Authors: Ann Lawrence
VirtualDesire (33 page)
Vad bowed as he turned to go, but Tol called him back.
“Take this as compensation for the loss of the fortress.”
Tol handed him the small silver ring. Vad closed his fist about it and nodded.
He strode to the tent entrance and took Gwen by the hand. He pulled her out
into the Tolemac sun.
“Come, we need privacy for what we will do.”
Gwen hurried behind him, past the tents, to the river, into
a grove of trees, and still he walked with long strides, almost pulling her
along with an urgency that frightened her.
Finally he stopped. They stood at the edge of a small
clearing. Soft green grass spread like a carpet at their feet.
He placed his hands at her waist. “I watched your hands.
They touched this design over and over as the councilors discussed our fate.
You painted it, did you not? Painted it so you could go home?”
She nodded. “I was afraid of what you would be forced to do.
What your honor might force you to do.”
His bright blue eyes were grave. “We have both had our
moments of distrust. But I tell you now you may always trust in me. I am free
now. I can fight the council for an arm ring for you, or…”
“Or?” she whispered.
“Or we can go where no one has arm rings and begin our own
illustrious line.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, going into his embrace, laying
her head on his chest.
“Aye. I am sure.”
“Not everyone is honorable where I live, either.”
“Then we will be two more to balance the scale. I wish to
see where I was born, where my parents are buried. I want my child to live
without slavery. I want to see you heal the rift in your family.”
She leaned back. “I think we’d be just in time for
Thanksgiving—that’s a festival sort of thing where everyone…gives thanks for
all the gifts they have.”
“I have one gift I must thank your father and mother
for—you.”
Tears ran down her cheeks. A huge lump filled her throat.
“You’re just the man to cook the dinner, I think.”
He brushed his lips across her forehead. “I would be
honored. Do they like eels?”
Gwen laughed through her tears and kissed him hard.
Then he slipped the silver ring on her finger. “Wear this
ring, be my ice woman, call me to you, and I will come.” He set her aside.
Gwen felt her heart pounding in her chest. Vad stood at the
edge of the clearing, his hand on his sword hilt—the sword that meant so much
to him.
The sky was clear. Not one cloud marred its lavender
perfection. She stood on tiptoe and lifted her arms to the heavens. The ring on
her finger grew cold. She turned, twisted her arms, sent a swirl of snow, a
whirl of wind through the clearing. Snow covered the grass, filled the sky,
obscured the sun. Obscured Vad.
Would she ever see him again?
She spun in the world of white, each turn of her body
filling the air with more flakes, more cold. Each lift of her arms intensified
the storm, whipped her dress in sharp snaps against her legs. All around her
the world, every tree, each blade of grass, glistened, sparkled with snow, ice,
and frost. Only her small space was green and warm.
Her ears filled with the howl of the wind; her body shook
with the power of the storm.
Vad stepped out of the glittering snow. His blond hair flew
about his shoulders. He was her warrior.
Beautiful. Sensuous. Alluring.
She put out her hand and beckoned him to her. He came
forward and stepped into her circle of warmth, his hands on her waist, on the
unending design she’d painted on the belt.
“Take us home,” he said.
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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Perfect
Heroes 1: Virtual Heaven
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Virtual Desire
ISBN 9781419946363
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Virtual Desire Copyright © 2000, 2013 Ann Lawrence
Cover design by Dar Albert
Cover photography by rolffimages, Aarrttuurr, Seamartini
Graphics, Lynel/Fotolia.com
Electronic book publication August 2013
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