The Forbidden: A Huntress Novel (The Huntress Series Book 1)

by Adria Wade

  I brought my hand up to my mouth as the bile made its way up my throat. Aubrey was a vampire, she had been in the manor, and she was a part of our world. It was a lie. His love was a lie. I was the bait to bring my father and my hunters down. He had to make me love him to get inside. How stupid could I be to fall for a vampire and think that he actually loved me back.

  I closed my eyes as tears streamed down my face. Lucas, the one that I loved so much had betrayed me.

  I stiffened as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?” He actually sounded genuinely concerned…he was a very good actor.

  I smacked his hand away and stood from the chair. “The paper that you took from me belonged to your sister. You were helping Aubrey this whole time!”

  He closed his eyes and let out a breath as he ran his hand through his hair.

  “Let me explain.”

  I held onto my chest, feeling my heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

  “You manipulated me to kill off my hunters. You never loved me. Everything that we did together, every word you said to me meant nothing to you!” I cried.

  “She didn’t have access to my book. She must have ripped the page out without us knowing.” Violet said.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’m supposed to believe that.”

  “Athena, you were meant to be with me. My love for you is real. Please hear me out before you leave and decide that you don’t want anything to do with me.”

  His eyes were begging and pleading for me to listen, but my trust in him was running thin and I didn’t know what to believe.

  “You don’t have to explain anything because I know exactly what you were planning to do.”

  He placed his hands on my shoulders and sat me back down in the chair as he kneeled on the floor in front of me. “Six months ago I had Aubrey become a reaper to kill off your hunters because you were killing off too many of my kind. Violet had casted a spell on her to make her appear as a human so your kind wouldn’t know who she really was. That was six months before I even knew you were my soul mate. After I found out about you I ordered her not to harm you, but I didn’t trust her to listen so I sent Brody in to protect you from her.”

  My mouth fell open in shock. “Brody?!” I said in disbelief.

  “He’s my best friend. I needed someone to go inside and keep an eye on Aubrey to keep her from hurting you. She became obsessed with killing you. She knew you were the best huntress. She thrives off of a challenge and attempting to kill you would have made the ultimate challenge for her. She was saving you for last until you pissed her off by asking Brody out. She has always been interested in him and she felt threatened by you. You were taking someone that belonged to her and she couldn’t let that happen. Brody told me that you were next on her list so I had him kill her. Please, believe me. My intentions were not to hurt you. I really do love you and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Now that I know who Brody really is to Lucas it makes me feel horrible about what happened between us. I feel obligated to tell Lucas that I almost had sex with his best friend when we ended our relationship. It will matter so much more to him because Brody is his best friend. He trusted him with me. I had to tell him, but I wouldn’t do it now. I’m not ready to fight with him again.

  I wiped the tears from my face and shook my head. My head was spinning and I just wanted it to stop. “I don’t even know if I can believe you. This is so bad. Why didn’t you tell me after you met me?”

  “It was too late. Aubrey was already in too deep and I was afraid of losing you if I told.” Putting his hands on either side of my face, he wiped my fallen tears away with his thumbs. “Why would I send Brody to protect you from Aubrey if I didn’t love you? If I was trying to manipulate you to get my vampires inside your manor, I would have let Aubrey kill you in a heartbeat. I had Brody kill her for you.”

  He was right. If he didn’t love me then it wouldn’t have been wise to keep me alive. I was a greater threat than any hunter in the manor. He went out of his way to make sure that I was protected and even killed his own people when they posed a threat against me. You keep the one that you love safe and make sure that they are taken care of. Lucas was doing those things, he just had to pull it off in a very risky situation. I don’t like that he was going behind my back and continued to operate his plan after he met me, but he did what was necessary for his own kind. I understand what he was doing now and I would have done the same if I was put in his position.

  I sniffled and wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “Okay, I believe you.”

  He let out a breath as relief washed over his face. Pulling me to my feet, he cupped my chin and claimed my lips. The chill on his lips melted away as my warm mouth touched his. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body against his.

  “I should leave if you guys plan on taking your clothes off.”

  I jumped and broke the kiss as my cheeks warmed in embarrassment.

  “Sorry.”

  “I’m not ready to let you leave yet, so I’ll give you two choices. You can either drink that potion Violet is stirring and go back home to get away from me for a while, or you could drink another potion that will make us invisible so we can save your friend.”

  Despite of what I just found out, I didn’t want to get away from Lucas, and I knew that I had to save Eli from death before it was too late.

  “I choose the invisibility.”

  “I hoped you would.”

  Violet sighed. “And I just finished this potion too.”

  Lucas smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

  She scowled at Lucas as she poured her potion in a glass vile. I wasn’t even sure If I could trust any of Violet’s potions. For all I knew my body would react badly because of the reaper in me, but I had to take that risk. I was determined to save Eli.

  ****

  “Okay, so I was thinking that you guys could take both potions. That way you won’t have to take the long way back to the manor.” Violet said.

  We all stood in the kitchen as Violet placed four potions on the table. Two of each were filled with an orange and black liquid.

  “Fine with me. Athena, I know you are reluctant to drink her potions, but it will do you no harm. I promise.”

  I gave a half-smile. “I will do whatever it takes to save Eli. Even if that means putting myself in an uncomfortable situation.”

  He smiled and turned his attention back to Violet. “I need you to set up a room for him. He will have to go through the change here, so we are all in for a rough night.”

  “Sure, I have everything covered here. You guys just focus on getting out of there without drawing any attention to yourself. Which reminds me.”

  She pulled out a small glass tube filled with black liquid. “This is the invisibility potion, put this in his system so you can carry him out unnoticed.”

  She handed us the potions and grinned. “Have fun breaking the kid out.”

  “Something tells me it won’t be as simple as I would like.” I said.

  I exhaled, tipped my head back, and let the black liquid fill my mouth. I covered my mouth as I choked the potion down. It was really disgusting and I was afraid my stomach would reject it instantly. Lucas looked at me with a disgusted look on his face as he forced himself to swallow it.

  “That was foul.” I said.

  “Well, did it work?” Lucas asked.

  “Considering I can’t see you, I think the potion worked just fine.”

  I looked up at Lucas grinning and pressing my finger to my lips. His brows furrowed as he nodded.

  “What are you doing?” He mouthed.

  I tiptoed over to where she stood and yanked her pajama pants down.

  Lucas’s mouth fell open as he quickly looked away.

  She gasped and looked at me in shock before pulling them back up while I laughed.

  “There are some things a brother shouldn’t see. Violet in her thongs is one of them.”

  “That’s not ap
propriate behavior, Bram!” She hissed.

  “Oh, I just needed a good laugh before I left.”

  “If I could see you I would gladly punch you in the face.”

  “Then it’s a good thing you can’t. By the way, I love your thongs.” I teased.

  Her cheeks flushed as she folded her arms and looked down. “I feel violated.”

  “You should.” Lucas said.

  “Okay, after I drink the next potion what do I do?” I asked.

  “Say the location you desire in your head, or out loud. It doesn’t matter which one.” Violet said.

  “What should I say?” Lucas asked.

  “The hospital wing.” I answered.

  Gulping the last potion down, I wiped my tongue off on my shirt in an attempt to get rid of the horrible aftertaste. This potion was worse than the first. I closed my eyes and repeated my destination in my head until I felt a gush of wind hit my face. Opening my eyes, Lucas and I were standing in the hospital wing.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The wing was filled with patients from the battle that took place two weeks ago. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Reed, were busy taking care of the patients in the next room and I hoped they stayed occupied until Lucas and I could bust Eli out of here.

  My Uncle Nolan and Livi weren’t here yet. It must still be too early in the morning, which means every hunter and huntress in the manor is still asleep.

  I was struggling inside. I was aware that I was forcing immortality on him and choosing his fate for him. Apart of me wanted to walk away because of this, but the other part knows that him becoming an immortal would give him life. I had to go through with this.

  I stood by Eli’s side and grabbed his hand. “Please, don’t hate me for what I am about to do. It’s the only way I can keep you alive. Forgive me.” I leaned down and kissed his cheek.

  Lucas took the tube out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Are you okay doing this? I could do it for you.”

  “I can handle it.”

  I opened the tube and pulled his mouth open. The liquid filled his mouth as it slid down his throat.

  “It’s my turn now.”

  I nodded and stepped back as he walked over to my side. He grabbed his arm and brought his wrist up to his mouth. I looked away as Lucas bit into his flesh infecting him with his venom.

  I started to unhook him from the machines to busy myself while Lucas sucked on his blood. I was trying to keep my mind occupied so I could try to ignore the fact that my friend was being turned, but it did no good.

  I glanced his way and bit down on my lip. I was beyond nervous. I didn’t know how much Lucas was drinking and I was afraid his urge to feed would be too powerful for him to keep his self-control.

  Lucas’s eyes widened as his hold on Eli’s arm tightened. He was drinking too much.

  “Stop, you’re going to kill him!”

  He squeezed his eyes shut as he released his fangs from Eli’s skin gasping and holding his mouth as he stepped back.

  “How come he hasn’t responded to the venom?”

  “His body is still in the beginning stage. The venom hasn’t taken over his body yet, but when it does he will react. We have to get him out of here before he does.”

  Lucas picked Eli up out of the bed and we walked out of the hospital wing and into the elevator in a haste. The manor was quiet and dark as we walked into the foyer. I gasped and grabbed Lucas’s arm as my father ran down the staircase and went straight to the elevator. The doctor’s must have realized that Eli was gone and contacted him.

  “We have to get out of here. My dad will have every hunter in this manor alerted and out looking for the person who took him.”

  The minute we stepped outside Eli began to scream. My stomach twisted in fear as I placed my hand over his mouth trying to silence him. This was the last thing we needed, surely every reaper in the manor could hear his screams.

  “The venom is taking over. Get on my back,” Lucas demanded.

  “What? Why?”

  “Do it now!”

  I jumped on his back and wrapped my legs around him as he flew into the sky. Looking back, I could see the manor door swing open and the hunters run out in search of Eli.

  The sun was just coming up as we sped across the sky. The wind whipped across my face taking my breath away. I tucked my face in his back and took a deep breath in. I could hear Eli screaming in agony as he moved about. Lucas struggled to keep him in his arms and steady his body as my legs and hands slipped from his body.

  I gasped as I wrapped my arms around his neck struggling to wrap my dangling legs around him. I was aware that I was depriving him of oxygen, but I was afraid to let my hold on him go. Not only was gravity fighting against me, but the pressure of the wind was determined to knock me down also.

  “Lucas!” I cried out.

  He slowed down and flew over top of the trees as the waterfall came in sight. He gripped Eli with one hand as he reached behind him and grabbed my shirt.

  “Let go of my neck!”

  “Are you crazy?”

  “I have you, just let go!”

  I closed my eyes as I let go of his neck and gasped as he pulled my tense body to the front of him. He lowered us farther down positioning us right in front of the waterfall.

  He threw me in the air. I screamed as my body flew into the water and hit solid ground. I went tumbling in the wheat field stopping just a few inches away from Chester who jumped to his feet and ran off.

  Lucas appeared holding Eli who was shaking and foaming from his mouth. He laid him on the ground and turned him on his side. I didn’t know much about the changing process, but I was certain that having a seizure wasn’t supposed to happen.

  “What’s happening to him?”

  “His body is reacting badly to my venom.”

  “What should we do? We have to do something!” I said in a panic.

  Turning him into a vampire was my last resort and if the venom cannot give him immortality then he will die. I wasn’t ready to accept his death when my father wanted to take him off of the machines and I am still not ready to accept his death now.

  “I don’t know what to do. This isn’t supposed to happen. It has to be his reaper. The liquid that your Uncle injected in him is resisting the change. His body is fighting it and I can’t do anything. He is either going to live or die, it’s up to his body now.”

  Eli’s eyes snapped open, and then slowly closed as his shaking body stabilized.

  Lucas felt for his pulse on his wrist. “He’s alive.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “We should get him to your house.”

  “Yes, we should. He’s going to need my blood soon.”

  He picked Eli up and carried him to his house. As weird as it was to even think, Violet and Lucas’s home was now Eli’s home. Violet was already holding the door open as we entered the house. She must have sensed us the minute we arrived.

  Lucas laid him on the couch in the sitting area. “I have a room set up for him.” Violet said.

  “The couch will do for now. I have to keep a close watch on him. He isn’t taking the transition well.”

  Lucas pressed his hand on Eli’s sweaty forehead. “He’s burning up.”

  Violet shook her head. “That’s not normal symptoms to have during the changing process.”

  “This isn’t a normal person. A human can’t fight off the venom because it totally immobilizes the immune system, but I am thinking when he was turned into a reaper his immune system must have strengthened and is capable of fending off the venom.”

  Violet sighed and shook her head. “If that is the case then it could take days for the venom to weaken his immune system.”

  Lucas looked my way. Sympathy filled his eyes as he gave a half-smile. “Maybe you should go home. I don’t think you should have to see him suffer.”

  “I have to stay. If he doesn’t make it I want to be here to say goodbye.”

  “Vi, would you get a wet cloth for his fore
head, please.”

  “Sure.”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. Wrapping his arms around my waist he brushed his lips against mine before claiming them, kissing me slowly, softly as the butterflies danced around in my stomach.

  “I will do everything that I can to make sure you never have to say goodbye.”

  “Thank you for saving him.”

  He smiled as he ran his fingers up and down my back giving me the chills.

  “I would do anything for you.”

  “Get a room.” Violet said as she placed the cold cloth on his forehead.

  “We just might.” Lucas grinned and winked at me.

  I bit down on my lip as my cheeks warmed feeling the lust and urge to have him build up in the pit of my stomach. I greedily looked him up and down.

  Violet shook her head and laughed as she gazed upon me.

  I put my hands on my hips and pursed my lips. “You caught me looking, didn’t you?”

  “One little wink from my brother and you’re putty in his hands.”

  He grinned and sat down in the recliner beside the couch. “Well, I guess I will be winking more often if it’s such a turn on.”

  I smiled. “Please do.”

  Kneeling by the couch, I laid my head on Eli’s stomach while he slept. He was In for a miserable, painful three days. I will stay right by his side comforting him and helping him the best way that I can until he reawakens as an immortal.

  ****

  I stayed by Eli’s side, kneeled on the floor ignoring my aching knees as I ran my hand through his sweaty hair. I was saying soothing words in an effort to bring at least a little comfort to him.

  He has been groaning and his eyes have been moving back and forth through his eyelids for hours now. The hospital gown he wore was soaked in sweat and he looked deathly pale. I felt so helpless and frustrated, wishing there was something I could do to save him.

  Lucas entered the sitting area holding a glass cup and a knife in his hands. He kneeled on the floor in front of the glass table.

  I turned around facing him and rested my arms on the cold glass. “What are you doing?”