Cade reached into the pocket of the jacket he had slung over the back of a chair, and he pulled out a rectangular jewelry box. “I’d love to give you my ring, but for now I have something else.”

I closed my eyes for a second—this was all way too much.

“You’ll get that ruby off soon enough, but for now you need an emerald.” He clasped a silver chain with a large emerald pendant around my neck.

Mr. Daly beamed. “Beautiful.”

“So what do I have to do?” I touched the necklace. It was beautiful, but it felt incredibly wrong wearing someone else’s stone. I already felt like part of the Laurent family.

Cade’s father answered. “Swear in front of us of your intent.”

“I swear that I’ll make Cade a king if you rescue Jess.” The words were easy enough to say, but I knew how significant they were. I hoped Levi would forgive me one day.

Cade locked eyes with me. “Accepted.”

“How do we do it? How do we get her?” I asked, wanting to get things moving already. I had no idea how much time I had left before Levi found me.

“When do you want to do this?” Cade placed a hand on the back of the couch.

“As soon as possible. Levi’s going to come looking for me, and if he finds me there’s no chance I’m getting away again.”

“How’d you get away to begin with?” He examined the pendant he’d just put around my neck.

“You don’t want to know.” I didn’t want to imagine what my next encounter with Levi would be like. Slipping out on Jared and another Pteron guard was bad, really bad.

“I take it you want to come to New York with us?” Cade walked around the room, tossing things into a bag.

“Of course.”

“Well, there’s no way I’m leaving you in New Orleans anyway.”

I nodded. “I understand that. I have a bag packed in my room upstairs. Could someone get it for me?”

“Yes, but we’ll leave immediately.”

“That’s perfect.” I tried to make my words sound calm, but I was terrified.

Chapter Sixteen

The only time I’d flown with a Pteron other than Levi was when Jared saved me from the cougars. The thought of flying with Cade had my stomach in knots.

“We can’t just walk out the front door. The Laurents have the place surrounded.” Cade hurriedly packed a few things. “Someone saw you enter, they’ll be up here if we don’t leave now.”

I should have thought of that possibility. Even if I wasn’t spotted, Levi would have the hotel searched. Running from Levi was supposed to be behind me, yet here I was doing it again. “I know.”

I waited as Cade fully unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off his shoulders. He was as muscular as I expected. I hated my reaction. I hated that I was attracted to anyone else. I shook myself.

“Glad to know you like what you see.” He laughed. “You’ll be seeing a lot more soon.”

A shiver ran through me at his words, and I forced my eyes back up to his face.

He stepped toward me, and put a hand under my chin. “Listen, my beautiful Allie, it’s going to be okay. You don’t have to go anywhere near Toby.”

“Yes, I do. I need to be there.”

“Stubborn. She’s perfect for you.” Cade’s father laughed. He was by far the nicest of the Pteron patriarchs I’d met. Still, I knew enough to realize he could be dangerous—very dangerous.

One of the unnamed friends pushed aside the blinds. “You need to move, Cade.”

“Let’s do this.”

I waited for his wings to extend. I stepped back in surprise. “They’re blue and gray.” They were also a slightly different shape.

“What?” Cade looked at me funny. “Did you think all Pterons were part crow? We’re peregrine falcons.”

“Oh…I had no idea.” Wow, that was news. Yet another thing Levi hadn’t told me.

Cade stepped toward me. “Levi’s kept you in the dark.”

“I discover that more and more every day.”

“I’m sure he has his reasons…” Cade moved behind me as I neared the balcony. “I’m sure you’ve done this before, but close your eyes if you get dizzy.”

I nodded, sure he could feel the movement against his chest.

He jumped off, and I took his advice, shutting my eyes tight. I wondered what would happen if a Laurent noticed us. This was my only chance. My head swam, and I felt sick. If I were standing up, I would’ve fallen down.

“Shh, it’s going to be okay.” Cade’s whispered words soothed me, and I was vaguely aware of losing consciousness.

***

I felt something cold on my head while a warm hand held mine. I opened my eyes to find myself in Cade’s arms. I felt around, and my hand made contact with black leather. Cade had a cold compress on my head. “Where are we?”

“On our jet. We’ll be in New York soon.”

Jet? My first time on a private jet and I’d been passed out. It also reminded me of how much danger I was in. If I couldn’t stay conscious with the Blackwells, I could be in a lot of trouble. “What happened?”

“You passed out.” He looked worried. “Is this something that happens a lot?”

“It never used to.” The truth was I had been feeling out of sorts for weeks. Something was seriously going on with my body.

Cade adjusted me in his arms. “I don’t want to leave you in this condition. It’s too dangerous.”

“Leave me?” I fought to clear away the remaining fog of sleep.

“Do you know where Jess is?”

“No. All I know is that she’s in a house somewhere near the city. Don’t you know?”

Cade set aside the compress. “I’m glad you have such faith in me, but we have no idea.”

“Then what’s the plan? You made it sound like you could help.” I struggled to sit up.

“I don’t like the only solution we can come up with.”

“You want to use me as bait.” The realization was one I expected—I’d been banking on it.

“I’ll say it again.” He finally released me enough that I could sit up and lean back against the seat. “I don’t want to leave you in this condition.”

“You said it yourself. We don’t have another choice.” I was done waiting around for someone else to save Jess. It was time I did my part.