Stay (23 page)

Robert smiled. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

“Why?’ Jett asked.

“If Jared has been able to avoid your influence, then I’m proud of him. “

“He’s useless, just like you.”

Robert picked him up by his shirt, the other men still held Jett’s arms. “You disgust me. You will spend the rest of your life paying for your crimes, and if the evidence shows you had any role in my son’s death, the punishment will be unbearable.”

“Your son was useless too. Completely useless.”

Robert punched him in the face. The rage on his face was almost frightening, like he was barely able to contain himself. “That was for Levi and his mate.” Robert rolled up his sleeves before punching him again. “And that was for messing with my daughter.”

“Casey, as the rising queen it is your duty to give his official sentence.”

“What do I have to say?” she asked nervously.

“Pending trial he will be held in the private prison. For now that is sufficient.”

She nodded and repeated his words.

Jett didn’t even look at her. Instead he spat on the floor. “And our new queen is part bear. What is this Society coming to?”

“It’s going to be better now that you’re gone.” Casey straightened her shoulders. “And this hybrid is a hell of a lot stronger than you.”

She tugged on my arm, and we left the chambers for the second time that day.

Being in the chambers for a coronation was like déjà vu. Only this time I wasn’t lonely, I was just grieving the death of a girl who would always be important to me. I’d managed to focus on taking care of Casey up until that point, but returning and watching the same procession made it impossible not to think back on the last coronation.

I wasn’t sitting in the audience this time. I was waiting in the center of the room not far from Casey. Georgina and Robert had agreed that it was fine to break tradition and not officially become mated yet, but they wanted me nearby as a symbol of our commitment. I’d have been there no matter what. I’d always be there for Casey.

Helen came out of her room for the occasion, but she chose to sit on the side. I understood and could tell Casey’s heart was breaking for the woman. She’d lost her only son. Her only child, and she now had to watch as a child that wasn’t hers took his place. It couldn’t have been easy.

“Despite the solemn nature of today, it is time that we look toward out future. It is with pride that I crown the next Queen of The Society. Casey Bates Laurent.” Georgina paused. “Casey, please kneel.”

Casey glanced at me nervously as she stepped in front of Georgina and slowly moved down to kneeling.

I watched intently as Georgina picked up the ornate crown from the pillow. It was going to be far too big on her, but she was taking over The Society. It was hers to wear.

Georgina started to lower the crown onto Casey’s head when suddenly the doors to the room burst open and everyone in the room turned. My jaw just about hit the floor. Levi sauntered in while holding Allie’s hand. “Did someone forget to invite me?”

“Levi!” Helen’s cry nearly shook the room, and Levi ran to her without dropping Allie’s hand. I’d never taken Levi to be a momma’s boy, but by the way he fell into her arms, I knew they had a close relationship.

After several moments Levi walked over to Casey. “What’s going on, sis? Trying to steal my job?”

Casey was in shock. Her whole face was pale.

“Whoa. It’s a joke.” He gave her a hug. “It’s okay.”

She started to cry. Really cry. I wanted to intervene, but I sensed she needed her brother more than me at the moment. He held her for a while before walking over to Georgina. I took his place with Casey.

Georgina hugged him, but she broke the hug quickly. “But how? We thought you were dead.”

“I got some help from an old friend.”

The door swung open again and Cade walked in followed by Jared, Owen, and Vera.

The day was getting crazier and crazier.

Levi had some seriously good timing. He’d reappeared just moments before I’d been crowned queen, and I’d never been happier to have someone upstage me.

I was so overcome with relief that Levi and Allie were alive that it took me a moment to understand what was happening when the door opened again. I ignored Cade and Jared and went right to Vera. She pulled me into her arms, and we just stood there hugging.

Finally we broke apart. “You’re okay.” We both spoke at once and ended up laughing.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You guys have good timing though.” I gestured to the crown lying back on the pillow. As nice of a crown as it was, it didn’t belong to me. It belonged to Levi.

“Tell me about it. It’s been a crazy day all around.”

“What happened? Where did you find him?” I gestured to where Levi stood grinning and talking to his father and Georgina.

“It’s a long story. The short version is that he escaped right as Tiffany’s army of shifters showed up. He was able to reach Cade securely, and Cade hid him.”

“That doesn’t sound so complicated.”

“Like I said, that’s the short version.”

I laughed. “Okay. That’s enough for now.”

“But what’s going on here? What did I miss other than you almost becoming queen?”

I glanced at Jared. He needed to know the truth about his father, but I didn’t want to be the one to tell him.

Robert noticed my gaze and walked over. “I’m going to have this talk with him.”

I nodded and went over to hug Jared. “I’m glad you’re okay. Thanks for everything.”

“Anytime.” He smiled, but then he seemed to notice Robert staring at him for the first time.

“Is everything okay?”

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like us to take a walk.” Robert addressed Jared formally.

“Okay.” Jared nodded.

Vera walked over as soon as the two men left. “What’s going on?”

“He’s about to find out some pretty messed up stuff about his family. His dad’s been working with Tiffany this whole time.”

She sighed. “That’s tough.”

“It is. But his mom seems like a good person. She helped Mom.”

“Our mom?” Vera asked.

“Yeah. Our mom.”

“Where is she? Jared’s mom?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Georgina knows.”

“What do I know?” Georgina walked over. She had better hearing than I thought.

“Where Jared’s mom is?” I glanced around again to make sure Jared wasn’t back. I didn’t want to upset him.

Georgina pressed her lips together. “That’s not a pretty story.”

“Meaning?”

“Jett always told us she had a break-down and ran away because she couldn’t handle the stress of being married to the head of security anymore.”

“But why would she leave without her children?”

Georgina sighed. “I know. Now I’m rethinking everything.”

“Do you think she’s alive?” Vera asked. She was always the blunt one.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to believe.”

“I’m going to see if I can find Jared.” Vera excused herself. The departure surprised me slightly, but really Vera was a caring person. If she found him, Jared would be in good hands.

Seeing Vera again was amazing, and knowing that everyone was safe made me feel better than I ever remembered.

“Are you ready to go up?” Toby appeared at my side. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Georgina letting Owen have it. I’m guessing she wasn’t too happy about him telling her that her grandson was dead. I was close to intervening when suddenly Georgina pulled Owen into a hug. Evidently he’d been forgiven.

“Definitely.” I took his hand, and we headed to the elevator.

“Crazy day, huh?” He arched an eyebrow.

I smiled. “Just a little.”

So much had happened in the months since he’d first talked to me at Coffee Heaven. So much had changed. I’d changed. He’d changed, but the important things, like the way he made me feel hadn’t changed. In fact my feelings had only grown stronger. I couldn’t even imagine my life without him, and I hoped he felt the same way. He’d taken all the mate talk so well, but what would happen now that things were calm, or at least calm by our standards?

Toby inserted the key card into our door. I went right into the bedroom. I wanted to change. I knew jeans would be so much more comfortable than the red satin dress Georgina had picked out for me.

Toby followed me in and stilled my hands before I could unzip my dress. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.” I looked right at him. I trusted him. I knew he loved me, but there was always going to be a small part of me that feared he’d change his mind.

“I’d planned to make this so much bigger, so much better, but the last few days have taught me you never know what tomorrow is going to bring, so I’m going to live in today.”

“Okay.“I nodded. I usually didn’t mind when he babbled, but I needed him to get to the point. I really hoped it was a good one.

“Spend your life with me, Casey. Be with me from now until forever. I don’t care what you want to call it: wife, mate, soul mate. Anyway you put it, I just want you with me. Always with me.”

Tears started to stream down my face. “But we haven’t known each other that long.” That was what I was supposed to say, right? That was the reasonable response.

“So? We’re Pterons. Things happen faster for us.” He smiled.

“I’ve never heard that before.” I raised an eyebrow.

He laughed. “I haven’t either, but it sounded good.”

“I love you, Toby.”

“And I love you. So tell me, taking the amount of time out of the equation, do you want to spend your life with me?”

“Of course.” I took both of his hands in mine. “But only if you really want this.”

“Of course I really want this.” He fell down onto one knee. “Here, I’ll ask you again more formally.” He pulled out a breathtaking sapphire ring. “Be with me, Casey. Promise to be with me in every way for the rest of your life.”

I nodded, trying to blink away the tears. “Yes. I’ll marry you, mate with you, whatever we decide to call it.”

“Let’s just call it love.”

“I like that term.”

“Good.” His lips brushed against mine. “Because love is exactly what I feel for you. It’s what I’ve felt for you for months, and it gets stronger every day.”

“I feel the same way.”

His lips moved from my lips over to my neck. “You’re so beautiful.”

“You say that a lot.”

He left tiny kisses all the way down my neck as he started to unzip my dress. “Because you are.”

“And you’re handsome and have beautiful wings. Remember?”

“Speaking of wings.” He finished unzipping my dress, and it fell to the floor.

I started unbuttoning his shirt. “Yes?”

“I’d like to see yours right now.”

“Yeah? We haven’t done that in a long time.”

“It seems fitting tonight. I mean it was your almost coronation and our engagement.”

“And we don’t have to feel guilty anymore.” I pushed off his shirt and stepped back long enough to pull his t-shirt over his head.

“We never have to feel guilty.” He unclasped my bra and tossed it on the floor. His lips found my breast moments later.

I moaned as I slipped my hand down into his boxers. He groaned, pulling my panties off agonizingly slow.

I let myself transform, releasing my wings at the same time that his hand slipped between my legs. I sensed his transformation as I gently stroked him. His whole body temperature heated, including what I held in my hand. Everything got hotter, and I found I couldn’t resist him anymore. I pushed down his boxers, wanting nothing standing between us.

He picked me up and carried me over to the bed. He cradled my head in his hands as he gently kissed me. I was so focused on the kiss that I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

“Toby!” Being quiet wasn’t an option as he thrust into me with his full length over and over. My nails dug into his back next to his wings as I tried to hold myself together.

“I love you, Casey,” he breathed out.

“I love you too.”

He made me scream over and over as he pushed me over the edge, not once but twice. Sex while transformed was so much better, so much more raw and intense, and I was going to get to do it anytime I wanted to for the rest of my life. Toby shuddered finding his release. He cradled me in his arms, and we both retracted our wings before lying down on the bed.

“You’re amazing Casey,” he whispered against my ear.

“So are you.” I snuggled into his arms as deep as I could get. Toby was still my happy place, and he always would be. I was going to stay with him forever, and he was going to stay with me.

Love is weakness. At least that’s what I always believed. It was a feeling that needed to be stamped out whenever possible. My belief had been slightly tampered after watching Allie and Levi together, but I tried to convince myself that was different. That was Levi. It wasn’t me.

But there are certain kinds of love that can’t be ignored and stamped out. There’s the love you can’t help but follow to the ends of the earth. There’s also loyalty and honor that both seem to overlap with love far too often for my taste.

Discovering that my brother was a traitor broke me, but it was nothing compared to finding out the truth about my father. Not only was he a traitor, but he sent away my mother—the only good person in my family. I said it; the only good one. Because I wasn’t good. Was I? I’d hurt more women than I could count, and I was done being able to rationalize it because they’d been willing. I’d still used them and hurt them even if they were using me in exactly the same way.

Levi pretended my family’s dark behavior didn’t change his opinion of me. He claimed it didn’t change his desire to have me in charge of security, but I knew that if I had any hope of redeeming myself, or my family name, I needed to step down. It was time for the Florence family to leave the Laurent’s in peace. Levi would always be like a brother to me, and my loyalty would remain tied to the royal family for life, but I was done serving them directly. He needed a better man to take that job.

It wasn’t as easy to leave as I thought. I’d stood outside Levi and Allie’s house for hours debating whether to tell him face-to-face I was leaving, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t step up and do the honorable thing. Instead I slipped a letter into the mail slot and took a slow walk back to my place. Or at least the place that would be mine for another few hours. Owen and I were both moving out. The difference was Owen was staying in the city. I wasn’t. Normally I would have flown. I would have enjoyed even the short moments of being airborne. But I didn’t. Walking seemed the more appropriate form of movement that night.