Yelling wouldn’t help anything, I lowered my voice. “Let me see her. I need to see her.”

“Tomorrow…tonight should be about us.” He leaned forward, pushing me down against the cushion. “I need you, Allie.”

I shook my head. “Not until I see her. I have to know she’s okay.”

“She’s fine.” He leaned over me. I could feel his breath on my face.

I pushed against his chest. I only had one more card to play. “You’re forgetting one important thing, Toby. This isn’t your choice. It’s mine. Take me to see Jess.”

He sighed, but moved off me. “We’re picking up where we left off when we get back.”

I mumbled noncommittally, but that must have been enough for him because he moved away.

I helped him blow out all the candles he’d just lit. “How far away is she?”

“Not far.” There was something mischievous about the smile he gave me.

“Okay…”

“Want to fly there?”

“No.”

He laughed. “That was fast. I’d have thought you’d like flying.”

I did. With Levi. “I’d rather drive.”

“You are going to fly with me eventually.”

“Maybe.”

“You will.” He gestured for me to climb down first.

I climbed down two thirds of the way and then jumped. Toby jumped down from the top.

“Show off.”

He laughed. “I’d do better than that if I were showing off.”

“Let’s go.”

I booked it around the house and got in the car as soon as Toby unlocked the doors.

Toby got in and started the engine. “Anxious?”

“Of course, I’m anxious.”

“Like I told you, it’s not far.” He backed out of the drive. I stared out the window at the passing houses. I knew some of the people who owned them, but not all. I wondered if they had any idea they had a neighbor who wasn’t human.

“You have to be kidding me.” My jaw dropped when Toby pulled into the driveway of a yellow suburban home a few blocks from his own.

“I told you it was close.”

“She’s been held at her own house? Where is her family?”

He pointedly looked away. “Her mom got a job opportunity she couldn’t refuse. The family went ahead before selling the house.”

I grabbed his arm. “Why didn’t Jess tell me?”

“She just found out the day our men moved in with her.”

“This is insane.”

“Wishing you’d figured it out on your own? Wondering if you could have rescued her sooner?”

He knew exactly what I was thinking. He also sounded like Pteron Toby again. What was with the multiple personalities? It was like he was only himself when he thought he was about to sleep with me. I wondered how much of it had to do with me being an enchantress.

“Ready to see her?”

“Yes.” I threw open my door and headed to the front steps.

“Easy there.” He gripped my arm. “I should probably go first.”

Before he reached the door, it was thrown open.

“We’re here for a visit.” Toby pulled me inside the house before the door was closed behind me.

Two men I’d never seen were seated on the couch. They were both wearing jeans and t-shirts and had their feet up on the ottoman like it was their place. It was so wrong. This was Jess’ house. It was supposed to be full of little kids running around.

I turned to the men. “Where’s Jess?”

“They’re downstairs.”

“In the basement?”

Toby swiped a chip from a bowl on the side table. “You make it sound like a dungeon. That basement is nicer than half the apartments in New York City.”

I stepped away from Toby. “Someone unlock that door now.”

“What do you say, boss?” one of the guys asked.

Toby nodded. “Go ahead.”

One of the guys got off the couch and did it, but only after Toby nodded. I didn’t care, I was so close. I wondered when the Dalys were going to act.

I took the stairs two at a time and found Jess and Emmett curled up on a sectional couch. Toby hadn’t been exaggerating. The basement was easily the nicest spot in the house.

“Allie?” Jess set aside a book. Seriously? She was reading. Maybe Levi hadn’t been crazy…

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” I ran over and hugged her. After weeks of worrying, it felt so good to finally see her. “I’m so sorry.”

Jess held onto my sleeve. “What’s going on?”

“Toby?” The surprise in Emmett’s voice made it obvious he had no idea Toby was involved.

I turned back to Jess. “Do you know anything about the people who are holding you?”

“No. The only thing we knew was that it had to do with you. Is it Levi? Did he get you into trouble somehow?” It was weird hearing Jess talk to me like that. Like I was the one with bad judgment. It was usually the other way around.

“Something like that.” I struggled to figure out what to say next, but I was spared from having to think about it for long.

The loud noises from upstairs tipped us off first, but it was the door being thrown open that made Cade’s presence known. Smoke filled the basement as a booming explosion sounded.

Toby wrapped his arms around me, and I knew he had no clue what was happening as loud sounds from above us permeated the air.

I was suddenly jerked from Toby’s arms. As the smoke cleared, I wasn’t surprised to find myself in Cade’s grasp. “Let’s get out of here.”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

He growled. “We’ve lost the element of surprise. Blackwell reinforcements are coming.”

“Where’s Jess? Emmett?”

“We got them. We need to go.” His hand tightened on my arm.

“I’m staying.”

“What?” Cade pulled me back against him. “Not a chance.”

“I’m staying.” I elbowed him in the chest and spun out of his arms.

I took a step back, right into Toby’s arms. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around my waist. Surprised or not, he knew what he wanted. “I’m staying with Toby.”

Cade scowled. “You made a promise. A sworn oath.”

“I will keep my promise.” I looked Cade square in the eye, hoping he’d understand I wasn’t lying to him.