Levi wrapped his arms around me and took off.

Chapter Fourteen

Levi landed on my balcony at the hotel. “We need to get downstairs, but Dr. Ellis is already waiting for us here.”

He pushed open the door and carried me inside. Sure enough, the doctor was sitting on the couch. Helen sat next to him. I didn’t bother to ask how they got in.

“Allie, oh my goodness.” Helen moved to give me space on the couch. She took my hand.

“I’m fine,” I assured her.

“We just need to make sure.”

Dr. Ellis listened carefully with his stethoscope to my lungs. He then used a small penlight to look in my mouth, and he closely examined my skin.

“Are there any burns, other than the redness on your legs?”

“No. Nothing.”

Dr. Ellis turned to Levi. “She’s likely fine. She’s very lucky you got to her when you did.” He turned back to me. “Just keep the area clean and apply this antibiotic ointment daily.” He handed me a tube.

“Thank you.” This was the second time the doctor had examined me. I hoped it was his last. I liked him, but I was tired of getting hurt.

“Where’s everyone else? Hailey, Anne, Tiffany?”

Helen squeezed my hand. “Tiffany’s in the hospital. She was unconscious when Jared found her, but she’s going to be okay.”

“Oh my god. Is she alone?”

“Of course not. Hailey’s with her. Her parents are already on their way.”

I started to get up. “I need to see her.”

Levi placed a hand on my shoulder. “You have to stay here.”

“No. I’m okay.”

“You need to rest. Besides, it’s safer here. We need to keep you safe.” His voice was soft, but there was an urgency in it.

“Safe? I am safe—you saved me.”

Levi swallowed nervously. “I already told you this wasn’t random.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He looked away from me. “You were the target.”

My chest tightened. “What? How? Why?”

“We think it was Martin and his men, but we don’t know for sure yet. I’ll know more once we get downstairs.”

“Then let’s go.” I hopped off the couch but moved so fast that I felt dizzy.

Levi caught me before I could fall. “Slow it down.”

“We should go. You can get cleaned up downstairs.” Helen looked at me sympathetically.

I nodded, not sure how I could get cleaned up in the basement. I didn’t care. I needed more information.

“Is Anne there?” I realized no one had mentioned her.

“Yes. Hailey made sure she was okay before going to the hospital. I believe Anne’s with Owen.” Helen touched my arm gently before opening the door.

Levi insisted on carrying me all the way downstairs. He wouldn’t even put me down in the elevator. I didn’t complain—I was still shaken up. My chest clenched a little again as we entered the complete darkness of the basement.

***

“I’m not high, am I?” Anne asked as soon as she saw me. Levi set me down on a chair in some sort of sitting room in the basement.

I gave her a small smile. “No. You’re not high.”

“So you guys are actually half birds?”

“I already told you, Allie’s human,” Owen said in an exasperated tone I’d never heard him use before.

“Oh, excuse me. You guys, besides Allie.”

Levi laughed. “Are you okay here? I need to find my dad.”

I moved to get up. “I’m coming. You promised me answers.”

“You’ll get them, but right now you need to wait here. Please, Al, don’t fight me just this once.” Something in the way he pleaded kept me quiet. I nodded. He kissed me lightly on the forehead before leaving the room. Owen went with him.

Anne waited until the door clicked closed to start with more questions. “You knew what he was, right? When were you going to fill me in?”

“I knew, but—” I stopped, wondering how much I should tell her.

“Don’t hold back on me now. Your roommate had wings grow out of her back. You might as well tell me the rest.”

I smiled despite the somber mood of the evening. “When Owen told you I was human, did he tell you anything else?”

“He said you were Levi’s mate. That’s what I don’t get. Why would you be his mate if you’re human and he’s not? And by the way, who is he? People were treating me like royalty when Owen told them I was your friend.”

“Pterons usually go for humans, and Levi’s a prince.”

“A prince? You’re the mate of a paranormal prince? So does that make you a princess?” she asked excitedly.

“So, you’re no longer questioning your soberness?”

“No. But what were you about to tell me before?” She froze like a light bulb had gone off. “Wait, did you somehow not know what you were getting yourself into?”

“Not really.” I looked away. “I didn’t know I’d become his lifelong mate.”

“Wow, it all makes sense.”

“What makes sense?”

“Why you didn’t want a guy that gorgeous calling you his fiancé. But how did he do it so that you didn’t know what was happening? Drugs?”

“Sex.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“He gave me a ring, and we had sex.”

“Seriously?” She leaned forward in her seat.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“That’s pretty awesome.”

“Awesome?” I asked incredulously.

“He’s a paranormal prince. You do realize how cool that is, right?”

I laughed without meaning to, but once it started I couldn’t stop. Anne joined in.

“So he’s been trying to make it up to you, huh? Trying to get you to forgive him?” She crossed her legs, getting comfortable. She was eating it up.

I shifted uncomfortably. “Pretty much.”

“So he can only have one mate?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Please tell me you don’t mean that.”

I didn’t know if I did or not. I shrugged.

“You’re lucky. You’ve got a hot, powerful, rich guy wrapped around your finger. Embrace it.”

“But I don’t know how I can trust him.”

“I didn’t say to make it easy on him. Have you been with him since?”