An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter - Thirty Eight

I burst out of the room and threw myself down the stairs before bumping into Yvette. Just as she started to tell me in more detail about the rogues, Acera, Dremos, Leneth and Xandar charged inside, shouting about getting stakes to use and turning all the lights off so as to try and lead the rogues astray.

Acera seized me, pulling me into a crushing hug.

    "I'm so glad you're ok," I gasped, clinging onto him.

His arms held me as close as possible. "If I am hurt, or anyone else, you have to run, Charlie. It's the only option. Here, take these. Get in the car and drive as far from here as possible if necessary." My hand shook, now clasping a set of keys, one of which was for the Ferrari.

  "I'm not going to leave you, Acera. Ever," I told him firmly, eyes fixed on his face.

He closed his lids and pressed his forehead to mine. "You will, if I tell you to."

  "Acera," I warned, voice breaking. How could he say that?

    "Please just..."

  "You two get upstairs and conceal yourselves. The rogues are getting close," Yvette roared.

Within minutes we were in the attic where Matt, Alastria and Ellos lay immobilised, slowly transitioning. We were in the furthest corner and Acera was able to peek past the curtains without getting spotted. He held me to him in a suffocating embrace. Yvette, Dremos and Xandar patrolled the floors below us.

    "Can you see them?" I whispered, barely audible; afraid the rogues could hear my every breath no matter how close they were.

He gave a small, short nod. My grip on him tightened. I gritted my teeth. I was never going to run from Acera if he was injured. I would fight alongside everyone here. I was trained in the field of vampires anyway.

    "How did they find us?" I gasped.

He stroked my hair back and kissed my lips once, ceasing the trembling somehow. "I don't know. We'll get rid of them. We may have to move again, though."

    "Do they work for Violem?"

There was a scream from outside and I clutched Acera to me, wishing for him to just melt into me so I could keep him safe. Acera hissed something under his breath.

    "Who...who was it?"

  "Katria. Dremos has gone out."

    "Shit. Where's the other group? Patria? Carase? Where's Inerra?" I fired, anxiety thick in my voice.

  "Hush," he crooned, pulling me up. I locked my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent to try and contain my abrupt fear. "There're barely any rogues left."

    "How many?" I whispered.

He didn't reply for a second too long.

    "Acera, how many?" I demanded, not caring if I was loud now.

  "Twenty. At most."

I whimpered. "We have to help them. I'd rather die trying to survive than be cornered up here!"

  "Calm down, Charlie," he murmured, pushing me back, gently to the wall so he could hold my face in his hands. I gazed into his amber eyes, feeling immediately reassured.

My lower lip wobbled. "Please. Stay with me, always. Don't go fight them without me. If you run, I run. If you stay, I stay. I can't live without you."