Once Forbidden (The Hunted Series - 1) ((Book One))

by Hope Welsh

  “We need to rest, love. All this practice will wear you out.”

  Sarah nodded and closed her eyes a moment. “Okay.”

  Devlin kissed the top of her head. “Still mad at me?”

  Sarah shook her head. “I was just getting frustrated.”

  Devlin stood up, Sarah still in his arms, and carried her into the dark bedroom. He placed her on the bed and removed his clothes then climbed in next to her. “Try and sleep, love. We’ll talk later.”

  Sarah cuddled against him, her head resting on his shoulder. “This is nice.”

  “Very nice,” he agreed. He hugged her tightly. “Sleep, love.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  Devlin felt her relax against him a few moments later and knew she was asleep. He was exhausted, but his mind was racing. She had learned quickly. There was no doubt in his mind that she’d master her new skills very quickly.

  But he was worried. There was danger surrounding them. He could sense it. Sarah couldn’t—at least he didn’t think she had. He needed answers—but first, he needed to sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was dark when Devlin awoke. He touched Sarah’s cheek softly and she smiled against his fingers when he moved them to her lips. “Hi,” he said huskily.

  “Hi yourself.”

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Rested.”

  He chuckled. “Then let’s get up and see what we can accomplish with finding the Hunter that attacked you, love.” He wanted nothing more than to keep her in bed and love her for hours, but it would have to wait. Keeping her safe was more important.

  Sarah sighed. “I don’t know who he was. How are we going to find him? He was just a man. I don’t even know how he got in the apartment. The door was locked.”

  Devlin jack-knifed into a sitting position. “Explain.”

  She shrugged. “I was in my room and he just walked in the door with the knife. I don’t know how he got it. I suppose he could have broken the locks.”

  “We need to go check, Sarah. And we need to get you some clothes.” He bent to the side of the bed and picked up the robe that had been discarded hours earlier. “Put this on, and I’ll get dressed.”

  He climbed from the bed and dressed in black quickly. He had a bad feeling, but didn’t want to worry her until he knew for sure what was going on. When he was dressed, Devlin took her hand in his. “Just flow with me. I’ll drive,” he said, not wanting to take the chance of her getting lost. “Don’t try to get there yourself.”

  “Okay,” she said, sensing his urgency.

  When they materialized in her apartment, somehow it didn’t seem like home anymore. Everything looked foreign to her. Devlin released her hand and she walked to the closet and pulled out dark clothes, deciding that it was better for night travel. She wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but decided he’d dressed in black for a reason so she followed suit.

  He’d left her in the room, and she heard him cursing. She walked to the living room. “What’s wrong?”

  “No one broke in, Sarah.”

  She frowned. “But how— Devlin, I didn’t let anyone in. I swear I didn’t.”

  He walked to her quickly. “Shh, I know, love. I know. But someone did.” He showed her the door, where the safety chain was still firmly in place.

  Sarah paled. “Oh God, what is going on? Are there vampires trying to kill me? What have you dragged me in the middle of, Devlin?” she asked.

  Devlin frowned. As much as he wanted to blast her for blaming him—she was right. This obviously had something to do with him. The only one who knew that he was with her was Carina. “Carina!” he snapped.

  Sarah frowned. “Who is Carina?”

  “She’s the one that changed me, Sarah. She knew about you. Hell, she told the Elders about you.”

  “An old girlfriend?” Sarah said. “Someone almost killed me because an old girlfriend is upset about me?” She was confused. He’d never mentioned another woman to her—though of course, he’d had lovers over the years.

  Devlin walked to her and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened and he cursed. “She’s not a girlfriend, Sarah. She’s never been my lover,” he said quietly.

  Sarah looked up into his eyes. “But it was a man, Devlin. A woman didn’t attack me.”

  Devlin frowned at that. “It still could have been a Hunter. The Elders have suspected for some time that there were a few rogue vampires with them. A vampire let him in, Sarah. For all I know, it could have been a human she’d entranced.”

  Sarah pulled back from him. “You mean that a vampire can force someone to try and kill for them?”

  “Yes” he said quietly.

  “And you’re sure it was this Carina?” Sarah asked carefully.

  Devlin released her to pace. “Hell, I’m not sure of anything, Sarah—except that I’ll find whoever is responsible. Is there anything you need? We need to keep moving.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I’m staying here, Devlin. I can protect myself.”

  “No, Sarah. You can’t. Not against Carina. She’s an Elder. She’s got more power than you do.”

  Sarah sat heavily in a chair. “Why would she be after me?”

  Devlin knew he’d have to explain to her. “Sarah, Carina saved my life. I was in a carriage accident and near death. She changed me to keep me from dying.”

  Sarah waited, watching him. There was something he wasn’t telling her, she was sure of it. When he said no more, though, her temper frayed. “Well? What did you do?”

  Devlin sighed. “It was years before I forgave her. But I could never be what she wanted. I think she loved me, but I never returned the emotion,” he admitted.

  Sarah laughed bitterly. “But you were angry when I was upset? When you know what it’s like to wake up and…I guess it doesn’t matter now. So, this is nothing more than a woman scorned?”

  Devlin considered that. He’d known Carina for a long time. He couldn’t make himself believe she’d be so viscous. “I just don’t know, Sarah. But I need to find out.”

  “Isn’t there somewhere safe I can go?”

  “No, not until you’ve learned more. You’d be in constant danger. For now, you’ll need to stay with me,” he said. “I’m sorry, Sarah, that you’re in danger now.”

  “So, what are we going to do now? Go find this woman? This Carina?”

  Devlin nodded. “In a manner of speaking. It’s time for you to meet the Elders anyway. For now, we’ll play it by ear. I need to talk to her alone.”

  Sarah stood up and walked to him. “I don’t think I can handle this, Devlin.”

  Devlin took her in his arms and kissed her. “You can, Sarah. Damn it, you walked into a burning building to save the life of a child. You can handle this.”

  Sarah’s eyes darkened with passion for a moment, but she shoved the words away. “I’m not brave, Devlin. I’m not the woman you think I am.” She didn’t know that he’d even known how she’d been burned. “How did you know how I was burned?”

  “We don’t have time for this now, Sarah. We have to go to the Elders.”

  Sarah touched his cheek, relenting. There would be time later for questions and for them to learn about each other. “Are you going to be in trouble for what you did?”

  He laughed. “Do you really think that I care, Sarah?”

  “There’s so much we need to talk about, Devlin,” she whispered achingly. “I feel so confused.”

  “We’ll have time later to talk, love. For now, let’s keep us both safe,” he said. “Take my hand. Don’t think of where we’re going, just let me take you again.”

  Sarah looked at him, and suddenly wished she was clear across the world. She wanted to be as far away from all of this as she could be. She needed time to think. Somehow, she had to make sense of all that had happened to her in such a short time.

  When she opened her eyes, she was totally lost.<
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  Chapter Twelve

  Devlin cursed when he arrived at the Council chambers and realized he was alone. Where the hell was she? He did a mental search, but sensed nothing. What the hell? That had never happened before—not between two connected vampires. He’d taught her to shield—apparently too well. He hoped that was all it was. It was too late go search for her. The Elders knew he was here.

  Hopefully, if he didn’t know where she was, though, no one else would either. He walked to the center of the large room. “I wish an audience,” he said quietly.

  In only a few moments, the Elders were all seated at the large dais.

  “Is it done?” Giles asked.

  Devlin looked at the Elder squarely in the eye. “She did not betray us to the Hunters,” he said firmly.

  Giles frowned and arched a white brow. “And you know this how?”

  Devlin looked at Carina for only a moment. “Sarah was attacked in her apartment earlier. She was stabbed and nearly died. She is my mate now. I have sired her,” he said quietly.

  There was a loud murmur among the Elders. Only Carina remained silent. Giles finally spoke. “It is forbidden.”

  Devlin nodded once. “It may be forbidden, but it has certainly occurred before. She was dying. I had to save her—she is my mate,” he repeated. “I could do no less.”

  Giles studied the younger vampire. “You have made her your mate? She understands what this means?”

  “She does,” Devlin assured him and the others. “She did not betray me to the Hunters. I questioned her, but I also entered her mind when I was teaching her our ways. There was no subterfuge hidden there. I’d have known.”

  Giles frowned. “There is a reason why we don’t mix with humans, Devlin. You know this. The problems it causes far outweigh the benefits.”

  Devlin glared at the older man. “She was in danger before I took her. At least now, she can protect herself,” he snapped. He looked at each member of the Council. “None knew of her outside of this room.”

  That caused a murmur to go through the group as Devlin had known it would. Obviously, there was a traitor among them. It was unlikely that the Hunters had been simply watching one of the other Chosen—although, he supposed, it was possible.

  Giles spoke again, his voice angry. “We were all here with you, Devlin, when this attack occurred.” He hadn’t told them when the attack occurred. That made him wonder if the entire Council knew more than they were letting on. He didn’t want to believe they would all conspire to kill a human just to keep him away from one. Was that even possible?

  “Just know this,” he said quietly, his voice holding threat and promise. “I will find the ones responsible for hurting her and they will pay with their lives—be they vampire or human.”

  “You can not start a war over one woman, Devlin. We are not going to engage in open hostilities with the Hunters,” Giles said tightly.

  “I’m engaging no one,” he said. “Other than the one responsible for hurting Sarah.”

  “Where is this new one now?”

  He wished he knew. “Safe.”

  That brought another angry murmur to the group. One didn’t ignore the direct request of an Elder. “Where?” Giles asked again.

  Devlin smiled. “I sent her on her own. I told her only to remain safe.”

  Giles brushed that away. “If you’ve mated with her, you can find her. Bring her before us, Devlin. We must meet this new child.”

  Devlin wasn’t about to bring her near them until he knew exactly where the threat came from. “I’ve taught her to shield, Giles. I can not find her until she wants me to find her. I thought it the best way to protect her,” he said, assuring the words sounded respectful. Alienating the entire council wasn’t his goal.

  Devlin watched each of the Elders. Of course, they were very adept at hiding their thoughts. At least one of them, though, had betrayed him, and despite the repercussions, he’d have retribution.

  Giles interrupted his thoughts. “Devlin, we can keep her safe.”

  Devlin held his temper in tight rein. “How?”

  “Do not dare to think I will allow your continued disrespect, Devlin. We are allowing a bit of latitude because this woman was hurt. Be careful.”

  “My apologies, no offense was intended. But, how can the Council keep her safe?”

  “We have guards, Devlin. You know this. But we need to see that she is properly trained in our ways now that you’ve broken our laws and sired her,” Giles insisted.

  “I will teach her all she needs to know,” Devlin assured the Elder. “As Carina taught me.” He watched Carina, but she gave no sign of outward emotion at all. He still found it almost impossible to believe she would have betrayed him.

  Carina kept her eyes on Devlin, but spoke to the group. “He has the right to train her, Giles. We can test her, but she is his to train.”

  Devlin was surprised by her support. “Thank you, Carina,” he said formally.

  Carina looked at him for a long moment. “Don’t thank me, Devlin. Go find your lady.”

  Devlin bowed to the Council and left the chambers.

  Where was she? “Sarah!” he called. He’d gone back to his home. He knew immediately that she wasn’t there. “Where are you?”

  He went next to her apartment. Again, he knew immediately she wasn’t here. He’d have sensed her otherwise. Now, he was getting worried. He should have been able to sense her. She hadn’t had time to learn the ways to prevent him reaching her so soon.

  He sat on her bed and concentrated. Where would she go? He knew she had no family at least not that was close. No one had come to her during the time he’d been visiting her dreams.

  Where would she go? Where would she feel safe? He considered other possibilities. Had she gone somewhere and been captured? Or, heaven forbid, gone somewhere that it wasn’t dark? That thought was too terrifying to even ponder. He couldn’t believe that she was dead. Not when he’d just found her. He was too worried to remember for the moment that he’d know if she was injured. She’d be too frantic to shield herself if she were.

  “Sarah!” he called again. “Answer me.”

  Devlin heard it then—the faint whisper in his mind. She was trying to reach him, but something was barring her. He heard his name. “I hear you, love. Can you tell me where you are?”

  “It’s dark, Devlin. I can’t see anything.”

  Her voice was so faint, he had trouble making out the words. “What were you thinking when we left my house, Sarah?”

  Her answer was rueful, which encouraged him. It didn’t sound as if she was in immediate danger at least. “I wanted to be half-way around the world.”

  Devlin made a mental note to spank her bottom for that little bit of idiocy, but for now, concentrated on simply finding her.

  “You can’t, Devlin,” she said very clearly.

  “Can’t what?” he replied, confused. “I’ll find you, love. I promise.”

  “You can’t spank me,” her voice came stronger now, and Devlin smiled.

  “Are you inside or out?”

  “I’m in some sort of a room, Devlin. There are people here…I…I can smell them.”

  “That’s a place to start. Can you hear any voices?”

  “Yes! They have accents!”

  Devlin stood up. “Good, love. Now, close your eyes for me. Think of how much you want to be here with me,” he said aloud and mentally. He wasn’t sure she could get back to him, but it was easier than him trying to gallivant half-way around the world looking for her. “You can do it, Sarah.”

  Sarah closed her eyes and concentrated. She certainly didn’t want to be in this dark room! “Devlin,” she said loudly. “I want to be with Devlin.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said approvingly with a chuckle.

  Sarah opened her eyes wide when she heard his voice. “I did it!”

  “Yes, you did it.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “You scared me, love. I’m still goin
g to spank you for it.” He tightened his hug and kissed the top of her hair.

  Sarah snuggled against him. “I was terrified, Devlin. I didn’t know where I was.”

  “I know, love. I think you were probably in Australia. I’m not sure though.”

  Sarah shook her head against his shoulder. “No, I’d have recognized those accents. I don’t know where I was—but they weren’t speaking English!”

  “It’s okay. You found your way back.”

  Sarah looked up at him. “Did you find out who attacked me?”

  His eyes darkened. “No. But it had to be one of the Elders. Nothing else makes sense.”

  “You’re right, Devlin.”

  Devlin’s head snapped up, and he put Sarah behind him. “Carina.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So it was you,” Devlin said flatly. He glared at the woman he’d called friend for a hundred years. The betrayal was painful in its intensity, but the rage was worse. “Why?”

  Carina looked at him. “You need to go, Devlin, so I can finish this.”

  Now he was confused. “What? What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded angrily. “I’m not leaving Sarah here with you!”

  Carina shook her head impatiently and took a step toward him before stopping herself. “You fool!” she snapped. “Do you really believe that if I could hurt you?”

  Devlin felt Sarah tense behind him. “Don’t move,” he warned her silently.

  “What are you doing here, Carina?” he said carefully. Was that pain he saw in her dark eyes? He didn’t understand. Had he been wrong about her? If she wasn’t here to do Sarah harm then—“Giles? Or one of the other Elders?”

  Carina sat down on the large chair next to the wall and crossed her legs elegantly at the ankles. “Just protect your woman, Devlin. I will take care of the traitor in our midst.”

  Devlin shook his head. He pulled Sarah from behind him. “Sarah, this is Carina. She is one of the Elders.”

  Sarah looked at the beautiful woman. “Hello.”

  Carina smiled. “I see why he is so taken with you. You’re quite beautiful.”