Page 56 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

Giving him a one shoulder shrug, I walked towards Cusworth Hall, wanting to find Donovan as quickly as possible. Ally’s feet scrambled on the gravel as she scurried to catch up. I reached the steps leading to the front door when Donovan himself swung it open.

“Ah Adrina, you’re here,” he said, offering me a compassionate smile, before he eyed Charleene in my arms and his face turned solemn. “Follow me,” he instructed, gesturing to the hallway I could barely see behind him. With a grateful nod I walked past him and paused in the open entrance hall. Cusworth Hall is awonderful place, where humans come to learn about their history. I ignored it all, instead focusing on Donovan himself. He was a small man with a round belly and blue eyes. I’d never met him before, but if Gladys trusted him with this then so would I. That woman had a penchant for collecting trustworthy people.

“Can you help her?” I asked, nodding down at Charleene as he led us through the house, “we’re not sure exactly what’s happened to her, but Gladys suspects she’s gone on a spirit walk, whatever that is.” I quickly told him, not wanting to waste another second, and praying to any god that would listen for him to save her.

We were just nearing the end of another hallway on the second floor when Ally’s gasp drew our attention. She was standing stock still in the middle of the hall, her eyes wide as she stared at the walls around her. Frowning, I watched as her gaze returned to the three of us watching her, then Donovan waved his hand towards a room and I followed him inside.

A giant bed took up much of the room, with a large set of drawers and comfy looking sitting chair occupying the rest of the space. There was no TV, in fact the only electrical item in there seemed to be the small chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Please make yourselves comfortable, I’ll be right back.” Donovan said kindly, his voice little more than a whisper as he nodded towards the bed, and turned to the Fae who were still standing in the hallway.

Laying Charleene down gently, I ran my fingers through my short hair, tugging at it to centre myself as I waited for Donovan to return. I heard him speaking to them as they walked away, further off down the hall, and I felt grateful that he was putting us each in separate rooms.

“Where are you, babe?”I asked aloud, needing to break the oppressive silence that hung in the air, as my eyes returned to Charleene.

She was as white as a ghost and her breathing was still steady. She looked peaceful with her long hair splayed out on the pillows. Other than the flickering of her eyes beneath her eyelids, she shows no other signs of being alive. My heartsank as I perched on the edge of the bed and took her hand in mine. My thumb caressed the back of her hand as Donovan returned.

“She is dear to you.” He stated, and I turned my face towards where he stood in the doorframe.

“She’s my whole world.” I told him honestly.

“Strange for a vampire to care so much for a witch,” he observed, stepping closer, “illegal even, for you.”

“I know my own Coven’s laws,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.

“And so you should, Adrina, you uphold them after all.” I went to answer him, but he held up a hand and continued speaking, “Why would you risk death for her?”

“Because she’s worth it.” I replied without thinking, taken aback by my own admission. “She’s my mate.” I admitted aloud for the first time. I’d been pretty sure before all this, but seeing her lifeless on the ground, my heart had stopped beating at the thought that I’d lost her. That was when I’d truly knew what she was to me.

“Well that certainly complicates matters. Mates are a rare thing nowadays and are to be cherished.” Donovan said with a kind smile, “Hecate knows what she is doing after all.”

“It doesn’t bother you that I love her?” I needed to hear him say so.

“No, as a Witch I do not care that you love her, it’s an outdated vampiric law, if you ask me,” he grumbled, closing the distance between him and Charleene.

I moved to the side as he studied her, mumbling under his breath as he took in her pallor and then gripped her wrist in one hand, while placing his index and middle finger against her pulse point. I dared not breathe when he closed his eyes and silence reigned within the room.

“It is as Gladys suspected, Charleene is indeed spirit walking.” Donovan said grimly, opening his eyes to meet mine.

“What does that mean?” I asked, stroking my hand up and down her leg, needing contact with her for comfort.

“Her spirit has left her body, astral projection I think it’s called now,” Donovan informed me, and my heart settled a little more. I’d heard of astral projection before and knew witches who’d done it many times before.

“Can you help her return?” I asked, flicking my eyes to him, where he now sat in the comfy chair next to the bed with his eyes closed.

“Hush, now, and let me see if I can find her.” He said irritably, opening one eye for a second, before closing it again and furrowing his brow in concentration.

The seconds ticked by slowly as his eyes flickered—much like Charleene’s—beneath his eyelids. I began to pace the room, the soft carpet muffling my footsteps as the seconds turned into minutes, which dragged on into almost an hour. I was beginning to worry for his return when suddenly his eyes snapped open and his head flicked to the right. “What happened?” I ask. startled by his sudden animation.

“She’s in danger.” He said, pushing quickly to his feet. Fear flooded through me at his words.

“How can I help her fight?” I gasped, crossing the small space between us quickly and gripping onto his shoulders.

“What?” He asked back, confused.

“You said Charleene’s in danger, how can I help her fight when she’s like that?” I was almost wailing, as panicwhich, until recently,I hadn’t felt since I was human overtook all rational thought.

“Not her, The Ancient,” Donovan clarified, calming my fear, but stoking my rage as once again the Fae is bringing trouble to our door.

“I’ll bloody kill her!” I snarled starting towards the door, but Donovan’s steady hand on my arm makes me pause.

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