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

25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Oh no, what now? - Dina

I ’d not been back in my room long when Donovan rushed past, closely followed by Jacin. Torn between leaving Charleene’s side and finding out what they were running for, I struggled, indecision pulling at me. I’d never been unsure of my actions before and found that I didn’t like it. Looking at Charleene, I made my mind up and chased after their hurrying footsteps. We ran out the back door of Cusworth Hall, and I followed them through the perfectly manicured gardens to a field that borders the property. My mouth fell open at the sight I beheld.

Ally stood in the field, her eyes closed and surrounded by a whirling tornado of flames. “Leave Lysais!” She screamed, flinging her hand out towards something we couldn’t see. The hair on the back of my neck rose, as my eyes scanned our surroundings for the threat she’s obviously fighting off, but all I found wasDonovan, Jacin, Ally and myself.

“What is she doing?” I asked at the same time Jacin screamed her name, “She’s going to set the whole field alight.”

“She’s dream-walking,” Donovan said quickly, as though that should explain whatever the hell was going on.

“She’s what?”

“Dream-walking, and it has brought her enemies one step closer to you all.” He explained, “We need to wake her.”

He began to mutter under his breath as I stood, staring at him like he’d lost his mind, what the heck is dream-walking when it comes to town? I wondered. The wind picked up, flapping my short hair around my face. I attempted to keep my vision clear but it was futile as Donovan called more to his aid, using it to surround Ally and the fire she’s throwing about.

“I can’t hold it for much longer,” he said, his face showing the strain it’s taking, making me wonder and not for the first time, just how powerful Ally is?

“Jacin do something!” I yelled as he catapulted himself over the wooden fence separating Cusworth Hall and the field.

“What do you think I’m trying to do?” he shouted back, his eyes never leaving Ally as a long beam of fire flew forward.

It seemed to go on forever with Jacin’s shouts punctuating the air. Donovan’s knees wobbled and he shook. Moving quickly, I grabbed his shoulders and placed my front to his back, letting him lean on me and take my energy to fuel his magic.

“Jacin!” I warned as Donovan sagged a little more.

Then, as quickly as it started, Ally’s fire disappeared, like a tap has been shut off. She gripped her head in pain before her legs gave out and she fell to the floor. I knew Fae could move almost as fast as vampires but until this moment I’d never seen it. Jacin reached her before her head could hit the ground and cradled her to him.

Donovan’s magic faltered shortly after and he fell fully against me, until I was pretty certain I’m the only thing keeping him standing.

“You need to go.” He said gently, struggling to keep his eyes open, “they know where you are.”

Crap! I thought, shuffling his weight to keep a better hold of him as he lost the battle and his eyes closed. If the Shadow Fae have found us, it would only be a matter of time before the rogue vampire did too. We’d managed to shake him when stopping at Gladys’, but that didn’t mean we’d remain hidden forever. Our best chance was to keep moving. Gently lifting Donovan into my arms, I saw that Jacin had done the same for Ally.

“Come on, let’s get them back to the house.” I said, before turning and using my enhanced speed to rush. I felt uneasy leaving Charleene alone for this long; she was vulnerable, more so than normal, at the moment.

Jacin followed closely behind and walked to the bedroom Ally had been given while I took Donovan and made sure he was comfortable in the study. I had no idea where his bedroom was and I wouldn’t want to go poking around in someone else’s home. Once I’d made sure he wasn't going to fall out of the deep wingback chair, I ran back to check on Charleene.

She was exactly where I’d left her, she hadn’t even rolled over. Each time I saw her so still, I was reminded over and over that she wasn’t here and my heart shattered all over again. All I wanted was for her to open those gorgeous brown eyes of hers, so I could fall into them.

Come on get yourself together Dina, I mentally slap myself, before going to find Jacin.

I found him two doors down on the other side of Donovan’s study, Ally laid on the bed looking peaceful. Her face is paler than usual, making her freckles stand out more, and her hair looks redder too. Jacin looked haggard as he watched her, perched against the chest of drawers.

“How’s she doing?” I asked, leaning against the wall next to the door.

“She hasn’t woken yet,” he said gruffly, worry creasing his brow. Clearing his throat, he asked me a question in return, “What about Charleene?”

“Still the same.” I told him with a deep sigh, “Donovan said we need to leave, that they know where she is.”

I watched his reaction to my words carefully, noticing how his shoulders tensed and his eyes narrowed.

“Why can’t he just leave her alone?” He said, but I don’t know if it was supposed to be a question or him just thinking aloud. Either way, I didn’t give an answer. “I really thought we’d left all of this behind, that she would get to start over from all the heartbreak.” He continued with a frown, “I guess that was just wishful thinking.”

“You might escape them, when you find your Lilah.” I said, awkwardly, feeling like I needed to give him something to hold onto .

“Yeah, maybe.” He didn’t sound too sure, but pushed away from his perch and sat on the edge of the bed. I watched as he lovingly picked up her hand and held it, much like I’ve been doing with Charleene.

“I think we should continue straight on to Edinburgh, no more stops.” I told him, having already made up my mind. “We need to find Charleene’s coven, maybe they’ll be able to bring her back.”

“Sounds good to me.” Jacin didn’t argue and I thought all the fight had left him.

“Oh, good, you're both here,” Donovan’s voice interrupted the silence that had descended on the room, “What are you going to do?” He asked.

Ally moaned, silencing our conversation, and shifted against the pillows before her eyes tried opening and snapped shut just as quickly.

“What happened?” Ally asked, flinching back into the pillows.

“We need to move,” I stated with no preamble, making her whimper as Jacin gave me a narrowed look. I’d just about had enough of the curve balls she’d been throwing our way. It was another reason I wanted to get to Scotland, as then I’d be free of them and their troubles. Jacin was growing on me, but Ally? Well she needed to grow the fuck up and fast.

Jacin picked up a cloth out of a small bowl I hadn’t noticed on the nightstand and applied it to her forehead. Her face instantly lost some of its tension and Jacin’s head turned to look at me disapprovingly, as he walked back to his perch against the drawers. What the hell have I done? I thought as he spoke.

“We will Dina, as soon as they’re both stable enough to move.” Jace’s voice was quiet, barely audible, reminding me that Charleene was in no better condition and needed to rest just as much as Ally.

“What have I done now?” she asked, blinking.

“You…”

“Not now Adrina.” Donovan’s voice cuts me off. He may have spoken just above a whisper but the fury in his eyes told me how much he didn’t appreciate my tone .

Well suck it up buttercup, this is who I am. I thought snidely. I didn’t agree with keeping things from her, she should be made to realise the danger she’s put us all in.

“It appears your dreaming has let your whereabouts slip young one, and your enemies have caught up to you.” Donovan explained calmly, giving her the news much gentler than I would have.

“I thought that was another dream,” Ally muttered, her brow creasing in confusion. Another thing I didn’t like about her; she had no clue how to hide her feelings.

“That’s the tricky business of dream-walking. What starts as a dream doesn’t always remain a dream.” Donovan told her, moving to stand beside the bed and look down at her.

Ally’s eyes finally opened, “Why does my head feel like I’ve been on a seven day bar bender?”

“You used your magic again and this time it took its toll,” Jacin answered this time from across the room.

“Toll?” Ally’s head lolled in his direction and her shoulders tensed up.

I watched, intrigued, as Jacin’s lips tilted up as though he’d heard the funniest joke, “It took some of your energy and it battered against the block in your mind.”

“Oh, remind me next time no more magic,” She joked, rubbing her forehead and I couldn’t help myself as anger flooded through me at her glib tone.

“Next time?” I screamed, giving her my most unimpressed glare. “There won’t be a next time, your magic is dangerous, unpredictable, untamed.” I continued, anger fueling my words, making them harsher than they should have been, but I’d had enough. Everytime she used magic something disastrous happened and it didn’t seem to affect her.

Jacin opened his mouth as though he wanted to respond and I threw him the same glare. He always defends her, but right now she needed to hear what I was saying. I went to give him another piece of my mind about his own behaviour, but Donovan piped up instead .

“She needs to use her magic Adrina, how else is she to learn control? It is up to you,” he demanded pointing at me, “to protect them, and it’s up to you,” he turned to Jacin next, “to teach them both." There was so much passion in his words that I didn’t know what to say, and when I glanced at Jacin, I could tell he felt the same. Donovan had just scolded us both like children.

“This was done to Alyssa, none of this is her fault so stop blaming her.” Donovan went on, making me feel a twinge of regret over my harsh words, but I still stood behind them. “Now young one, take this. It will help protect your mind, but it will not last forever.” He explained, putting a small pendant over her head, when had he made that? I wondered, breathing in the scents of lavender and camomile, alongside something else. It’s a protection charm I realised, as Ally gripped it in her fist. Donovan turned to settle a long, stern look on Jacin and then myself, before he shooed us out of the room.

Jacin was the last one from the room and closed the door behind him, “You know you don’t have to be such a bitch all the damn time.” He informed me, making me pause as I went to walk away.

“And you don’t have to be her knight in shining armour either.” I snapped back, “Find me when you're ready to leave.” I said, turning and walking away before he could reply.

I spent the next hour sitting beside Charleene, bemoaning the injustice that she’s left me alone to deal with the dynamic Fae duo. I was just about to launch into another tirade when Donovan knocked against the door.

“May I come in?” he asked politely.

“It’s your house, you can do whatever you like,” I told him, turning my attention back to Charleene.

“I know you’re worried Adrina, but you can’t keep attacking the poor girl like that,” he admonished, and I really wanted to argue with him, but his fatherly eyes met mine, and I found I haven’t the heart to.

“This isn’t the first time her magic has caused problems,” I admitted in a growl, my eyes flicking to Charleene and back to his, my meaning clear .

“And you need to forgive her for that,” his tone was reasonable but I was already shaking my head.

“How am I supposed to forgive her for taking Charleene from me?” The thought came out as a question that made Donovan sigh.

“I don’t know Adrina, but somehow you need to. What if Charleene had been the one to cause this to Ally, would you want her to be blamed forever?” He asked, turning the tables.