Forbidden Mate: Awakening

Audrey, for the first time ever, seemed submissive and under a command. She bit her lips and stood back. Surprisingly, Leo started laughing then pushed me forward. He went to her side and whispered, “Don’t touch her.” He gave me one last look before walking back and standing where she once stood.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Sarah rushed to my side,”Are you okay?”

As we stood in front of Audrey and Leo, the atmosphere turned heavy and filled with tension, like a brewing storm ready to fall. It was a crucial moment, one where we had to think and act carefully. Aunt Belinda’s battered face made my insides squeeze and the way Leo casually glanced at it then me made me want to claw at his face. This man was truly a monster. Theo, Sarah, and I were determined to carry out our plan of trading Aunt Belinda, but we knew we had to proceed with caution and be mindful of the risks involved mostly because neither Audrey nor Leo were to be trusted.

Audrey smirked. “Well, well, if it isn’t the brave little trio,” she taunted, obviously sarcastic. “Here to strike a deal, are we?”

Sarah shot back, “You’re now allies with them now, hunh, Audrey? How far gone are you?”

Theo held Sarah so she could stop talking.

Audrey eyed her then rolled her eyes, “You always were the talkative. One more word from you and I’d give you a serious head injury.”

“Just try it bitch and I swear I’ll…”

Theo spoke over her, “What’s happened to you, Audrey?”

“I don’t think I remember you… security guard?”

Theo pursed his lips so I had to intervene.

I tightened my grip on Theo’s arm, trying to steady my nerves. “We’re not here to follow you to exchange words, Audrey,” I stated firmly, “Let Aunt go. She’s innocent in all of this, and we expect her to be released, unharmed.”

Leo leaned against a nearby slab, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Ah, Lily, always the brave one,” he said with a smooth and deceptive voice. “But you see, we have our own terms. If you want your sweet aunt back, you’ll have to do something for us.”

I exchanged a wary glance with Theo and Sarah, their own mirrored in their eyes. We knew we had to play this carefully, not to give in too easily to their demands.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice steady despite the churning emotions inside me.

Audrey stepped closer, her eyes locked with mine. “We want the Ring of Lythian,” she declared and a sly grin curled at the corners of her mouth. “Retrieve it for us, and Aunt Belinda will be free.”

I felt a surge of anger, but suppressed it. I knew if I lost control it would only put Aunt Belinda’s life at risk. How did they come to know of the Ring of Lythian and why did they want it? “And why should we trust you to keep your end of the deal?” I challenged.

Leo chuckled, a cold, calculating sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Because, my dear little wolf, we have something you want as well,” he said cynically. “And once we have the Ring of Lythian, we’ll be happy to negotiate.”

My mind raced as I tried to find a way out of this tangled web they’d set for us. We needed to free Aunt Belinda, but giving in to their demands blindly wasn’t an option.

“But we don’t have the ring,” I replied cautiously, buying ourselves some time.

“Don’t play games with me, Lily.” Audrey said with her glaring gaze, “Besides, we said you should retrieve it not hand it to us, or do you really have it?”

I gulped and exchanged a look with Sarah. I spoke, “We don’t have the means to getting it.”

Audrey grabbed my right arm, “Yes, you do! That journal is with you, isn’t it?”

Leo’s voice made her break away, “Audrey…”

“We need proof that Aunt Belinda will remain alive and unharmed.” I said.

Audrey’s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through me. “Who is that?” She pointed at Aunt Belinda.

Leo conceded. “Isn’t that enough proof for you? Remember, time is of the essence.”

With that, Audrey signaled to her vampire henchmen to bring Aunt Belinda forward to our front. As they untied Aunt Belinda, my heart filled with relief. She seemed shaken and her face was battered but not too hurt, giving us a small glimpse of hope.

I wanted to hold Aunt but Audrey didn’t allow. She instructed the vampires to surround Aunt whilst she went to Leo.

I saw Audrey talking to Leo with anger in her eyes. Something had made her really mad, and I wondered what it could be.

~ NARRATOR’S POV~

Audrey’s voice dripped with venom as she spoke to Leo. “Leo, that journal is with her. I felt it’s energy as I held her arm. She has its power now,” she hissed. “We can’t let her keep it. We need to get it away from her and destroy it before it brings us even more trouble.”

But Audrey knew she didn’t want to destroy it when she gets her hand on it. She just had to tell Leo that.

Leo’s face turned serious, his eyes narrowing as he thought about what Audrey said. They both looked at Lily with disdain in their eyes. Leo responded to her, “Are you sure?”

Audrey answered impatiently, “This isn’t something I would be unsure about.”

~ LILY’S POV ~

At the same moment, Theo dragged me back into a hurdle with Sarah.

He spoke, “Lily, I know you can’t give up that ring even if your Aunt’s life is on the line but we can’t leave here either without saving her.”

Sarah sighed, “We could’ve fought them off but she’d be dead before we hit the first blow.”

I faced down and Theo held my shoulder, “Look, you told me not to call for reinforcements but…that’s our only hope now.”

“Theo, I told you not to-”

“I know. But we don’t have any other choice. We’re outnumbered and Audrey kills within seconds…. I don’t even know.. how…she…” He was lost for words and so were we. We had minimal options but we had to do something, anything.

“But…when are they going to come?”

Suddenly, a vampire was shot in the head. He fell flat beside Aunt Belinda. Leo’s and Audrey’s conversation was cut short and they both looked at us.

Theo and Sarah looked at me then Theo said, “I think they’re already here.”