“We’ll be watching you the whole time. You’ll be safe.”

“I’m not worried for myself. Toby won’t hurt me.” I was sure of it. Aside from our history, he had nothing to gain by hurting me.

“Do you really believe you’re up for it?” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Once we retrieve your friend, we’re going to make you better.”

“So what now?”

“You call Toby, set up a time to meet him.”

“Once we find Jess, you’ll get her and her boyfriend out safely?” I needed more assurance. This had to work.

“Of course. We’ll get them into hiding until the threat has passed.”

“Wait, what? Hiding?” I already knew getting Jess out wouldn’t be enough. She, and everyone else I cared about, wouldn’t be safe until I could fix the bond with Levi. I couldn’t think that big picture. The first step was to get Jess out.

“It won’t be for long,” Cade assured me. “We’ll come up with a long term solution.”

“Do you think my half-bond with Levi has anything to do with me being sick?” I hated calling our connection that. I also hated asking Cade’s opinion on it, but I needed answers. I couldn’t figure out why else I kept getting sick.

He shrugged. “It’s a supernatural bond and it’s not done right—that can’t be good for a human.”

“Yet another reason I need to fix this.”

“Here, take this.” He slipped a cell phone into my hand.

“A phone?” I examined the black and silver case. It wasn’t nearly as colorful as the light blue one that held my phone.

“We couldn’t take yours—Levi would have tracked you.”

“Oh. I guess it’s good I still remember Toby’s number.”

He laughed, forming a small dimple. “See, there’s always a silver lining.”

“So what am I saying exactly?”

“Set up a time to meet him. Then you tell him you need to see Jess before you do anything else.”

“Sounds simple enough.” I crossed my legs and prepared myself before dialing the still familiar number.

“Hello?” Toby picked up after three rings. His response was tentative. It took me a moment to remember that he’d have no way of knowing it was me.

I swallowed. “It’s me.”

“Allie? Where are you calling from?” His voice was tense—he was worried.

“A borrowed phone.” That much was true. “I got a ride to New York. I need to see you.”

“What? Where are you? Who gave you the ride?”

“I can’t go into details. Can you meet me at that coffee shop we used to go to on Madison?”

“Of course,” he responded quickly. “When?”

I glanced at Cade. I hadn’t thought that part through. He mouthed “six.”

“Six o’clock.”

“I’ll be there. Be careful.” I heard the doubt in his voice. He was wondering if anything I’d told him was true. He had every reason to doubt me.

***

I gripped the side of the table for support. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing it. I was willingly walking into the lion’s den. I sipped my now cold coffee, trying to look like I was actually at the coffee shop for a legitimate reason. When we landed in New York, I’d stalled as long as possible. I changed out of my skirt and into jeans. Considering the icy temperature, I was grateful for that decision. I kept telling myself it was just Toby—but I knew that wasn’t true. This wasn’t the same guy I dated in high school. Whoever that was, was not a Pteron heir. Hopefully, he’d be in a good mood when he finally got to the coffee shop. I’d already been waiting fifteen minutes.

“Ms. Davis?”

I looked up to see two large guys wearing matching gray suits approach my table. They stopped on either side of me, effectively boxing me in. It brought back unwanted memories of being cornered in a Dairy Queen months before. I took a deep breath. It would be different this time. I was going willingly.

“Yes.” I needed to put on a brave face. I was supposed to be doing this because I wanted to.

“Would you please come with us?” One of the large men spoke.

I nodded, aware that everyone around me was staring. I didn’t want to know what they all thought I was doing.

I stood up, grabbing my coffee to toss it in the trash. Even if I was about to do the stupidest thing in my life, I wasn’t going to leave trash on the table.

The men escorted me outside to where a black SUV sat parked against the curb. I waited for one of the guys to open the door before sliding in. The door closed behind me, and I knew with complete certainty that I’d find it locked if I tried to open it. I stayed calm—I knew Cade and his men were watching me, and losing me wasn’t in their interest. I spent entirely too much time relying on others for my wellbeing.

“Where’s Toby?” I asked as soon as we pulled away. I watched the coffee shop disappear through the tinted windows.

“You’ll see him soon.”

“I want to see him now. I’m here for Toby.”

The guy in the passenger seat turned around with a grin on his face. “We’re well aware who you’re here to see. I assure you, he’s even more eager to see you.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To Toby.”

“Why didn’t he meet me himself?” Alarm bells were going off. Why hadn’t he met me himself? Maybe my plan wasn’t going to work.

“He has more romantic plans for the two of you,” the driver mumbled.

“Romantic? Toby?” I didn’t bother to keep the disbelief out of my voice. I definitely wouldn’t have used that word to describe him.

The passenger laughed. “What, he wasn’t romantic enough for you? Is that why you dumped him?”

“You don’t know anything about my relationship with Toby.”

“You don’t recognize us, do you?” He grinned.

“Huh? Should I?”

“I guess you were pretty wasted the last time we met.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hi, Allie. It’s great to finally meet the girl Toby keeps talking about,” the passenger said in an exaggerated drawl.

“What? Toby’s cousins?” I felt a wave of horror roll through me, remembering how I met Toby’s older cousins one night when I was over at his house while his dad was away. They’d walked in on us fooling around and as they said, I’d been drunk.