Love (The Allure Chronicles Book 4) Read Free Page B

sure if she was playing dumb, or if she really didn’t know. “I don’t fully understand.” I glanced at Levi. I didn’t want to go into what happened to push him out of The Society.
    “What aren’t you saying?” Levi figured out I was hiding something right away.
    “He left The Society because he felt the leadership wanted him to.” I met Levi’s eye.
    “Meaning my father?” Levi clarified.
    “Yes.” I nodded.
    “Why would my father have wanted him to leave?” Levi’s brow furrowed.
    “Because my uncle insisted certain mythical creatures existed that The Society said didn’t exist.” And he’d been right. Completely right. I wondered how much would be different if The Society had embraced him instead of sending him away. Would that have changed anything for Daisy? Would the paste have ever been created? The answer to that lay in Taylor. I was sure of it.
    “I am sure my father had a reason.” Levi’s expression darkened. “Although I can’t say it was a good one.”
    Taylor snickered. “Daddy issues?”
    “No.” Levi shook his head. “But I understand nothing is black and white. It’s the right way to look at the world.”
    “Really wise coming from a bird.” Wyatt made a flapping motion with his hands.
    “Would you like me to throw you out?” Levi narrowed his eyes. “Because I’d be happy to arrange it.”
    “You don’t like being called a bird?” Wyatt smirked.
    “You know the answer to that.” Levi scowled.
    “I don’t mind being called a dragon, although a dragon and a bird are very different creatures.” Wyatt lifted his chin.
    “Birds descended from dinosaurs.” Daisy straightened up.
    “And that’s relevant to this conversation because…?” Taylor gestured with her hand.
    “Because dinosaurs and dragons aren’t all that different.” Daisy shrugged.
    “Does that mean I should listen to him?” Levi turned to her. “Even after he repeatedly insults me.”
    “What does it matter what I think?” Daisy looked down.
    “You are the reason we are all assembled right now.” Levi pointed out.
    I caught Levi’s eye. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this line of conversation. Daisy had enough going on, and I hoped Levi would tread carefully. Otherwise I would have to intervene. King or not, he wasn’t going to disrespect or upset her.
    “I think Taylor needs to do some talking.” Daisy crossed her arms. “You wanted to talk to me. So talk. We don’t know how much time we have before the Elders catch up with us.”
    “They won’t come here yet.” Wyatt leaned back against the wall. “They will want to prepare first.”
    “Prepare?” I knew that couldn’t be a good thing. “What kind of preparation are they doing?” The Elders were frightening. I wasn’t one to get intimidated easily, but they had the kind of power very few had—and no one should. It was too all encompassing, and they took it lightly. They played with us as though we were small toys for amusement. No one was going to play me like a pawn. I was done being treated like a playing piece.
    “Let Taylor talk.” Wyatt nodded toward where Taylor sat. “Then we can discuss the Elders.”
    “There’s no way you could provide a private space for Daisy and me?” Taylor looked to Levi. “We need to have part of this conversation alone.”
    “There is nothing you need to tell her privately. I am king. I need to hear everything.”
    “But some of this doesn’t pertain to you.” Taylor thrust out her chest. “Most of it doesn’t.”
    “I’ve been brought in on it, so it all pertains to me now.” Levi’s expression was unreadable. He was good at hiding his thoughts and opinions when he wanted to be.
    “Not exactly.” Taylor turned and walked over to where Daisy and I stood. She reached out, and Daisy stepped back.
    I resisted the urge to step between them. Daisy was strong. I needed to let her handle this.
    Taylor grabbed Daisy’s free hand. Daisy pursed her lips.
    “Please.”