Found

“Mmm, that’s so good.”

He leaned over to whisper in my ear. “You really like whipped cream. I need to remember that.”

I nudged him. “What have you been saying about me?”

“Relax, love. We were just making plans for the day.”

“Plans?”

“You’re going with Grandma to see her seamstress.”

“Is your mom going?”

“No. She wasn’t invited.”

“Oh, why not?” I needed time alone with Georgina, but I hoped Helen didn’t mind.

“Because my grandmother thinks you two need alone time.”

“When am I going?” I was both anxious and nervous. I hoped I could handle Georgina on my own.

“As soon as you’re done here.”

“Has she eaten yet?”

“Hours ago. They were making bets on whether we’d be back for lunch.” He grinned.

“On that note, I’m going to get ready.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Wait, what Pterons are going with us?”

“A few of the guys that work here.”

“Oh…okay.” I took a final bite of my waffle, savoring the sweet taste.

“I’ll meet you back down here in ten minutes.” I leaned over and kissed Levi. “See ya, Jared.” I waved as I headed back upstairs to grab my purse. I needed to mentally prepare myself for more time with Georgina.

***

I waited on the porch with Levi and Georgina. It was an awkward few minutes, but I knew things were probably going to get a lot more awkward once Levi wasn’t around to act as a buffer. I was about to take a seat on an uncomfortable looking chair when a limo slowly pulled up to the front of the house. Apparently, we were taking an even fancier vehicle on this trip.

“Have a lovely day, Levi.” Georgina embraced Levi before heading down off the porch. “Come along, Allie. We have things to do.” Georgina didn’t turn to wait for me.

“Have fun.” Levi kissed me on the cheek before I followed Georgina down. I turned and waved at him before sliding into my seat. I was positive the ‘have fun’ comment was sarcastic.

The last time I’d been in a limo was for prom. I thought it was a little over the top for a trip into town to see a seamstress, but I kept that thought to myself. I straightened out my black pencil skirt, making sure it fell correctly over my thigh high boots. I hoped I looked presentable enough. Georgina certainly hadn’t been a fan of the jeans look I’d gone with the day before.

We’d barely made it out of the long, winding driveway when Georgina called to the Pteron driving. “There’s been a change of plans. Take us to the late Mrs. Laurent’s bungalow.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I looked at Georgina with shock.

She gave me a warning glance that shut me up while she hit the button for the privacy shield.

As soon as it was in place, she turned to me. “This divider is Pteron hearing proof, but we still need to be careful.”

“What’s going on?”

“You don’t think I know why you’re here? You want to know how it’s possible to have attracted two different Pterons so young.”

I sat up straighter. “Do you know why?”

“I think so, but I need more information. I needed to get you away from everyone.”

“So you’re going to help me?”

She leaned over and looked me straight in the eye. “I’ll help you, but only because I know you’re going to make the right decision. You will not hurt my grandson or this family.”

I nodded.

“Is your grandmother still alive?”

“My mom’s mom?” I remembered how interested Georgina had been in Mom’s family.

“Yes. Is she?”

“No. She passed away when I was a sophomore in high school.”

Georgina straightened her hair with her hand. “That makes this trickier, but I think we can figure it out on our own.”

“Is there something that can help us at your mother-in-law’s?”

“Yes, several things.”

“Okay.” I settled back against my seat. This was exactly what I’d been hoping for, but I was still terrified.

“Did you like your tour of the grounds last night?” She suddenly changed the topic. I was sure she knew exactly where Levi had taken me.

“Yes. It was informative and romantic.”

“It is romantic, isn’t it? He waited seven years to meet the literal girl of his dreams.”

“Even if I was twelve when he had the dream…” I mumbled.

“It was a dream of the future…you were eighteen.” She opened her purse, searching through it for something.

“I know. You should have seen how his eyes lit up when he told me about it.”

“He’d been waiting a long time to see that dream actually occur…” She pulled out a hard candy, unwrapping it carefully before she put it in her mouth. She didn’t offer me one.

“It sounds like you’ve been talking about this more recently than when he was fifteen.”

“He came to see me in August. You weren’t speaking to him unless you had to, and he was beside himself.”

“Really? He came to you about it?” I didn’t bother to hide my surprise. I couldn’t imagine Levi going to his grandmother for girl advice.

“I think he wanted to come back to the cave…”

I fidgeted with my skirt. “He mentioned he did come back to see it.”

“He asked me whether it was possible that he could have messed up so badly that now the dream wouldn’t happen.”

“Why was he so fixated on the dream—on one particular night?”

She bit into the candy, making a cracking sound. “It wasn’t the night, but what it symbolized.”

“Just that it symbolized we were together?”

“Just? How is that ‘just’ anything? The bond between a royal Pteron and his mate is stronger than any other.”

“I know.” I did. What Levi and I had was intense, so intense it scared me.

We sat in silence for the rest of the thirty-five minute drive. The telltale throbbing started, and I knew I was in for another headache. Hopefully, I’d get back to Levi before it got too bad. I still hadn’t mentioned the headaches to him. He’d probably overreact, or if he found out he made them better, he’d want us glued together.

The limo pulled up out front of a beautiful house that certainly didn’t look like a bungalow. Georgina instructed the driver and his partner to wait for us outside. They went in first to check the house and then left.