Authors: Ann Lawrence
VirtualHeaven (31 page)
She napped and to pass the time, mended a woolen blanket for
the wise man. Finally, she knew from the shadows cast that it was time.
She kissed the old man on his head.
“Do not be so sorrowful, my child. You are doing what is
best,” Nilrem said, patting her hand. “Kered will do what is best for him,
too.”
“I am doing what is right for Kered. I was wrong to think
one could come and go, or dwell in more than one place. He feels complete here,
so here he belongs.”
“I imagine Kered feels complete wherever you are, child.”
She shook her head. She remembered the look of joy on
Kered’s face when he’d stood on the meadow, surveying the world around him with
new eyes. “Goodbye.” With that, she lifted the latch and stepped out into the
cold night.
The moons were almost in alignment. A flicker of lightning
on the horizon made her hurry to the edge of the mountain meadow. The wind
rose. As in the opening of the game, she stared along the path to the grove of
trees and the way to the Scorched Plain.
He was safe.
He no longer needed her protection.
She no longer wondered why he had thrust her away. He had
known there was no place for her in his world. She hung her head and hugged the
engraved knife to her chest. Even without Derek to draw the game, Tolemac still
thrived and moved on. And so must she.
A shower of pebbles made her head jerk up. Her breath
hitched in her chest. The sound of a boot on the loose stone of the path made
her heart swell. He climbed the rocky hill, each foot placed deliberately. She
heard the crunch of stones beneath his soles, heard the sigh of the wind in the
trees. The sweet scent of mountain flowers drifted on the breeze.
Kered came straight toward her.
Maggie flew into his arms. He hugged her close, then wrapped
his arm about her waist. The heady taste of his kiss told her all she needed to
know.
“Hold me tightly,” he said, his gaze locked to hers.
She hugged him close.
The orbs aligned.
His sword sang from his scabbard. “Where you are, Maggie,
there I must be.”
A ball of fire lit the sky as his sword traced an arc
against the heavens.
Award winning author Ann Lawrence writes both historical and
paranormal romance with strong heroes and equally indomitable heroines. Her
books reflect her love of English history and Arthurian legend. But whichever
genre Ann chooses, she likes to include a puzzle for her readers to solve. Ann
loves hearing from her readers.
Ann welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website
and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
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Ann
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Virtual Heaven
ISBN 9781419946288
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Virtual Heaven Copyright © 1999, 2013 Ann Lawrence
Cover design by Dar Albert
Cover photography by SeamnartiniGraphics, Lynel, gOrZh, tankist276/fotolia.com
Electronic book publication July 2013
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