Flight

“You can’t seriously be asking me that! After what Levi did to me.”

“You’re the one who decided to sleep with him, it was your choice.” He sneered, any semblance of the concern from moments earlier all but gone.

I slapped him across the face instinctively. “Shut up. I had no idea what it meant.”

He touched his face where I hit him. “I just saved you. You get that, right?”

“I had it under control. Besides, if it weren’t for Levi and the rest of you I wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Under control? Have you looked at yourself?”

I resisted the urge to examine the extent of the damage.

“Not that I don’t enjoy seeing you half naked, but you can’t possibly tell me you had it handled.”

“Just take me home.”

Jared shook his head in frustration. “This isn’t over. You’ll have to talk to Levi and accept reality.”

“Please, just take me home.” As much as I didn’t want to see our houseguests, I wanted my mom.

“Not a chance. You aren’t safe outside New Orleans.”

I shuddered at the thought of getting taken again. “Fine, then take me to the hotel. I am not going with you unless you promise to take me there.”

“Then what are you going to do, just stay out here?”

“What are you going to do, tell Levi you left me out here?”

“Fine, but first we need to get you something warmer to wear.” Jared moved behind me like he was ready to get us flying again.

I spun around, facing him. “Where are we going?”

“There’s a Pteron cabin nearby. We have a man here.”

“You just happen to have a cabin in the middle of nowhere?”

“We have homes everywhere, get used to it.”

“I don’t plan to.”

Jared placed his hands roughly on my already sore arms. “We don’t have time to argue, but what you need to understand is that you aren’t safe. What happened back there can and will happen again if you try to run. It was one thing when only a few of us knew that Levi and you connected, but now everyone knows. Your life as you knew it is over, deal with it.”

I shivered at his words, my fear returning as the adrenaline from the anger faded.

“Let’s go.” Jared wrapped his arms around me and took off. I closed my eyes tightly, too emotional to handle anything else.

Jared landed, still keeping me close to his body. I leaned into him, unable to put too much weight on my legs.

“Who’s out there?” A voice broke through the night catching me off guard, preventing me from responding.

“It’s Jared, Allen. I have her.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” An older man walked out of the shadows moving towards us. I tensed beside Jared. His eyes went wide as he looked at me.

“Don’t worry, it’s being taken care of.” Jared answered an unasked question. “I need to get her something warm, I’ll have to take her up high.”

“What? I’m not flying with you again. Let’s find my car.” Even though I argued, I didn’t try to fight when Jared picked me up and carried me inside the cabin. I didn’t care how angry I was; I needed more clothing.

“I’ll get your car,” Allen answered.

“Great.” Jared tossed something to Allen and as he caught it, I realized he had my car keys.

“Hey, where did you get those?”

“We found your purse at the Dairy Queen.”

“How did you know it was there?”

“The GPS.” He smirked, seeming more like the Jared I knew.

“You have a GPS tracker on my car?” I struggled against him until he put me back down.

“Of course we do. You are Levi’s so we had to watch you.”

“Oh, just shut up. You know what, I don’t care.”

Allen stared at me openmouthed before talking. “There is clothing in the bedroom through that doorway.”

I limped over to where he pointed and headed back.

I was just pulling a sweater over my head when Jared walked in. “I found a parka for you, you should be fine.”

“Do we really have to fly?”

“Yes! I never took you as being dumb. How many times do I have to tell you about the danger before you accept it? We have to get you back to New Orleans.”

Maybe it was the exhaustion or the intensity in Jared’s glare, but I nodded.

Allen looked at me warmly as we walked outside. “It was an honor to meet you. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”

An honor? “Um, yeah you too.”

As Jared got ready to take off, I asked about it quickly. “What was that about?”

“You haven’t figured it out yet, huh? I would have thought those stupid pumas would have told you.”

“Told me what?”

“That you’re the newest member of the royal family.”

Hearing it from Jared shocked me. “So it’s true?”

He laughed. “Yes, it’s true. Hold on Princess, it’s going to get cold. You may not breathe much for a minute or so, but it will be over soon.”

Jared took off. As we rose up, I watched billowing smoke snake its way up through the night sky as sounds of wounded animals filled the air. Something told me there was nothing left of the cabin.

Jared wasn’t kidding about going high. My eyes were no match for the wind and I had to give up the fight to keep them open. I felt intense pressure and panicked as I realized I couldn’t really breathe. Just as I thought I couldn’t take anymore, we began to descend. My ears screamed at me, it was worse than a quick descent on a plane.

Jared landed on the balcony outside my room. “There will be someone out here all night, you’re safe.”

I nodded, wanting nothing more than to go inside. Jared knocked on the glass door. A girl I didn’t recognize opened it. Jared walked in with me limping behind him.

“Who are you and what are you doing in my room?” I winced as I put too much weight on the cut up leg and turned ankle.

“It’s all clear.” She nodded to Jared. “I apologize if you don’t like my presence. I will be out in the hall if you need me.” The girl bowed her head slightly before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

Jared took out his cell phone. “We’re back, and Allie definitely needs to be checked out. Send Dr. Ellis up.”

“Dr. Ellis?” I asked, taking a seat on the couch.