“There has to be another way…” I needed there to be.

“There isn’t.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I moved away.

“Is being with him really worth an innocent girl’s life?” With that he walked away.

I was left speechless in the middle of the dance floor.

“Are you okay?” Levi’s comforting arms wrapped around me.

I shook my head, unable to speak.

“What did he do to you?”

I could feel the tears starting. “Can you get us out of here?”

“Yes, of course.”

I barely realized what was happening as Levi led us out of the room. I felt too sick to think. I leaned into the arm Levi offered as we waited for the elevator to take us to the basement.

“No one will bother us here.” He closed the door to our safe room before I could argue.

“We can’t stay in here all night.”

“Since we’re not in lockdown, we can open the door at any time.”

“I can’t do this, Levi.”

“Do what?” He led me over to the couch. That piece of furniture had been conveniently missing the last time I’d been there.

“Let Jess spend another minute with those horrible people. Toby said his grandfather was going to kill her if I didn’t come.”

“And you think he won’t kill her if you turn yourself over?” His voice wasn’t cold, but nothing could make his words easier to accept.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t just sit here. I have to do something.”

He put a hand on my bare shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do. You need to let me take care of this.”

I wanted to argue, but it wasn’t going to help anything. I was going to have to figure things out on my own. I needed time to think, and I needed some space. I wasn’t going to get any space in our safe room. “We can go back to the party.”

“We don’t have to.”

“I want to. It’s our night, we should be there.”

“If you’re sure.” He reluctantly stood up. “We’re still going back to the house tonight, right?”

I let out a deep breath. “Yes.” I was angry at Levi for not telling me he knew about the enchantress thing, but the truth was, I was doing the same thing—keeping secrets.

“All right.”

We took the elevator upstairs and walked back into the ballroom.

“There you are.” Hailey grabbed my arm. “Where have you guys been? Things are getting crazy.”

“Crazy?” Levi asked.

Hailey looked worried. “Your admirers were about to tear this place apart looking for you.”

Levi groaned. “Why? They’ve each had their dance. They don’t get anything else.”

Hailey played with her bracelet again. “It’s insane, even your dad looks worried, Levi.”

“I need to find him, but I’m not leaving Allie. Where are Jared and Owen?”

“The last I saw, Anne and Tiffany actually had them dancing.”

“Seriously? If everything else wasn’t so crazy, I’d love to see that.”

I jumped in. “Should I just go? Would that make it easier?”

Levi seemed to think about it for a minute. “No. We need to just face them head on again. If you run, it looks like you have a reason to.”

“It’s not like I’m in trouble…”

“No, but they want it to look like we’re in trouble.”

“This is so dumb.”

“I agree, hopefully we can end all this soon.”

“Allison, may I have a word with you?” The elder Blackwell stopped several feet from us, yet I still shivered.

Levi moved in front of me. “Anything you have to say to her can be said in front of me.”

“Fine. I was just going to comment on how beautiful those green eyes of yours are. I wonder where I’ve seen ones like them before.” He ran a hand through his beard. “Oh wait, I remember. Your mother.”

“My mother? How do you know my mother?”

He grinned. “Lovely meeting you, Allison.” He started walking away.

“Wait! How do you know my mother?”

Levi put a hand on my arm. “He’s just trying to bait you.”

“It worked. I need to get my phone. It’s in my room upstairs.”

“No, it’s not.” He pulled my phone out of his jacket pocket.

“How’d you get that?”

“I grabbed it on the way out of your room. I know how much you hate to be separated from it. Call her.”

I hit the speed dial for my mom.

“Allie?” Mom picked up right away.

“Hi, Mom. Are you all right?”

“Of course, I’m all right. Why would you ask? It’s kind of loud, where are you?”

“At a party. I just wanted to tell you I love you.”

“Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Fine.”

“Well, I love you too.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.” I hung up and let out a sigh of relief.

“See, he’s just baiting you.”

I nodded, but it could still have been a threat. There was no way I was just sitting back anymore.

Chapter Fifteen

Slipping past Pterons isn’t easy, but it is possible. I woke up on the Monday after the ball on a mission. It was time to get Jess back.

I slept in as late as possible, well aware that talking to Hailey more than I had to was a bad idea. She’d become incredibly good at reading my mood, and she’d know I was up to something if I gave her a chance to find out. I finished my breakfast twice as fast as normal and rushed to class. I was already seated in Organic Chem when Jared sat down next to me.

“Morning, Princess.”

“Good morning,” I mumbled, studying my pen.

“What? No snazzy retort?”

“Snazzy retort?”

He grinned. “I thought it sounded fun.”

I set aside my pen. I’d tip him off if I didn’t respond to his ribbing. “I love how you only let your geek side out around me.”

“I don’t have a geek side.” The defensive tone in his voice was comical.

“Yes, you do.”

He set up his laptop. “It takes one to know one.”

“I don’t deny mine. I own up.”

“Yeah, I know.” He laughed. “Hey, where’s the computer? Did you break it already?”

“Very funny. I forgot to charge it.”