“And I’ll lose more of myself. It’s
not worth the risk.” It would never
be. I refused to give up my
humanity until I had absolutely no
choice.
“How have you been doing?”
she rested her hand between us.
Her nails had grown longer.
“Is this question different from
the last one?”
“I’m asking more broadly.” She
tapped her nails.
“I’m scared, an emotional
basket case, and…” I glanced over