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

29. Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

How can they not see how special she is? - Dina

R eturning to the bedroom, I found Charleene peering into the small bathroom. I loved how inquisitive she was when in a new place. “Only one bed, eh.” I joked as her eyes found mine.

She gave me a gorgeous half smile and her eyes twinkled. Lavender, Sage and Thyme hung heavy in the air, tickling my nose as they mixed with her intoxicating scent of roses. “Yep, it seems so,” she laughed, moving to sit on the edge of it. “Do you think Ally really will be ok?” She asked.

“I think she’s with the best people to help her,” I said, trying to soothe her fears. She gave me a weak smile that had me pushing off from the door frame and striding over to her. “Before I go grab our stuff, how about I take your mind off things?”

Her eyes widened at my suggestion and she nodded, making me step closer and run my fingers down the side of her face. She leaned into my touch and her mouth dropped open, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. She looked adorable. Leaning down, I placed a hesitant kiss to her forehead, then her cheeks, before finally her lips. I kept it tentative and gentle at first, just an exploration as Charleene began to relax and melt under my touch. Her tongue swept across my lips, making me hum appreciatively and deepen our kiss, as my thumb caressed her soft cheek.

The other moved up her arm, dragging over the thick sleeves of the jumper she was still wearing, and a growl slipped loose as I rubbed over her breast. Breaking our kisses, I gripped the bottom of her knitted jumper and the thermal t-shirt underneath. I yanked them both over her head, trying to be mindful of my own strength, however I still heard the tell-tale sound of something tearing. Her arms remained tangled in the sleeves, as I laid her back on the bed and trailed soft kisses down the side of her neck.

Charleene wriggled under my weight and I moved my lips down, leaving a trail of goosebumps in my wake as I neared her round perfect breasts. I loved how one was a little larger than the other, and how her nipples stood to attention as I pulled down the cups of her bra. The cabin was warm compared to the braising wind that rattled the windows. Sucking one of her nipples into my mouth I was rewarded with a low deep moan of pleasure from Charleene, as she arched up on the bed, pushing her breast further against my face. If I was human I may have been afraid that she'd suffocate me, but being a vampire meant I didn't need to breathe as often.

Nipping it I moved over to her other and lavished the same attention on it, making Charleene wiggle more as my fingers trailed over her stomach then across her trouser clad pelvis to rub at her pussy. Another moan left her lips, her eyes closed as her head tilted back and her hips buckled up from the bed.

A loud impatient knock rang through the cabin. “For fucks sake!” I growled as it interrupted our alone time. Even Charleene looked disappointed as she righted her clothing.

“We'll finish this later.” She promised, leaving me to answer the damn door. I swear this better be important, otherwise I might just kill whoever it is.

Charleene's shocked gasp had me by her side in an instant and my eyes locked with the Coven leaders who stood on the porch. The Crone's hostile look already has the hairs on my neck rising and the Mother's saddened gaze puts me further on edge, however the Maiden looks at Charleene with such open curiosity that I can't decide if I should just rip all their heads off now or let them inside.

“Please come in,” Charleene said, making the decision for me .

“We have discussed the matter of you being part of our Coven,” the Crone said, her voice dismissive, however it's the Mother's eyes narrowing that I'm focusing on.

“Charleene, you are my child.” She confirmed, shooting the Crone an angry look, “And you are not just a matter to be discussed.”

Charleene's shocked gasp said it all. We'd suspected she was from the Nicnevin Coven, but I hadn't really considered that she would be the daughter of one of the Coven's leaders. Her brown eyes filled with tears as she looked at them each in turn, “W…w…why?” She managed to get out as my arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“I didn't know you still lived,” her Mother sobbed, letting her own tears break free.

“Then who?” Charleene asked, confused.

“I did.” The Crone's voice snapped out, turning our focus to her. “You were conceived without permission to a father not of our Coven and to top it all off, I feared you were a child of prophecy.” She continued, lowering my estimation of her further with each word that came out of her mouth.

“But why not kill me like the others?” Charleene asked, staring at her Grandmother.

“I couldn't. Something protected you, all I could do was bind your magic and make you disappear. I gave Aradia a choice to either raise you alone and be banished from the Coven, or to let me take you away. After dropping you on the steps of the nearest orphanage I was done with you.” The old woman sneered callously and I stepped forwards, ready to throttle her where she stood.

“Well at least I can thank the Goddess for her mercy and the chance to grow up.” Charleene snapped back. “Did you not love me enough to face banishment?”

“It…it… wasn't that simple,” Aradia sobbed, before the Crone cut her off.

“She moved on, like I told her to. The Coven must always come first.” The Crone snapped at Charleene, making her tears run faster.

“Why are you so cold?” Charleene snapped right back, showing her fighting spirit.

The Crone stepped back as though Charleene's words had slapped her and her mouth worked but no words came out. Pride welled up inside me at how resilient my girl was.

“I've always wondered just who my family was and why they would abandon me. And now that I'm meeting you I can honestly say that no matter how hard my life was, I'm certain I grew up better off without you in it.” She spat, jabbing her finger at her Grandmother.

“Charleene—” the young woman who'd brought us to the Coven attempted to speak kindly.

“Just save it, I think I need some time to come to terms with everything I've just heard.” Charleene interrupted her younger sister, before storming off across the living area and slamming the bedroom door behind her.

Her mother and sister looked longingly after Charleene, and when Aradia moved as though to follow her, I stepped into her path, “Let her calm down.” I said, hoping they’d leave so I could make sure Charleene was ok.

The Crone stamped out, muttering under her breath, however Aradia paused looking crestfallen at her daughter's rejection. “What did you expect?” I asked her, feeling angry on Charleene's behalf.

“I never expected to see her again.” Aradia answered, turning her sad eyes to me, “I thought I'd lost her forever.” She sniffed, before turning and following the Crone.

“Please, ask her to find me when she's ready. I never knew I had a sister but I would really like to get to know her.” Her voice was kind and she looked about as shaken as Charleene at the revelations that had just been shared, so I nodded and waited for her to leave as well.

With a small nod she did, closing the front door behind her as I turned for the bedroom. Knocking gently, I waited for Charleene to compose herself, and from the sound of sniffing, I knew she was crying.

“Can I come in?” I asked gently, hoping she'd let me be there for her. I counted to ten slowly and when no answer came, I turned the knob and let myself inside.

I found Charleene curled up on her side in a tight ball. Her eyes were red and she had snot and tears running down her face. My heart broke a little for her, as I went and sat beside her in the bed. Sliding an errant piece of hair behind her ear, I offered her a small smile. “Let it all out.” I told her. Hoping she knew that she was safe and could show me all of her emotions. With me, she didn't need to be perfect or have the right genes. All she needed was to be her, because I found her perfect.

Opening my arms, my heart leapt when she slid into them, letting me hold her through her pain. I didn't speak, just let her tears soak my shoulder and held her as she shook. This was a lot to come to terms with for anyone, especially when finding out that her birth family hadn't wanted her. I knew how that felt but for different reasons.

“Adrina?” Mother's shrill voice called from the front door, filling me with hope that I wasn't the monster Alsadair said I was. “Where have you been, Child?”

My mouth lifted into the beginning of a smile at her scolding tone, the same one I used to hate and I ran towards her, with my arms stretched out before me. “Mama…” I managed to choke out as my arms wrapped around her waist.

“Your freezing Adrina,” she said, rubbing up and down on my arms, “Your father and I have been so worried. It’s been one week since we discovered your empty bed.”

Her hand rubbed my hair down the back of my head. Still being the Mother that Alasdair said I’d lost. Drawing in a deep breath so I could attempt to answer her, I froze. Her scent was amazing, like the sweetest honey. My throat burned and my gums ached as my mouth watered. The heavy thump, thump, thump, of her heart rang in my ears, getting louder and louder with every second. My hands tightened around her waist as I lost the battle with my fangs and they descended.

“Adrina, what is the matter?” Mother asked, pushing me away and gasping in horror as my eyes turned red and she saw the fangs pressing into my bottom lip. “Devil. Monster!” She screamed, struggling against my vice-like grip.

Forcing the memory back down, I focussed on Charleene, who’s shoulders had stopped shaking so violently. She hiccuped and scrubbed at her eyes, before pulling away from me and meeting my gaze. “You ok?” I asked, knowing full well that she wasn’t.

“I will be, it’s just a lot to take in.” Her voice shook still but sounded a little stronger.

“Why don’t you take a bath, while I grab the stuff from the car?” I suggested.

Shuffling across the bed a little, she let out a long sigh, like she was attempting to force all the negativity from her body. “That sounds perfect.”

I waited until she was in the bathroom and I heard the water slosh about before heading out into the night. My skin prickled, the hairs lifting at leaving her here alone, but we needed our things from the car and I’d rather do it myself than let some unknown witches snoop through our things. Using my speed, I made it to the car and back, carrying the stuff we’d quickly grabbed from the cabin. I decided to manage it all in one trip, wanting to be back with Charleene before she finished her bath.

“Hey!” A woman’s voice shouted, making my foot pause on the first step of our new cabin. Turning my head, I internally groan as I see the small woman from earlier striding towards me.

“Can I help you?” I grumbled, not wishing to talk.

“I just wanted to say thank you, to both of you, for bringing Ally and Jace here.” She said, looking up at me, “And to let you know she’s going to be ok.”

“You’re welcome.” I responded, moving up another step, hoping that was the end of the conversation.

“Can I ask, how is she?”

“Ally?” I asked, my brow furrowing as I thought about how best to answer her question, “A nuisance.” I told her, opting for honesty.

“Jace says she’s had some…magical mishaps.” She went on, stumbling over what to call Ally’s magical outbursts .

“Yeah, you could call them that.” My voice remained disinterested and flat, but it didn’t seem to deter the woman.

“I’m sorry for the trouble it’s caused you. The block on her mind is supposed to suppress her magic, as well as her memories.” Lilah explained, glancing at her feet for a few seconds before her eyes met mine again, “I think it’s failing, and I can’t remove or fix it.”

“If it fails will she survive it?” Charleene’s voice almost made me jump.

“I don’t know, we never planned on keeping her here this long.” Lilah answered.

Charleene walked down the few steps and held the woman’s hands in hers, “Maybe the Coven will be able to help.”

“Maybe.” Lilah replied, chewing on the inside of her cheek, before giving Charleene’s hands a gentle squeeze, “Anyway the main thing is she’s here and she’s safe.”

“That’s right, has the healer been able to help?” Charleene queried, her voice dropping low with concern.

“Yes, Ally’s resting now but she should hopefully wake soon.” Lilah gave Charleene a small smile, “Anyway, you’ve all had a very stressful day and should get your rest.”

“Will you please let us know when Ally wakes?” Charleene requested as I finally finished climbing the steps and stood on the porch.

“Of course Dear.” Lilah said, giving us both a bigger smile, before she walked off back to Ally and Jace.

“Well she seems nice,” Charleene declared, coming to join me on the porch.

“You’ve only spoken to her for ten minutes,” I commented, nodding towards the front door. Charleene grabbed it, sticking her tongue out at me as I walked past. “If you're not careful I’ll put that tongue to good use.”

“Maybe I want you to.” Charleene said with a cheeky wink as a gorgeous blush stained her cheeks pink .

With a low growl that vibrated through my chest, I dropped everything on the floor near the small sofa. Turning back to see that Charleene watched me with her top lip trapped between her teeth. In three steps I’m in front of her, my thumb tugging it free before I slammed my lips down on hers. Grabbing her hand in mine, I tugged her to the bedroom and growled, “I think it’s about time we finish what we started earlier.”