Forsaken (book 3) (The Charmer series) (8 page)

"We should get cleaned up," I tell them and receive nods in reply.

Walking back to the house, with my hand still on the back of my neck, Angus's stops me from following the others by taking hold of my waist and pulling me to him.

"I'm proud of you sweet," he tells me with a gleam in his eye.

"I know," I smile to him with appreciation.

"He bit you!" He raises his voice, and his eyes glow magnificently.

"Oh, uh, yeah," I tell him trying not to make a big deal out of it.

Turning to face the dead bodies that linger on the ground, he does something that I would never have know he could. With his rage alone, he manages to set the bodies on fire, a twisting, powerful flame takes hold of each body and scorches it to dust.

Surprised by his power to do this, I gasp loudly,
which gets his full attention.

"They will all pay!" He warns
, his eyes still the vibrant red.

"They will," I agree with him wholly.

I have never been a violent person, but that soon changed after coming here, meeting the Brothers’, Richard and now Demitri. He thinks he can kill my mate, then call to me as if I'm an object, but he will now know that it's not so easy, I will fight back and more so, I will seek revenge for his actions.

"Don't leave my side Zara. I can help you, be by your side, but will never push myself onto you," he says with passion.

I know what he means, he doesn't want my love, not as a lover. Where some of the others fight for my attention, he doesn't, he knows that I want Ruk and he respects that, which I respect him for. He doesn't play with my emotions, never has.

"Same goes for you Angus, always," I smile up at him and hug his side.

While we walk back inside the house, Dallah has disappeared leaving the three of us to sit at the table in silence as we ponder over what has just happened

Moments later Dallah appears before us with my father. Just as I’m about to open my mouth to speak, the air around us changes and his head lifts high, and with a tone I do not recognise, he speaks to me but looks behind me.

Thinking someone is there, I tur
n in my seat to see, but no one is there, so when he speaks it makes me jump.

"Where are they?" He asks

"Dead."

"Who were they sent by?"

"Demitri. What's wrong, you're freaking me out?  I ask with caution, as I have never seen him look so powerful, so god like with his huge frame and his air of authority.

Finally meeting my eyes, his show sadness and regret.

"I failed you again," he says laced in hurt.

"What! No! How were you to know they would be here? We are fine, look," I tell him with a strong nod of my head.

"Stick together, there is more trouble heading your way.” He warns us.

"We will," I tell him sincerely which makes him noticeable relieved.

"I will heal your wound, then I'm afraid I have to leave you," he tells me as he comes to stand beside me to kiss my head. "Keep them safe," he tells the men, meaning Dallah and me.

"Always," Angus and Sallack reply in harmony.

Nodding his head to them, he then places his large hand on the back of my neck, and a feeling of bliss travels through me, leaving me calm and feeling blessed.

"I still think you should come home?" He asks with hope.

"No, I'm sorry, my place is here," I tell him apologetically as I know he wishes for me to give up and live a safe life, but I will not give up on Ruk, no matter what is sent my way.

"Stubborn girl," he jokes, and gets '
yep's' from the three of them in return.

Rolling my eyes, I step up from the table and kiss his cheek as a goodbye, and just like that he disappears.

"Meet back down in 10 minutes?" Dallah asks.

"Yeah," I agree as do the others, because we need to get changed and cleaned from the blood before we head over to the club. Hopefully this time we don't fall under attack!

Chapter 8

Standing at the bar in the club with Dallah, she nudges me suddenly, causing me to look around, and that when my eyes lock with Ruk. He looks scared, why would he look at me this way? The one person that worships his existence.

Down casting his eyes, I look to Dallah, and with a nod of my head she instantly understands that I wish to sit at the table with the Brothers’.

The Brothers’ have had their eyes on Sallack and me all night, with looks of confusion, but mostly sympathy, wasted sympathy, but what are they to know.

"Hey babe, where you been all day?" Den asks scanning my face.

"Oh just at home with Dallah. How was work?" I ask with a weak smile.

I asked Den last night if he wouldn't mind staying with the Brothers’ as I needed to be alone, but that was a lie, Sallack, Dallah, Angus, and I sat up all night speaking.

"You ok, you look tired?" He smiles and lays his hand over mine.

Inside, I want to cry, tell him the truth, how fucked up this all is, but I can't.

"I'm ok, thank you for caring," I squeeze his hand gently.

He releases as small growl, and stares at me so deeply that I find myself needing to look away.

"What has he done?!" He shouts angrily whilst jumping from his chair standing tall.

"I don't know what you mean?" I say as I stand quickly and rush after him.

"You!
What have you done to her?!" He growls viciously at Sallack.

"Den!
He has done nothing, I promise," I tell him with need for him to believe my words.

"Someone has hurt you, I can see it in your eyes, your voice," he asks in a gentler tone.

"Can we talk outside?" I ask looking him in the eye, silently begging for him to not make a scene.

As soon as we step outside Den twists me to face him and holds my face in his hands.

"Tell me Zara, no more lies," he asks desperately.

"Please," I cry, wanting him to leave it be.

"No more hiding, that's what you told me. Let me in, something’s happened to you, I know I could help you if you let me."

"I can't," I sigh and look away from him so that he doesn't see the tears of hurt in my eyes.

The feeling if his fingers running down my spine make my breath hitch and my heart beat wildly.

"I can't remember," he says in a whisper, sounding hurt and confused.

"Den
don't, it doesn’t matter," I tell him, still looking away.

"Ruk,"
he breaths out, "look at me!" He tells me with authority before spinning me to face him, my body slamming against his.

Lifting my chin with his finger,
our eyes lock, and his close of their own accord. Before I can utter another word his eyes lids snap open, and rage plasters his handsome face.

Like lightening, he rushes back into the club dragging me with him.

Stopping at the table of Brothers’, they stand up in fighting mode when they see Den angry as hell, and me dragged to his side looking frightened.

"Dallah, you know? Angus?
Sallack?" He shouts in a hurt tone.

"Den, you don't understand!" I shout from his side, breaking his glare.

"I told you this would happen. You should have gave me the chance, can't you see that I am the one! How can you not see it?!" He questions passionately.

"That's not fair."

"No, but it's true," he stands before me and places his hand on my cheek and whispers gently, "look at him, he hasn't got a clue, and he told you he would never hurt you," he finishes by stepping behind me so that I can see Ruk, who has Mary hanging off him like a love sick puppy.

"So did you, you are hurting me right now Den, so bad," I tell him and turn in his arms to face him.

"Why don't you tell him then, make him remember?"

Closing my eyes I lay my head on his chest and let the tears fall. His fingers brush through my hair and his grip tightens whilst he whispers again.

"Forget him and be with me. I don't want Candy, I never have, you know that. The baby will understand I'll make sure of it."

Lifting my head to look him in the eye, I take a step back from him and bang into the chair behind me.

My heart beats in my ears and my hands go sweaty. Inside my heart, buried deep, are my feelings for Den and his words just then made them crash down on top of me. Somewhere in my heart I want him, want to leave this fucked up life and go to him like he so desperately wants me to, and I know why I feel that way, it's because I haven't had Ruk close to me, letting me know that he still loves me. I have had to see Ruk with Mary, and even though in my mind I know it's not true, my heart sees it as deceitful, heart breaking.

"Den, come with me?" Dallah asks him gently; knowing that he has broke whatever spell was on him and found out what has happened to them all.

"We will be an hour tops," she persuades.

"One hour," he tells her, and then looks back to me, "I will tell Candy everything, and give you my life," he
tells me in a serious tone.

"Please stop it
Den, how could I give up so easily."

"Easily!
Look at him, he's alive! Not to mention with another woman, your arch enemy, back from the grave!" He asks me in a stunned tone.

"Everything ok Zara?" Ruk asks from my side, but I don't look at him, I keep my eyes connected with Dens, and nodding my head once to him, he looks to Dallah, silently telling her to take him away so that they can speak privately. Dallah will explain to him of what we know, and what we have found out so far.

"Where were you today?" I turn to Ruk and ask quietly.

"I had to go away and think. I was harsh Zara, to you and to Mary. No matter what feelings I have for you, Mary is the one for me," he explains with sympathy.

Hearing the truth in his words, my knees give way and I tumble to the ground in a heap of nothingness, a shell.

As the Charmer, my emotions are much higher than the average person. My heart l
ongs to find its mate, and without having Ruk close to me loving me, feeling as though our love and bond is broken, my heart is reaching out to his.

"Zara!"
He asks in a panic, and gets to his knees to look me in the eye.

"You did it, you promised you wouldn't," I cry to him in a shaky breath.

"Did what? Promised you what?" He asks sounding thrown off.

"Angus?" I call out; needing to get away from this nightmare I call my life.

As soon as his name leaves my lips, he has me on my feet and is looking at Ruk with raw anger, which isn't fair to Ruk, but I'm sure he is sick of seeing me so broken by these men I think love me.

"You fool!" He spits with venom.

"What is it?" Parrise asks; now standing at Ruk's side.

"Nothing, I need to take Zara home, tell Dallah if you see her," he tells Parrise in a rush before taking me in his arms and making a quick getaway.

When we arrive at my house, we are instantly aware that someone is here, someone that has an air of power, evil.

"Richard?" I ask the hooded figure.

"There you are," he states whilst turning to us and removing his hood.

"What are you doing here?" Angus asks in an irate tone.

"Isn't that obvious, to see dear Zara," he says sarcastically.

"What is it?" I ask numbly.

"There is something you should know about Mary," he says with a grin.

"Right, spit it out then!" I tell him annoyed with his lingering.

"You cannot kill her," he says, again with a grin.

"Richard, for fuck sake, just tell me or leave!"

"Ok, ok, I just love to see you angry, it's a turn on. Right, Mary, yo
u cannot kill her, not without my help. You see as we were bought back together, we have immunity to your powers. You could weaken us, granted, but you could cause no damage. This is where I come in; I will help you for something in return."

"What! How do you know that? Know that I would want to kill her?" I ask with my head spinning a thousand miles.

"That's the best bit, your mother came to me, explained it all to me. As for Ruk, I know he is a weak man, too emotional if you ask me."

"
Well I didn’t! What do you want?"

"Zara, you can't trust him!" Angus shouts in outrage.

"Ruk doesn't remember me, he doesn’t love me! He will mate with Mary, after tonight, his words, I could see it in his heart," I tell him in a sob, saying it aloud hurts more than thinking it quietly, privately.

"Look at her! You would hurt her further!" Angus asks Richard in disgust.

"You know nothing of me. Zara, come with me to speak in private?" Richard asks holding out his hand to me.

Turning to look at Angus, I speak with a shaky breath, as I beg myself to dull the tears, and the thundering heart, and try to think of the positive, Ruk is alive.

"I have nothing to lose, I have lost everything." I tell him in a depressed tone before placing my hand in Richards.

Transported from where we stand, I hear Angus scream my name in anger before I'm stan
ding alone with Richard in the Dark Coven.

Standing in Richard private office in the dark coven, he looks at me deeply, before he speaks,

"You gave up already?" He asks, but not in a hurtful way, more confused.

"No, not given up, just losing strength," I tell him truthfully, shocking the shit out of myself for being so honest with him.

"But don't think for one second I will take shit from you Richard. You heard me right when I told Angus I have nothing to lose," I add.

"Oh I believe you," he snorts a laugh, "but we need to get down to business. I know what you are, who you are, your family," he raises his brow, "so I know that you can, and will help me in return for what I will do for you," he says with a twinkle in his eye.

"Okay...how is it we can help each other exactly," I question him feeling a little apprehensive.

"I will join you in killing Mary, we will accomplish this together. In return I want you to act as my queen, on a gathering I must attend in Paris in one day’s time."

"Why?" I ask taken back.

"I need someone strong at my side, and they do not come as strong, and desperate as you. More to the point, I need you there when I kill my grandfather." He tells me simply.

"What!?
Your grandfather! Why the hell would you want to kill him? And why must you
need
me there?"

"Yes grandfather," he rolls his eyes, "I have to kill him before he kills me, and let me tell you he has
come to close, too many times. For needing you, I need you there to hold off my cousins. You see my grandfather is a very strong Warlock, so my power will be completely focussed on him leaving me venerable to my cousin’s attack. My cousins are nothing amazing, you can handle them, trust me."

"That's just it, I don't trust you,
how could you expect me to?"

"You have nothing to lose remember," he taunts.

I see death has not taken his arrogance away, shame.

"Fine, I'll do it. But I need to trust you will pull through for me first. I will not leave Ruk's life in your hands," I tell him strongly.

"How can I accomplish that dear Zara?" he asks sarcastically.

"Well for one, you need to stop talking to me in that belittling tone, then you can put your hand on my heart and promise me you will help me in return."

"Why on your heart?" he asks with a frown.

"Because yours is too weak," I tell him with my head held high.

"Fine."

He places his hand over my heart, and I then hold my hand over his and watch his pupils grow wide.

"I promise to you that I will be there for you when you need me," he says then raises his brow, silently asking me if it was enough.

"If you choose to deceive me, shall your coven fall to the ground, and all those who worship
it."

"You cursed me!" He asks in shock, snatching his hand back.

"Only if you deceive me, but like you promised, you will be there," I tell him smugly.

He says I cursed him because he heard the truth in my voice, and the anger in my blazing purple eyes when I gave a little of myself to my threat. I needed to make him understand that I'm not playing games, if he wants me to help him, then he
will
help me.

"These men have reall
y had a place in your heart don’t they." He says as a statement rather than a question.

"I have to go. I will come back tomorrow, and then you can explain the plan to me in detail," I tell him and wait impatiently for his reply.

"Fine, don't be late, and be alone. I need you full concentration Zara, this is important, maybe not to you, but it is to me," he tells me almost regretfully.