Page 69 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

“I've got you,” Jacin whimpered, his voice a broken whisper as he lowered his head to Ally's hair. I wanted to hide from his pain, from the pain that was splitting my heart in two.

“She's breathing.” Dina's assertive voice was quiet as her eyes narrowed on Ally's chest. Following her gaze, I watched as after a few moments it slowly rose.

?“Jace?” I kept my voice low, not wanting to startle him, “Jacin, she’s still breathing.”

Dina edged around behind him as I spoke, ready to catch him. I watched as my words breached the gulf that losing Ally had caused, and ever so slowly, his head tipped down and he stared at her chest. After a couple of minutes it rose again.

?“Guys, I think you should see this,” Dina said.

She was looking behind me, across the snow covered field, and when I turned to see what had captured her attention, a small smile raised the corners of my lips.

?“I told you they would find us here,” I said and hope rose within me, as I turned back and met Jace’s hazel eyes. “Jacin, she’s going to be ok.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I really hope we can trust the Coven… - Charleene

“PLEASE, HELP US!” I screamed into the wind, hoping it travelled across the field to the line of people watching us. The snow was falling faster, making it hard to see them properly as my eyes beseeched them to aid us.

A blur flew past me and the snowflakes swirled, connecting the people to us in a straight line. Glancing back at Jace cradling Ally to his chest, I noticed Dina was no longer standing with us and when I returned my focus to the people I saw her standing before them. She waved her hand violently towards us and I wondered what she was saying to them, as Jace got to his feet.

“Come on,” he commanded, urgency ringing in his dull voice as he stepped up beside us with Ally in his arms, “I need them to save her, she can't heal herself.”

Unable to do anything else, I offered him a nod and began striding across the field. I'd only taken a couple of steps when my hair flew around my face, covering my eyes. When it died down, I found I'd been left to cross the field alone. My heart ached, making it hard to breathe as I felt slightly abandoned. I knew that's not the case, but it still hurt that no one walked beside me. The line of Witches congregated around Jace as he reappeared before them.

I let my tears fall, feeling a little selfish that they weren’t solely for Ally, however I couldn’t help that little voice of doubt from telling me that no-one wants me. Years of being abandoned would do that to you I guess. I sniffed as a cold hand slipped into mine, making me jump as Dina materialised next to me.

“Ally will be ok now.” She said, misconstruing the reason for my tears. I didn’t correct her, but I felt a little lighter as she accompanied me the rest of the way towards the Coven that first abandoned me.

Reaching them, I realised there weren’t as many as I'd first thought. A mixture of ten men and women met me with curious stares as I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks and attempted to find my cheerfulness again. But so much had happened so quickly that I failed.

“Your friend will be ok now, our most talented healer is with her.” A kind voice informed me, drawing my attention to a young woman. She had the same colour hair as me, but looked to be a few years younger as I nodded.

“What should we do with them?” A woman who looked to be my own age asked.

“You belong to the Nicnevin Coven?” Dina asked in return, getting straight to the point.

“We do,” the younger woman answered, her brows rising in surprise or suspicion, I couldn't tell which.

“We must meet with your Coven Elders, I'm Adrina, a Huntress of the London Vampire Coven.” Dina explained, making more murmurs rise around us as she continued, “I've been tasked with meeting them.”

“Very well Huntrees Adrina, we shall take you with us. Do you have your own car? Our Coven is not here.” The young woman replied curtly.

“I do.” Dina said, matching her curt tone.

“The injured woman and her partner will travel with Julie, our healer, you two can follow us in your own car. We will drive to Leanach and make our way to our village from there.”

She turned to a man and woman stood beside her to whisper something, and when she turned back to us, they left, jogging back the way they'd obviously come.

“I'll come with you.” The young woman announced, making me uneasy, and I began to question if meeting the Nicnevin Witches was really a good idea.

The drive to Leanach was tense and silent. Part of me worried about Ally and the other part was terrified at the thought of meeting my birth family.What was I supposed to say to them? Hey, I know you didn't want me but here I am.I snarked in my head as my nerves rattled. By the time we pulled through a gated fence which had a sign proclaiming it to be ‘private property.’ My nerves were frayed and my leg bounced uncontrollably, as my heel tapped on the car floor.

“You ok?” Dina questioned as I stood from her low car.

Am I ok?I wondered.

“Just worried,” I said quietly, attempting to swallow down the butterflies that were trying to escape from my stomach.

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