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“My wings worked. That’s a plus, I guess.”

Toby smiled faintly. “I’m glad you still have your sense of humor.”

“If I lose that, then you know I’m in trouble.”

“Then we’ll just have to make sure you don’t.”

We’ll? I didn’t want to read into it, but did that mean he wasn’t going to shun me? Was he going to help even though I was a Laurent and related to the guy who took the love of his life? Did the fact that I had wings change the way he felt about me?

“How did it feel?” His eyes widened again, but this time it was with excitement.

“Amazing.” There really was nothing else like it. If I closed my eyes, I could relive that first flight again. I’d never felt so strong and free before.

“Isn’t it? It’s like nothing in the world can stop you or get in your way. You feel powerful and limitless.” His whole body seemed to come alive as he described the sensation of flying.

“Exactly!” Wow, it felt so good to talk about it with someone.

“Are the other side effects messing with you? I remember it took me awhile to get used to the night vision.” He seemed lost in thought like he was imagining his own experience.

“Does it always happen the same way? You get the new abilities after the first time you transform?”

“From everything I know.”

“This is all so crazy.” I smoothed out my t-shirt.

“Have you told anyone else yet?”

“No.”

“Not even Jared?” His smile faded as he said the name.

“No.” With all of the emotions I was juggling, could I handle that kind of rejection? “He’s going to flip out.”

Toby balled his hands into fists. “He has no right to. You didn’t know what you were, and anyway, who cares?”

“In his position, you wouldn’t care?” I hoped he understood I meant if we’d had sex. I refused to say the words.

“Of course not.” He grabbed my arms. “Why would that change anything?” His eyes were so open and honest. He was pleading with me to believe him. He really wouldn’t mind dating a Pteron?

“So what now? Do you think Levi knows?”

“No. We’d know it if he did. I think we need to tread carefully, but we need to tell him. Keeping information from him will only make you look guilty, and you need him on your side.”

“So you think I should see him?” The thought terrified me.

“I’m going to call Allie, if that’s okay with you.”

“Allie?” I’m sure my face looked exactly the way his did when he said Jared. I liked her, but I also felt so much jealousy it hurt when he spoke her name. “Are you sure? I know it’s hard for you to talk to her.”

“Hard? Why?”

“Come on. With your history…” Was he really going to make me pull it out of him?

“So?” He dropped his hands but didn’t move away from me.

“I know how you feel about her. Nelly told me.”

“Excuse me?” His body shook. “What exactly did Nelly tell you?”

I looked away. “That you’ll never get over Allie and that I remind you of her.”

“What?” He stepped away and put his head in his hands before turning back to me. “When did she tell you that?”

“In New Orleans.”

“Is that why you ended things? Why you went with Jared?”

“I’m tired of being unwanted, of being the girl that always comes second.” I looked away, hoping the tears I felt stinging the corners of my eyes wouldn’t fall. I didn’t need to show him just how vulnerable I was.

He wasn’t having it. He cupped my chin in his hand. “I’m over Allie, and I like you because you’re you. I can’t believe Nelly lied to you like that.” He looked down. “Or that you believed her.”

“Why would she make it up? It makes no sense.” I felt a twinge of guilt. Why had I believed her so easily? Was it because of Jared? Was I looking for a reason to date him instead?

Toby groaned. “My cousin was right.”

“Right about what?” I assumed he was referring to Tim. His other cousin, Tom, barely talked. I wasn’t positive what that relationship was, but they kind of seemed like his henchmen.

“Nelly likes me. I know how ridiculously narcissistic that sounds, but it’s true.”

I laughed dryly. “Your witch assistant likes you?”

“Why are you laughing?” he asked with alarm.

“Because of how dumb I am. I was so damn insecure I fell for it.” And so willing to. The self-loathing didn’t feel good.

“So you believe me?” For the second time that night, his eyes pleaded with me.

“Yes.”

“Does that mean you’ll give me a second chance?” The hope in his voice was palpable. Was he really so quick to forget what I did? More and more, I couldn’t understand how I’d moved on from him so quickly.

I dodged the question, because I couldn’t give him another chance. Not yet at least. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I was a bitch.”

“No, you weren’t. Nelly can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be.”

“I was a bitch, but we both knew that already.”

“Do you love him?” Toby’s voice was low, vulnerable.

“No.” I didn’t know what I felt, but it wasn’t love. It was more lust and passion. My feelings for Toby were passionate too, but they were twisted with friendship and companionship more than lust.

“Good.”

“Good because you know he’s going to break my heart, or because you don’t like him?”

“Both, but if you don’t love him, he can’t break your heart.”

“He can still hurt it.” I looked down.

“Yeah, but a hurt heart is easier to fix than a broken one.” His lips quirked into a small smile.

“Is that offer for a drink still available?”

“I have a better idea.”

“Yes?” I asked expectantly.

“Let’s go for a flight.”

“Really? Now?” I didn’t bother hiding my excitement. The thought of being airborne again thrilled me.

“Yes, but let’s call Allie first. I want to get it over with.”

As much as I wasn’t ready, I agreed. Luckily, the flight would probably make things better. I already sensed it would be like exercise and would help relieve stress. The difference was, flying was fun.