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

by Adria Wade

  “You’re right, I don’t understand and yet I’m here trying to save your ass. Make me understand. I’m finally ready to listen.”

  “I have never had so many strong feelings for anyone until I met Lucas. Lucas and I, we were meant for each other. I fell in love with him the second our eyes met. I had no control over it, in fact, I tried my hardest to stop my feelings for him. I tried to stay away from him, but I couldn’t stand to be away from him for too long. When I’m not with him I feel so lost and I feel like a part of me is missing. Chelsea, he isn’t a monster like you think. He is just like us. He is sweet, and funny, and he has empathy for others. Yes, he feeds on humans, but that is his only way of surviving.”

  “Don’t you think that maybe he is manipulating you to bring us hunters down. What if he only wants you for your blood?”

  I shook my head. “No, you are wrong. He can heal with his saliva, he’s already healed me twice. Instead of giving into the temptation my blood caused, he fought against the urge. He wouldn’t hurt me, he loves me.”

  “I don’t know, Athena. I really want to believe you, but after everything we were taught it’s so hard to trust that Lucas is as good as you say he is.”

  I was determined more than ever to have Chelsea understand that there is good in vampires. I just had to do it in a different way. Empathy, she has to be able to feel what I am feeling. That will get her to understand.

  I laid back and sighed. “Okay, imagine this. Taylor is a vampire and you are in love with him. You agree to go to his world where you are in his home surrounded by a bunch of partying immortals. There is an ex-girlfriend of his there who is all over him trying to provoke you into a fight. When you have had enough of her you attack her. Taylor’s sister comes after you for attacking her kind and you get into this nasty fight with his own sister. Instead of Taylor defending his sister and his own kind, he protects you and even kills one of his own people for you. He takes you to his room where he licks your bleeding cut to heal it. Instead of giving into the blood lust, he walks away and fights to keep his composure. Then you spend the rest of the night laying in the comfort of his arms. If you were in my position, what would you do?”

  Her brows pulled together as she looked down. “I would be in a position where I wouldn’t know what to do. I love him, but I know he is no good for me because of what I am.” She bit down on her lip as she gazed up at me.

  “He really defended you?”

  I nodded. “He snapped one of the vampire’s neck because he was licking my blood up from the floor. He scared them all away so I wasn’t in harm’s way anymore.”

  “I can’t believe that an immortal would do all of those things for an enemy.”

  “I’m not an enemy. He doesn’t see me that way. He’s a good person and he doesn’t do any harm unless he’s provoked.”

  She let out a breath. “This is a lot to take in. We were taught differently then what you are telling me.”

  “If we get out of this mess alive, then you can meet him and see for yourself that he is trustworthy.”

  “Making peace with a vampire? Yeah, that shouldn’t come anytime soon.”

  “You would do it for me though, wouldn’t you?”

  She gave a half-smile and shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

  “Please, don’t make me choose between the two of you, because if you do, you will lose me. I won’t live without him.”

  “You would choose him over me?” She looked hurt, surprised even.

  “If I asked you to choose between me and Taylor, who would you choose?”

  “That’s not the same thing, Taylor isn’t a vampire.”

  “Sure it is, answer my question.”

  “That’s a hard decision to make. We have been best friends since childhood, so it would be difficult to walk away from our friendship.”

  “But I know you can’t live without Taylor.”

  “That is true.”

  “And if I can’t see us being friends if you stay with him, what would you do?”

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I would choose Taylor, but I wouldn’t like having to choose between you two.”

  “Okay, so now you understand why I would choose him over you. There aren’t any hurt feelings still?”

  “No, besides it wouldn’t be fair for me to make you choose.” She stood, leaned down and kissed my head. “I will consider making peace with the vampire. I will let you take your bath in peace.”

  I only hope now that she is able to use what I told her about him and see past him being the enemy. I need her to understand why I betrayed my kind. I need her on my side.

  Chapter Thirty

  I returned to the living room feeling refreshed after my bath. Taylor was laying on the couch while Chelsea kneeled on the floor and cleaned a long, nasty cut on his ribs. He had cuts all over his face and a nasty bruise above his eyebrow.

  He opened his eyes and smiled. “Hey, I have been waiting to see your face, you little rebel.”

  Chelsea chuckled. “After fighting for your life you still have a sense of humor.”

  “Well someone has to lighten the mood. Look at her she looks like she is going to cry.”

  I scowled down at his cut. I didn’t like that everyone’s lives were at risk because of me. My betrayal shouldn’t be everyone else’s problem and instead of facing my father and taking my punishment, I am in hiding while everyone that I love is fighting my battle for me.

  I looked away from Taylor as tears dripped from my eyes. I couldn’t stand to see what I caused. I was the reason he was all beat up.

  “Oh, come on, Athena. I don’t look that bad,” He said softly.

  “Don’t you dare, Bram!” Chelsea scolded.

  I wiped my nose and sniffled. “Don’t what?”

  “Blame yourself. It was our decision to help you. We knew what we were getting ourselves into.”

  I sat down on the couch. “How long do you think we are here for?”

  “Not long, your father will have the hunters searching for you and eventually they will find you.” Taylor said.

  “I need to find Lucas.”

  “Yes, you do because I would like to meet the creature who had Athena Bram turn her back on her own kind.” Kyle said as he walked into the living room.

  Kyle had bandages wrapped around his ribs and his arm was in a sling. I was surprised to see him here, I didn’t think he would be on my side knowing that an immortal killed Julie.

  I stood up and gave him a hug, careful not to hurt him more than he already was. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “Well, I heard that your boyfriend had Julie’s murderer killed, so I have nothing against him. If he was able to win your heart, then he must be decent—well as decent as a vampire could get.”

  “Thank you for helping me.”

  “I would do it again if I had to, besides I like you, so there was no way I was going to let your father kill you.”

  I exhaled. “This was a mistake.”

  Chelsea stood and turned around. She scowled as she put her hand on her hips.

  “And why is that?”

  “Because you are fighting a battle you didn’t cause. You shouldn’t have to pay for my betrayal. I should have stayed and let him kill me.”

  She stormed over to where I stood and slapped me across my face. My mouth fell open as I rubbed the sting out of my hot cheek.

  “Chelsea!” Taylor scolded.

  “Stop talking like that. Nothing you did was a mistake. Loving Lucas wasn’t a mistake and escaping the manor definitely wasn’t a mistake. If you didn’t leave with Isaac, then I would have dragged you out of there. I will not let you die and if I have to die keeping you alive, then so be it!”

  She exhaled and wrapped her arms around me as she cried. “You’re such an idiot for putting me through this. I could have lost you—I still can, and I don’t want to lose you. Besides Taylor, you’re the only family I have. You’re my sister and I can’t let him hurt you.”r />
  I closed my eyes and hugged her tight. It absolutely crushed me to see my best friend break down. She was angry that I put myself in harm’s way, but upset because she almost lost me when I was stabbed.

  I sniffled as my tears dripped on her shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry about all of this. You’re stupid for putting yourself in danger because of me,” I cried.

  “She slaps her, but then she hugs her…I don’t think I understand what just happened here.” Kyle said.

  “You’re a guy; you will never be able to figure out the way they work.” Isaac said.

  Taylor sighed. “Girl’s, what are you going to do with them? One second they are all fired up, then the next they’re hugging on each other.”

  “I have to be alone.” Chelsea said as she released me and ran upstairs.

  “Should I go talk to her?”

  “No, she’ll be fine. She’s just tired; she gets cranky when she’s tired.” Taylor said.

  “You forgot emotional.” Kyle said.

  “No, that’s when she has her monthly visit.” He grinned as he opened his arms. “Come to Taylor.”

  I chuckled and kneeled on the floor as he grabbed me and crushed me to his chest.

  “You’re in a chipper mood. That’s kind of unusual for someone who just got out of a battle.” Kyle said.

  “This is Taylor we’re talking about here. He’s always like this.”

  He shrugged. “Hey, I’m happy to be alive.”

  “So am I.” I said.

  The cabin door swung open, my heart leaped into my throat as I jumped up alert and ready to defend myself. My Uncle Nolan and Livi came to an abrupt stop as they stared at me in shock. Okay, I’m a little tense, why should that shock anyone considering my father is out hunting me down, determined to kill me.

  “Relax, your father isn’t going to find you here,” Taylor assured me as he grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  “I made sure we weren’t being followed.” Nolan said.

  Livi gave a half-smile as her eyes filled with sympathy and flooded with tears. She ran over to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight, comforting embrace “I’m happy you’re okay. Your Uncle and I got out of there as fast as we could.”

  “I actually need to talk to my Uncle.”

  His brows raised. “What about?”

  “My mother.”

  He scowled down at the floor. “You want the truth.”

  “I know you know the truth. I need to know what really happened.”

  “Well, I thought she was killed by a vampire.” Kyle said.

  “That is the story Aaron wanted everyone to believe. Would you prefer to talk in private?”

  I took a seat next to Taylor. “Here is fine.”

  Taylor nudged me in the side with a worried look on his face. “When was the last time you ate? You look like you have lost weight.”

  “I did lose weight…too much weight. I’ve had a rough week—more like a rough couple of months.”

  “I know all about those rough couple of months. You looked dead walking around the damn manor.”

  “You have to eat. I will whip something up for everyone.” Livi said as she made her way to the kitchen.

  “I want to know everything, don’t sugar coat it to protect my feelings.”

  Uncle Nolan sighed. “You’re going to hate me for not telling you sooner.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Your mother fell in love with a vampire and was turned. She didn’t die, she just left.”

  My mouth fell open as I gazed at him in disbelief. “Please, tell me you’re lying.”

  “Your father told everyone that a vampire had killed her because to him, she was technically dead. He believed that once she was turned, her soul was poisoned with evil and died. He created your reapers to take vengeance over the loss of his wife.”

  So much hurt drowned my insides. She met someone else, then decided that she didn’t want my dad or me anymore. How could she just walk away from her family? She never really loved me. I wondered about her all the time when I was a little kid. I loved her, and missed her. I missed out on getting to know her because she chose not to be there. She decided not to be a mom and it angers me and saddens me all at once.

  I looked down with my chin quivering and my tears dripping from eyes, staining my pajama pants. I shook my head and stood as I walked over to the window turning my back on everyone in the room. “Why did he keep this secret from me?”

  “He didn’t want you to go looking for her. Keeping the truth from you was his way of protecting you from her. He felt he had to protect your soul. He didn’t want her contaminating your body with her venom.” Isaac said as he cautiously walked toward me.

  Glowering at him, my clenched fists shook as I fought the urge to punch him. He knew this whole time and didn’t tell me.

  “What’s your excuse?”

  “I didn’t want to see you hurting over someone who didn’t deserve your tears.”

  “You knew how important she was to me. You knew I always wondered about her. At one point you were my boyfriend and you should have told me regardless if it hurt me.”

  He reached out to me, but I smacked his hand away. “No.”

  “Don’t be angry,” He pleaded.

  “I’m not angry at you. I’m disappointed.”

  I shoved past him and ran upstairs. The floor creaked as I walked the hall and entered the first room I saw.

  Surrounded by darkness, I broke into tears as I slid down the door and onto the floor. As my tears slid down my warm cheeks, I let all of the anger and sorrow that darkened my heart flow right out of me.

  Light suddenly flooded the room as I quickly wiped my tear-stained face and neck. Chelsea was sitting up in a king size bed brushing her unkempt hair away from her face as her tired eyes gazed at me.

  “I’m sorry; I didn’t know you were in here.”

  She yawned and patted the spot beside her. “Come sit and tell me what’s wrong.”

  I crawled on the bed and laid my head in her lap as she ran her fingers through my hair.

  “I just found out that my mother is alive.”

  “I thought she was dead.”

  “She’s a vampire. My father told Isaac but kept his secret from me.”

  Chelsea sighed. “Your father is one pathetic bastard. I can’t believe he would keep this from you. Don’t cry over your mom, Athena. She isn’t crying over you. She didn’t even care for you when she left.”

  “I have to find my mom. I have to confront her for what she did to me.”

  “If that will bring you peace, then go find her, but take Lucas with you so she doesn’t bite you.”

  Chelsea gasped as she jerked her hand from my hair yanking my head back with her hand. I winced as I sat up rubbing my head. “What was that for?!”

  Her blue eyes faded as the orange took over. Those eyes of hers showed fear as she stared at someone behind me. I jumped up from the bed, turned around and gasped as Lucas stood before me smiling.

  “You found me!”

  I ran into his arms and buried my nose in shoulder inhaling his cologne.

  For the first time in a long time I cried tears of joy. After everything I was going through, I needed him beside me and when he couldn’t be—even though I had my family supporting me—he was the missing piece that would keep me glued together.

  I turned to face Chelsea. “You don’t have to be afraid. This is Lucas.”

  “I’m not afraid; I’m just…a little stunned.”

  She wouldn’t admit it if she was afraid, but I know I saw the fear in her eyes.

  She opened the bedside table and took out a pocketknife.

  “What are you doing?” I said warily.

  I pushed Lucas back as I stood in front of him ready to protect him. “I need your hand.” She held out her hand.

  “Why?”

  “I have to see for myself if he is as good as you see him.”

  “
Fine.”

  I placed my hand in hers flinching as she cut open my palm. As my blood scent lingered in the air, Lucas gasped and stepped away from me with wide, hungry eyes.

  “I want to see you heal her.”

  “I haven’t fed yet.”

  “This is the only way she is going to be able to trust you.”

  He looked down at my wound, battling with a decision. Should he taste my blood even though there was a possibility that he wouldn’t be able to resist his urges, or should he stay on the safe side? The blood scent of everyone in the house is a distraction enough.

  He grabbed my wrist and licked the blood from my cut. I winced as the contact left my wound stinging. He released me and turned away resting his head on the wall and screwing his eyes shut, determined to keep control over his urge.

  “See, he heals me.”

  Chelsea gasped and grabbed my hand as she watched his saliva close my cut.

  “You weren’t lying…everything you said was true.”

  “Of course I wouldn’t lie to you. Do you trust him now that you have seen for yourself that he isn’t after my blood?”

  She closed her eyes and nodded as if it pained her to actually trust a vampire. “Yes, I can…for you I will trust him.”

  I turned to Lucas. “So you haven’t fed. There are a lot of people downstairs.”

  “I ate earlier, but I’m hungry again. I didn’t have time to stop and catch my prey.”

  Chelsea scoffed and shook her head. “I don’t want to know when you last killed someone. That information is not going to help with the borderline trust issues I have here.”

  Lucas smirked as amusement lit up his eyes. “It was a five star meal, the best I have ever tasted.”

  Chelsea’s jaw fell open as she looked at me. She didn’t expect him to be so blunt or even reply back in a joking manner, as if vampires shouldn’t have a sense of humor.

  I gave her an apologetic smile. “I was just like you when Lucas and I started dating. I don’t particularly like what he has to do, but it comes with the package deal.”

  “Are there any more blood lusting creatures expected to just pop up here? I would love to know so I can prepare myself. It saves me from having a damn heart attack.”