Read Online Once Forbidden by Hope Welsh - Free Book Online Page B

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.
     

 
    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