Page 61 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

“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 charmI 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.

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