29
Adrick turned up early the next morning again.
Katja was wearing her modern clothing in preparation for returning to England.
“Can’t I change your mind?” he asked sadly. “Even after yesterday?”
She gave him a passionate kiss and he ran his hands across her body clearly desirous of their love.
“No, Adrick. I don’t belong here. I need to go home.”
Without another word, he helped her onto his horse and mounted up behind her as they’d been doing for the past week and a half. “No matter what, I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent with you,” he whispered into her ear as they rode.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment with you too,” she admitted.
“So, why do you still want to go back to England? Can’t you be happy here with me?” he asked.
She didn’t answer. To be honest, Katja no longer knew. She just knew that she needed to be in England. In her job that was underappreciated and underpaid. She sighed.
Finally, they reached the location of the cave where Adrick and Breyind had found her. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he helped her down. She felt sorry to hurt him as she knew she was doing. Couldn’t he understand? She saw him get back on his horse. She turned and faced the scary cave.
Katja bravely walked into the cave. She looked for the corridor she and Rachel had taken when they came to Velantia, but it was in vain. There was only solid rock. Slightly scared, she came out to see Adrick starting to ride away.
“Adrick!” Katja called out, tears brimming.
He stopped and turned the horse back towards the girl.
“I can’t find the portal!” she said. “Are you sure that this is the right cave?”
“Yes, I am sure,” he answered.
“You stand to benefit if I can’t find the way,” Katja said accusingly with tears in her eyes.
“As much as I want you here, I won’t deceive you, Katja. The portal must be closed.” Adrick hugged her tightly, kissing her. Then he helped Katja back up onto his horse. “As much as I love you, Katja, I would not do this to you… not like this. You must ask Stella. I’m sorry.”
He mounted up behind Katja as she burst out crying. His arms around her seemed not to help. Katja was surprised when Adrick pulled the horse to a stop next to a small shed which appeared to be half filled with straw and hay. Adrick dismounted. Katja saw him go into the shed and sit down.
Katja, surprised, slid off the horse and followed. She sat next to him and looked at him. There were tears running down his face. All she wanted to do was to smother him with kisses, but she didn’t. She just gave him a hug.
“I’m the one supposed to be crying,” Katja told him.
“I’m sorry,” he answered, but the tears continued. It must have been contagious because Katja’s tears returned. She snuggled into Adrick who put his arm around her. “I don’t want you to leave me!” Adrick cried pushing her into the straw and kissing her desperately. His tears mingled with her own, both crying and kissing.
Finally they sat up. “I must get you back to Stella. Maybe she can tell you what we’ve done wrong and you can try again tomorrow.”
Adrick left Katja at the cottage and returned to the castle.
“You are back?” asked Stella when Katja entered the cottage.
“The portal was closed.”
“I wonder why...,” she said almost hintingly. “I was asleep when you came in last night. Come here a moment.”
Katja complied.
Stella waved a crystal around her body. She felt a tell-tale spark from the second chakra, but didn’t let on immediately. “The portal is closed to you for a month now.”
“Why?!” Katja demanded, feeling her anger return.
“I told you, it is temperamental. You will be allowed to take someone to fetch your things to keep you comfortable during the rest of your stay.”
“Thank you, I think.” Katja ran to her room and cried
Rachel saw Adrick return. “Has Katja gone home then?” she asked.
“The portal was closed still,” he answered.
“You must go back to her!” Rachel told him emphatically. “She needs you tonight! It must have been a terrible blow to her. Now is your chance to change her mind forever!”
“You think it is possible?”
“Yes. I still think it is possible for her to fall so much in love with you that she will not wish to go back.”
Katja was still crying when a tap came on her door.
“Someone to cheer you up,” said Stella from the dark corridor who admitted Adrick and then retreated.
“You are still crying?” he asked sitting next to her and drawing her into his arms.
“The portal is closed to me for a month now. I feel homesick.”
“I am sorry that you are homesick,” he sympathized. “But I am glad you are here with me.” He cuddled her comfortingly.
She looked up an accepted a loving kiss which she returned desperately – wondering whether his love could make her feel better – even as she suspected that it was this love that kept her here against her will now. Which would win out? Her head which told her to restrain herself so that she could go home – or her heart which wanted the love of this man beyond all measure.
“I’m sorry for crying earlier,” Adrick said between kisses. “It’s just that I love you so much it was breaking my heart to see you try to go home – then, it was worse because you couldn’t… You were so sad and me being here wasn’t enough for you. I want to be everything you need, but I’m not in England, so I can’t be everything you need.”
Katja could see his tears threatening again and that made her start crying again, knowing how he was feeling. “I’m sorry,” she said kissing him more urgently. “I love you too!”
“But do you love me enough?” he asked. “I can’t live in your world, but you can live in mine – with me – life of luxury. You could visit your world from time to time – but I can’t just visit you.”
“Luxury? What do you mean?” she asked.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” he said. “I will show you tomorrow. It’s sort of against the rules, but it’s time for you to know everything.”
She kissed him gratefully and encouraged his loving embrace. “Sorry it’s such a small bed,” she said as their passion increased again.
“We’ll manage,” he replied as they gave in to lust again.
At the end, he fell asleep in her bed. Still in his embrace, she lay awake wondering what on earth she would do if she fell pregnant. The way the passion came on, there was little thought of the future and every thought of the present, of love and of possession of one another. She wondered and fell asleep and dreamt of babies until she was sure it was a nightmare.
Supplemental Materials
Prologue, map, character list
The Legend of the Sacred Trio
Links to Buy the ebooks
(Note: If anyone knows how to make this table look better in markdown, please comment!)
| Please catch up! | Links to buy |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Birth of the Neví – 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. | Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who through the mysterious “Curator” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva, a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la, a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie, an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna, an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; and Kami, a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| Coming | Soon! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? | Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance - The Neví continue to make a nuisance of themselves, infiltrating the Terrenden Freedom Party who have been winning most elections around the world. Dr. Jarly is still on the run and the Curator still dominates a larger part of the Terrenden stage than most would like to know. What’s more, famous actor, Derick Aiden has decided to release his Neví expose film, causing them to issue a Death Edict on him, forcing him into hiding. In this collection, we meet more interesting women (and revisit some we’ve already got to know.) Kauri, a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry, an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara, a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; Dzani, who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala, the daughter and heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara, one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
Don’t forget!
I’m still offering 1 Steem Basic Income share for any minnow who asks me a question which prompts an “Ask the Author” post! I’m thinking about putting these into a Dbooks ebook all its own, actually.
Image Credits:
Brighid's Blood cover art based on:
- Mountain background shot (on the border of Slovakia and Poland) – PublicDomainPictures.
All three images were under the creative commons licensing, (no attribution required.)
- Shaze picture developed from PXhere
Shaze divider based on:
- Sword image from Wikipedia Commons
All maps/editing by myself on GIMP and Photoscape, both free programs.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Although the penalty of knowing me in real life is that you will influence the creation of my characters; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen – A'mara Books & Viking Visual
