Of Fate & Forbidden Desire (The Gatekeeper Duet #1)

13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Interesting and friend are two words that should not go together -Dina

C harleene’s meeting with the Council had gone better than I’d expected, even if she hadn’t been overly respectful to the London Coven’s Witches, she’d shown them how strong she was. However, the meeting had also raised more questions than it had answered, leaving us both in limbo as we awaited more news. The Council Elders had agreed with the Witches that they needed to look further into Charleene’s origins, but that could take days if not weeks, so again we’d be left with nothing to do but wait. I’d managed to put more distance between us over the last two days, the gap becoming a chasm as Tilly’s words in York kept ringing in my head. A relationship between myself and a witch would be condemned by all in the Vampire community, it just wasn’t done. I also knew that the witches wouldn’t be happy with a powerful witch loving a woman, let alone a vampire one, who couldn’t give Charleene any children to carry on her line.

Glancing over, I tried to surreptitiously watch Charleene as she read another book with her legs curled up beneath her on the small loveseat and a blanket around her shoulders. She looked vulnerable, lost in the pages, her face calm as her eyes traced each line. It was in the quiet moments like this that I wished to be able to reach out, to comfort her, love her. Yet every time I went to open my mouth and attempt to fix the gap between us, Tilly’s voice reminded me why I shouldn’t. Opening my mouth yet again, my phone beeped with a message, interrupting what would have been a colossal mistake. It was better that she hated me, whatever I had felt growing for her in my heart was doomed to fail. So it was much better to deal with the heartbreak now, before we’d grown further attached.

Tilly: Heading back to London.

The message was short and to the point much like Tilly was, giving away nothing.

Me: Did you deal with the rogue?

I responded, my heart beating double time as I dared to hope that at least Charleene would be safe from the sadistic bastard who’d threatened her.

Tilly: No, he seems to have either left York or gone to ground. But I found some interesting new friends.

My heart sank like a stone in my stomach; Charleene was still being hunted. I’d seen the manic look in the rogue’s eyes as he’d looked at her, he wouldn’t be giving up anytime soon.

“What’s wrong?” Charleene’s sweet voice interrupted my spiralling thoughts, drawing my attention to where she still sat on the loveseat with her brown eyes staring at me in concern.

“Tilly’s on her way here.” I told her, not wanting to worry her anymore. She had enough to deal with without needing to know that monster was still alive and after her.

“Oh, isn’t that a good thing?” she asked, her tone innocent and a little guarded.

“It might be.” I replied, turning my glare back to the phone in my hand, I wondered just what Tilly had meant by “interesting new friends.”

Charleene’s frustrated sigh had my head whipping back in her direction just in time to see her turn back to the book she was holding. A frown pulled her eyebrows down and I ached to ask what was troubling her. Instead I left her alone and flopped down on the overly large bed in my own room. Why couldn’t she have been just a regular human? I found myself lamenting. We’d have been able to explore whatever had been growing between us if she had been. Closing my eyes I pushed away the intrusive thoughts that told me it was wrong and imagined what our life could have been like.

We were in one of the many houses that I had scattered across the UK. Charleene’s long hair tickled my nose as she slept peacefully with her head on my shoulder. Smiling, I let myself gaze at her face, memorising the freckles that dusted her nose in random splodges. Her brow furrowed as she dreamt, making her look even more adorable than normal and a soft snore escaped her lips. Tracing my finger down her cheek, I tried to capture this moment in my mind. Her blue eyes blinked open, finding mine, as a drowsy smile turned her lips up. They looked like a stormy sea.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice sweet and missing any of the anger that had been in it recently.

“Morning,” I smiled down at her, my finger running over her bottom lip, “did you sleep well?” I asked, like we did this every morning.

“I’d have slept better if you hadn’t been staring at me.” She laughed, the sound like small bells tinkling.

“I can’t help it, you’re breath-taking,” I found myself saying as my head lowered to hers and I pressed a soft kiss to her perfect lips. Losing myself in the kiss I ran my hand across her stomach, then up to cup one of her large breasts in my hand, eliciting a pleasurable moan that vibrated against my mouth.

Rubbing my finger over her nipple, my smile grew as she pushed her chest up, eager for more. Giving her what she wanted, I gently pinched her nipple between my thumb and forefinger, tweaking it as my tongue swept across her lips. She tasted of strawberries, from the chapstick she favoured and I wanted—no needed— more. Forcing my tongue between her lips I savoured the feel of her tongue gliding along my own as she gave herself over to me and my touch …

A loud knocking broke into my daydream, yanking me back to the reality where me and Charleene couldn’t be together.

“Are you ok?” Charleene’s voice made me jump and guilt stole through me, that I’d been imagining doing such dirty things to her, when in reality I was causing her pain.

“I’m fine,” I shouted back, wondering what noises I may have made that she’d felt the need to come and knock on my door.

“Can we talk?” Her question was quiet but my hearing caught it anyway. She deserved answers, I knew that it was unfair of me to give her the cold shoulder without one. But what was I to say? My feelings for her were unlike anything I’d ever felt before, yet the laws of my own kind stood in the way of her happiness. She wouldn’t understand that.

“Fine,” I finally found myself answering and pushed up off of the bed to let her inside. Standing back from the door I allowed her in, making sure not to touch her as my hands and heart wanted to. I could smell her strawberry scent clinging to her, reminding me of my daydream, as she walked passed. She looked around, examining my room that looked as if no one was even staying inside it. What can I say, I like order. Everything should be in its place, all nice and neat. It was how I’d lived my life until I met the bundle of chaos that was Charleene Murry.

Charleene’s fingers taped against her leg, betraying her nerves as I appraised her. She approached the bed, running her fingers over the soft duvet. My mind conjured the image of her sprawled over its top, screaming as my tongue lapped at her wet pussy. Shaking away the image I coughed, clearing my suddenly parched throat.

“What can I help you with?” I asked keeping the distance between us.

“Why are you being like this?” she asked, taking no prisoners and letting me see the hurt I was causing her.

“Like what?” I played dumb, knowing full well what she was referring to.

“Like a heartless bitch.” She threw back at me, perching on the edge of the bed and frowning up at me .

“Because I am one.” I said, making my heart break a little more as tears gathered in her beautiful blue ones.

“Bollocks,” she spat back at me, suddenly standing and striding over, until she was pressing up against my chest. I forced myself to take even breaths, so as to sell the lie more believably.

“I’m the monster beneath the bed Charleene,” I snapped, needing to make her not want anything to do with me. Backing her towards the wall might not have been the best choice in hindsight. Charleene’s eyes narrowed at my words, “I’m not the hero in your story.” I finished as her back hit the wall.

“What if I want you to be?” her words were whispered and her eyes which looked like storm clouds narrowed.

“I can’t be.” Leaning towards her lips, my daydream flashed in my mind again. What would it be like to press mine to them again, if only for one last time?

“Why?” her question made me realise how close I’d gotten to her and I pulled back, until there was a couple of inches between our faces. “It’s the twenty-first century, Dina, there are no laws against two women being in love anymore.” She implored, clearly having thought about her argument a lot.

It was a great argument, but she didn’t know how the Laws which ruled Supers were different from those of humans, “It’s not because we are women that I can’t be with you.” I whispered, my forehead falling to rest against hers.

“Then what is it?” she asked, staring into my eyes, “please help me understand.”

“Coven Law forbids relationships between Supers,” I explained, my eyes closing so I wouldn’t have to see her reaction. Her sharp intake of breath told me all I needed to know.

“Why?” she demanded, anger shining in her voice and I found I had no answer.

Why was it forbidden for different Supers to love each other? Until now I’d had no reason to question the laws; instead I’d blindly followed every one of them and punished those who’d broken them. “I don’t know.” I finally answered, my brow furrowing .

“If there isn’t a good reason, then why should we deny ourselves this?” Charleene’s question forced my eyes open and I searched hers for the answer.

I…I…I…” my voice started and stopped repeatedly, unable to find the words she wanted to hear, “It’s forbidden.” I finally whispered, drawing back.

“I know you want me,” her voice was firm as she pressed against me, forcing me back a step, “it’s like a burning need in here,” she said touching her chest above her heart, “unlike you, I can’t turn it off and don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to turn it off, but I also can not break our Law,” I said, my voice wobbling slightly over the last part of my sentence. Why couldn’t she see the position she was putting me in?

“Why not? Why is some antiquated Vampire Law that, in my opinion, shouldn’t even exist stopping you?”

I looked deeper into her eyes, my mind racing to find the right words to explain how three centuries of living and protecting those laws had become an intrinsic part of me and failed. Sighing deeply, I turned my head to the side, unable to keep looking at her shining eyes and seeing the disappointment in them.

“Well, when you figure out if what we could have outweighs your stupid Vampire Laws, please let me know. But right now I can’t keep playing whatever this game is.” Her words cut me deep, fracturing my heart even further. The lump clogging my throat grew as her soft hand caressed my cheek for a second, before she turned on her heel and left me alone, stewing over her words.

The afternoon passed by, the sky turned to dusk, then to night as I laid on the bed thinking over the Vampire Laws and why they’d been created. All of them made sense, as a way to protect our kind, all of them except the one baring Supers from loving each other. I listened as Charleene ordered herself lunch, then tea, but she never came back to my room. I heard the footsteps approaching, soft thuds on the hall carpet, before the knock reverberated through the hotel suite .

With a groan I left the safety of my room and walked quickly to the door, beating Charleene to it. Swinging it open I glared at Tilly, who stood on the other side, her dark hair up in its usual high ponytail and her forest green eyes crinkling at the corners.

“It’s nice to see you too,” she laughed, pushing me out of the way and striding inside. “You look well Charleene.” she greeted my stunned companion, making her way over to the untouched bar.

“What are you doing here?” I growled, knowing my temper had nothing to do with Tilly’s presence but all to do with not being able to have what I wanted most. I was like a damn toddler, all but stamping my foot and Tilly noticed. Her brow raised at my demand, before her eyes narrowed flashing between me and Charleene.

“You two haven’t?” she asked, turning to pour herself a drink of the expensive golden whisky.

“No!” I snapped, knowing what the question was actually asking, “we haven’t crossed…” I paused searching for the right words before continuing, “...any more lines.”

“Good,” Tilly sighed, drinking a healthy mouthful of her drink.

“Why shouldn’t we?!” Charleene demanded, crossing her arms stubbornly and fixing Tilly with her own glare.

“Because if you had, I’d have no choice but to drag you both before the Elders and that wouldn’t be helpful for either of you.” Tilly’s voice was cold, and professional.

“Urrrggg, stupid old vampires.” Charleene cursed, throwing her hands in the air and stamping over to the loveseat.

“Why are you here?” I asked Tilly, drawing her gaze and attention.

“I just got some new friends settled,” Tilly explained, nonchalantly.

“New friends?” I pushed, my eyes narrowing .

“Two Fae I found wandering around York,” her words reminded me of the human women with red hair, who’d smelt of Ancient things, and her dark knight with pointed eartips.

“And you brought them here?” I questioned, trying to understand why Tilly thought they needed to be here, instead of back with their own kind.

“Yes, the woman was letting off some pretty powerful magic, and she doesn’t even know what she is, so obviously I couldn’t leave them running amok.” She explained, and it did make sense, however something inside me screamed when I thought of that dark haired Shadow Fae being anywhere near Charleene.

I stared at Tilly incredulously. I couldn’t believe that she’d not only stumbled across them, but brought them here. Ancients were a thing of the past and they should stay where they belonged. Nothing good would come of them meddling on Earth; it hadn't been the last time they’d been here. The Elders’ enjoyed teaching all new vampires about the Shadow Fae who’d created our race eon’s ago before abandoning us.

“We’d been nothing more than an experiment to them.” I snapped at the room and instantly regretted my outburst when I saw Charleene flinch. Looking over at her, she looked confused. “The Shadow Fae created our kind, they mixed their own blood and dark magic with that of humans, turning those who survived into Vampires,” I explained giving her a brief history lesson, “then after growing bored they abandoned us, giving no explanation or even returning to see what would happen to us.”

“That may have been the case back then, however this Fae is different,” Tilly said breaking my story short, “they aren’t Shadow Fae, Adrina, and she needs our help.” I knew she was trying to calm me down, but the rage I felt at her bringing their kind to Hamstead wouldn’t cool. “She doesn’t even truly know what she is.”

“What do you mean?” Charleene’s sweet voice asked timidly.

“She has no memory of being anything other than human,” Tilly told her gently .

“Like me?” Charleene ventured hesitantly.

“No!” I snapped.

While Tilly said, “Yes.” Our voices overlapped.

Glaring at the woman who’d been my closest friend for over three hundred years, I shook my head in disappointment and walked over to where Charleene now perched on the edge of her seat. Sinking down on the balls of my feet to meet her eyes, “She’s nothing like you—” I began, getting halfway through my sentence, before Charleene cut me off.

“Of course she’s like me, Dina! It wasn’t that long ago I thought I was just a human woman, trying to make her way in life and now here I am. In your Vampire Coven’s grandest hotel, waiting to see if they can find out what Witch Coven I belong to. How is that any different?” Charleene snapped at me, losing her patience.

“Well…” when she put it that way, I could see the similarities, but it didn’t change the fact that they would put her in even more danger than she was already in.

“Anyhow…” Tilly began, drawing both of our attention her way, “the Elders are reconvening this evening and you two are to attend.”

“Have they found something?” Charleene asked and I couldn’t tell if it was hope or fear that made her voice tremble.

“They wouldn’t say, just that they wish to discuss it with you Charleene,” Tilly’s voice was calm and neutral, but her eyes wrinkled slightly at the corners, making me wary of what tonight’s meeting would bring.