Page 64 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

“I know that, but where?” I tried.

Again she took a while to answer, “Uncertain; they have been near Edinburgh, near Fife, near Glasgow, near Glencoe, near Glenfinnan and many other places but never straying across the Scottish border.”

The answer was unhelpful, giving me numerous places to search, “Why can they not be found?” I asked, trying to change tactics.

“Magic clouds them, protects them, until they choose to move.” Carol intoned, before drawing in a noisy breath and her eyes cleared along with the smoke inside the bowl. “They are using magic to conceal themselves, even the fates can not find them at the moment.” She explained further, “They obviously do not want to be found.”

“But why?” The question slipped out as any hope I’d held onto vanished like a candle blown out by the wind.

“Who knows, but I can narrow your search down a little; Glasgow flashed in my vision more than once as did Inverness. Maybe those are favoured areas for them.”

“Maybe, thank you for your services.” I said, wanting nothing more than to get home to Charleene.

“A pleasure as always Adrina,” Carol said sarcastically, she hated my visits, “Please see yoursen out.”

With a nod, I did just that and sped all the way back to my own townhouse.

I’d lain awake all night, laying next to Charleene and holding her hand, pondering where it would be best to start our search. I didn’t know how much longer Charleene would remain attached to our world, even if we still had four days left on Gladys’ spell. I heard Ally’s soft footsteps on the hall landing as she padded past my closed door. She’d already been in bed when I returned and Jacin had been snoring on the sofa downstairs. I tuned out their voices as they greeted each other in the kitchen, but it wasn’t until I heard my coffee machine beeping that I dragged myself from beside Charleene. Leaving her with a gentle kiss on her forehead I slowly made my way downstairs.

“I was hoping it might rub off on you, but clearly not.” Jacin’s voice was quiet as I tread lightly on the stairs, “The coffee’s really good by the way, Dina has an awesome Nespresso Machine.” I heard, confirming my observation that he was touching my stuff, damn Fae.

Jacin passed Ally a steaming cup of coffee. The rich scent of the beans filled the air and I inhaled deeply as Ally asked, “Have you spoken to Dina this morning?”

“No he hasn’t.” I declared, making Ally jump a mile in the air—how she managed not spilla drop, was beyond me.

Clutching the cup to her chest they both spun to face me. “So what happened last night?”

“I managed to speak with a couple of my contacts in the city. The Scottish Coven has been persecuted, more than any other throughout history, but stories have circulated over the years. We’re going to Glasgow today." I explained slowly.

"Why Glasgow? I thought the witches were supposed to be here?" She replied, a small frown forming above her eyes.

"There have been rumours of a Witch's Coven up near Glasgow," I snapped.It’s too damn early for her hundreds of questions,I think to myself, heading to the fridge and grabbing out one of the blood bags I had stashed in there.

"Seriously, is that blood?" Ally’s voice dripped with her disgust as I grabbed my favourite cup from the cupboard.

"What else would I be drinking?" I said, my tone flat and watched happily as her mouth flapped about like a fish. I squeezed the thick red liquid from the bag, making sure I didn’t spill a drop, before putting the cup in the microwave and warming it.

"So when do we leave?" Jacin asked, shaking his head at Ally, as I threw the now empty bag into the rubbish bin.

"In an hour," I said, already bored with the conversation as the microwave beeped and I grabbed my lukewarm cup of blood and left them alone.

It wasn’t not long before I heard Ally stamp her way back upstairs and across the landing. Before the door, to what I’m assuming is my guest bedroom, shut with a click and I heard her muffled,"For fuck sake."

Sipping my blood, I savour the taste of it, shuddering at the foul stuff I’d drunk last night. Donated blood wasn’t the same as fresh blood, but it was a damn sight better than that drugged up loser’s. My gaze watched Charleene, counting each rise and fall of her chest to mark the time I’d given the Fae to get ready.

I listened as Ally packed her stuff and went downstairs, giving them a few more minutes, before I carefully picked Charleene up and grabbed the pillowfrom the bed. I took each step downstairs carefully, listening to the Fae’s hushed conversation.

“Do you think Charleene will ever wake up?” Ally whispered and I couldn’t help myself from responding as I paused in the open doorway.

?“You better pray that she wakes up, because if she doesn’t then…” I began to snarl at her, before Jacin interrupted me.

?“Don’t finish that sentence unless you want a fight!” He snarled with a cutting glare at me.

“Whatever, we’re taking my car.” I informed them, walking away.

“What’s wrong with my car?” Jacin’s voice called after me.

“It’s not mine,” I stated, swinging the front door open.

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