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14. Nicolette
Last Updated:
2021-11-24 20:14:48
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Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 15. Farrow
The boom came from nowhere. It was so loud it seemed to stir the sand dunes and rattle my teeth. Worried the sky was falling or something equally apocalyptic had happened, I hunkered my shoulders, ducking down to avoid certain death, only to realize the man who’d been attacking me with a raised axe remained frozen, his mouth gaping open in paralyzed shock.I frowned up at him, confused, until blood welled from a minuscule hole that appeared in his forehead.“What the fuck?” his comrade whispered before whirling to gape at me as if I’d caused the calamity. But I just shrugged, equally perplexed.So his wide-eyed stare of horror strayed past me to Nicolette who was still behind me. Seeing her, his gaze immediately narrowed.“You,” he snarled, raising his axe.Before he could charge, though, the explosion came again, just as deafening as the first time. But following this report, the front of the attacker’s tunic bloomed red in the center of his chest. He gaped down in fear, patted h
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 16. Nicolette
“Oh God,” I moaned.This felt divine.I tell you, nothing—nothing—felt as good as cleaning in the rocky stream of a small but glorious waterfall after going dirty for nearly a week.Another groan flowed from my lungs as I ran my fingers through my wet hair and rinsed out the scrubbing salts I’d smothered it with. I had used all the salts I’d packed from home, but it was worth it to clean myself.Farrow had rummaged through my clothes before leading me down to the stream so he could pick out appropriate Far Shore garments, as he’d referred to them. So a jewel-blue dress and leather boots awaited me on the shore to change into. But I was hesitant to leave the water just yet. It was simply marvelous here.And cool.The one stream we had at home down in the village of Mandalay was always so warm and temperate. The bracing feel of this water was kind of invigorating and refreshing. It made my nipples harden like fresh berries. After living my entire life in a desert, it was fascinatin
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 17. Farrow
I barely made it out of the camp before Nicolette murmured next to my ear, “Do you think they know we’re here?”At the question, I closed my eyes and let out a silent groan.Of course. She had followed me. I mean, why ever would she remain behind after I’d specifically asked her to stay put? For her own safety.Women, I swear.At least she was quiet, though. Easing up to my side without making a sound, she waited for my response.Grasping her hand to keep her at my side, since she obviously insisted on coming along, I shook my head and spoke just as softly. “Anything’s possible, so it’s hard to tell.”In all actuality, it sounded merely like a group of people who were passing by. If their intent had been to sneak in for an attack, one would think they’d be quieter than they were currently being.But with the slim chance I was wrong, I began to edge backward toward camp, returning to the pair of trees I had Mint and Caramel tied to, drawing Nicolette with me.She went willingly,
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 18. Nicolette
“It was my very own ancestor who applied the first mark of Elaina L’Amante,” Mydera explained in her deep, carrying voice. “So the story’s been carried down through the generations until I heard it every night as a lullaby when I was young.”I nodded, eager to hear more, as I popped a fresh piece of fruit into my mouth.But, mmm, fruit. After endless days of the tasteless bread-like rations Farrow had been feeding me, I gorged on the meal the mages had provided us with. And now, my stomach was full to capacity, yet I just kept stuffing more in.Next to me, Farrow sat close on the same log, his thigh pressed against mine the entire time. I knew he wasn’t a fan of this detour we were taking, but he endured because he knew I needed the break. And that made me treasure him even more.“Elaina L’Amante was the first queen of High Cliff,” Mydera was saying. “She was presented to King Grothier, I believe his name was—Awgust Grothier—as a gift from the kingdom of Tipton for their assistance
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 19. Farrow
I snuck into Nicolette’s and my tent early the next morning while she still slept. She looked so lovely and serene draped across her bedroll with her thick, dark braid curled around her neck like a scarf and a bare knee and calf peeking out from the confines of her skirts.My body reacted instantly. I swear, I’d been in a perpetual state of arousal since plucking her from Donnelly. And it didn’t help that she made it so damn obvious that she was more than willing to lie with me.I could wake her right now, ruck up her skirts, and the woman would be wet and moaning by the time I pushed inside her. A groan vibrated through my throat as I fisted my hands down at my sides.I was weak when it came to her, but sex would be the one place I refused to give in. I would not tup her, not until she learned everything about me and my situation and was still willing to have me afterward.Which she wouldn’t be.Swallowing down my regret over what would never happen, I tore my gaze from her and s
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 20. Nicolette
Farrow had grown silent and he’d drawn tightly within himself. Over an hour had passed since we’d left the mage’s camp, and the pleasantly loopy man he’d been when I’d shoved him onto his horse was no more.Now, he had his hands buried in Mint’s mane, and his fists were clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white.He gave me a sharp “no” every time I questioned him, asking if he was in pain, but how could I believe he wasn’t? Sweat coursed down his face and bare chest in rivulets, and he panted as if he couldn’t catch any air. His skin was flushed and eyes dazed as he glanced around himself with a drugged kind of agony.The man was most certainly tormented.I don’t know why he was being so stubborn and denying it.My first instinct was to just kiss him and end his ailments, but since Mydera knew he was my true love, I had a bad feeling she’d instilled some kind of counteractive magic to prevent me from healing whatever this was.What if kissing him made things worse? I didn’t
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 21. Farrow
My arms and legs quivered with exhaustion, and my body felt completely boneless. The tremors wracked me harder. I couldn’t seem to stop them.I’d just experienced the most intense orgasm of my life, but I wasn’t so sure that had anything to do with this. This felt like an unexplainable nervous habit that had just up and seized me.I squeezed my eyes closed tighter than they already were and buried my face in silken hair that smelled heavily of honey and flowers. Warm feminine arms eased around me, comforting me.Yes. I needed that. I needed—“Farrow?”That voice. Whoever had blessed the Outer Realms with bringing that voice into existence deserved an award. It was by far the best sound to ever caress my ears.“Darling, are you okay?”Yes, so musical and soothing. I nodded, calmed by the voice, only to shake even more because I instinctively knew something else was still terribly wrong.“Farrow?”I frowned, confused. “I—I don’t know what’s wrong—” I started to confess until I r
Last Updated : 2021-11-24Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 22. Nicolette
I woke the next morning to the sound of a campfire snapping and the scent of meat cooking on a spit. My stomach clenched, desiring food.Feeling deliciously rested and worked over nicely, I smiled and stretched before sitting up and shoving my hair out of my face, scanning the camp for Farrow. He stood at the horses, fully dressed for a day of riding and tied the last of our saddle bags into place.As if sensing my gaze, he glanced over.Remorse flashed in his eyes.Dropping his hands from his task, he turned to me, his expression smoothing out flat and blank. “We need to get back on the road. We’ve lost a full day of travel.”Disappointment echoed through me.“Okay.” Nodding, I pushed to my feet and padded toward him. “But the aphrodisiac?” I asked, even though I already knew.“Gone,” he said, his eyes darkening.“So, now you finally regret it?” I guessed dully, stopping in front of him. Now that he was back in his own frame of mind, of course he regretted tupping me. “You reg
Last Updated : 2021-11-24
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Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance About the Author
Linda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy. Most Kage stories lean more toward the lighter, sillier side with a couple meaningful moments thrown in. Focuses more on entertainment value and emotional impact.Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature. Then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.Now she lives with her hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can’t
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 2nd Epilogue
“Mater?”I glanced up from the scroll I was writing on and found Wicket hovering in the entrance of my tent.With a snap from my fingers, the journal popped into the air and then spooled closed into a tight roll before disappearing so it could return to the only kingdom in the Outer Realms that actually contained a public library.High Cliff had always been ahead of the others in academics. Then again, the House of Bjorn, who had reigned over it for hundreds of years, had been the first family to cast off their powers. And it hadn’t taken me long to realize the absence of magic forced one to get creative and use critical thinking to solve problems instead, turning to science, inventions, and industry.Maybe that was why my little world here hadn’t evolved as quickly as I’d hoped it would; there was still too much supernatural interference at work, restricting its progress.Not that I was willing to forego any of my own abilities to help in that regard, mind you. So I couldn’t righ
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance Epilogue
“You want to know what I don’t understand?” Indigo said as he peeled a grumpacker in the seat across from me.Turning my gaze from the window of the carriage I’d been staring out to watch the Far Shore landscape pass by, I lifted my brows in amusement as he kicked back lazily on his cushion and hiked his boots up onto the padded bench next to me.“What’s that?” I asked.“Why…” he wondered, “is a woman who marries a king labeled a queen, but a man who marries a queen a mere prince?”Sending him an odd look, I answered, “You tell me. You’re the one who insisted it had to be that way in the first place.”He scowled in irritation. “Only because that’s how Bison said it’s done on Earth. Or at least how he thinks it goes. Apparently, he’s never followed royal order that closely before.” He wrinkled his nose. “Strange, that.”“Well, we certainly don’t have to follow Earth’s rules,” I decided, “as we’re not earthlings ourselves.”Farrow gasped at such a suggestion. “Yes, we do,” he argu
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 35. Farrow
The Donnellean army arrived two days later. In all actuality, it was fairly anticlimactic.Far Shore soldiers waited at the city limits for them, lining the roadways to provide a royal escort for such honored guests that led their commander straight to the castle’s entrance.Urban Bjorn, leader of the Donnelly troops, looked puzzled and suspicious as hell, glancing around him as if he expected an attack any moment even as he strode forward to meet me, where I stood awaiting his arrival at the door to the throne room. When he recognized who I was, his scowl grew.“You!” he boomed as he grabbed the front of my tunic and yanked me against him so he could snarl directly into my face. “This whole mess is your fault?” He shook me harshly, rattling my teeth. “You fucking punk. I should’ve let Brentley execute you that night Nicolette begged me to save your miserable life.”“Be that as it may,” I offered mildly. “What’s done is done, so…” I lifted a bored eyebrow. “If you’ll kindly release
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 34. Nicolette
So, the headcount in our expedition more than doubled. Farrow was adamantly against the idea of letting Roloff join us, but the soothsayer defended his case quite handily, if you wanted my opinion.“They had an axe to my head,” he sobbed. “What was I supposed to do? Besides, destiny was whispering in my ear, telling me you needed to be caught there, sneaking into the castle.”I glanced toward a glowering Farrow. “You really can’t argue with destiny, you know.”“If destiny meant Sable had to die and your life was put into jeopardy, then the hell I can’t.”“It had to happen that way,” Roloff insisted, tears spilling down his cheeks. “I loved Sable, too. She kept me sane while we lived in those dungeon cells together. We watched a tongue-less man starve to death. Rats swarmed in. I would’ve lost my mind without her. But destiny said…” He paused to dab at his wet eyes. “Destiny said it was to happen this way. The results will cause peace among many and—”“You call this peace?” Farrow
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 33. Farrow
I woke to the caw of birds outside the window and nearby waves walloping the shoreline.With a contented groan, I stretched my arms over my head and glanced at Nicolette sleeping beside me. A smile stretched across my lips. I liked sleeping in a bed with her. My fingers coasted over her hair, careful not to disturb her. She looked so young and innocent in rest.Wanting to keep it that way, I eased off the mattress and found my clothes piled on the floor where I’d dropped them last night.Once dressed, I padded barefoot to the door and opened it quietly, peeking into the front room.If I was lucky, no one else would be awake yet. I could sneak back to my bedroll without Bison or Indigo realizing I’d been with Nicolette at all last night.From the table, however, both Indigo and Bison turned from where they’d been sitting and talking, and they each gave me a severe once-over.Dammit. Busted.The High Clifter scowled irritably, his eyes bleary with signs of sleeplessness. But the e
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 32. Nicolette
I fell asleep before Farrow did that night, thank God. Though we’d only shared a handful of dreams together, his always left me disturbed, feeling heavy and despondent afterward.I didn’t like seeing how gray life had left him, either. I mean, had the man never been given a sweet treat or hug in his entire life? It was a miracle he’d turned out as well as he had. With the kind of hopeless existence he’d been given, I would’ve imploded by now.I wanted every night to be full of my dreams, so he could at least experience some warmth and brightness.When I appeared in the village of Mandalay, a smile lit my face.“Oh, thank God,” a voice said from behind me, echoing my thoughts. I turned, beaming at Farrow. He lifted a shoulder almost bashfully, admitting, “Your dreams are better.”“They are,” I agreed, going to him.Needing my hands on his skin, I made his tunic disappear and put that leather and fur-skinned kilt back on him. Purring my approval, I smoothed my palms up his bare che
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 31. Farrow
We reached the destination that Indigo led us to—a cottage on the beach—early the next evening. The other two had let me trail along silently behind them throughout the day, and I was grateful for that.I felt raw. Exposed. I didn’t know how to deal with any of this. So I just kept it all contained inside myself.Glad to not think about my pain for a while, I examined the small but finely built home in front of us and then moved my gaze out to the sea.All my life, I’d lived within a day’s ride from the shore, and yet I’d never been here before.“It’s so massive,” Nicolette murmured, coming up beside me so she could study the scenery as well. “Water as far as the eye can see. I never imagined it’d be like this.”I sent her a questioning glance before realizing the sand princess who’d lived her entire life in the center of the Outer Realms wouldn’t have gotten to see such a sight before either, would she?Holding in the urge to take her hand and squeeze warmly as we experienced th
Trust In Love: A Love Mark Romance 30. Nicolette
Farrow led us from the castle in record time, but we didn’t escape unnoticed. About the same moment we made it outside, a warning trumpet blared from the towers, beckoning more forces to help in finding the escaped felons. In finding us.“We left our horses this way,” Indigo started, but Farrow grabbed his arm.“No. That’s too close to the main entrance. They’ll spot us immediately. Let’s go this way,” he urged, leading us in the other direction. “Maybe if we make it to the stables without being spotted, we can steal some horses and get out of town.”But we no sooner darted in that direction than we found our way blocked.“Whoa!” Indigo grabbed Farrow’s arm, halting him. “Guards.”“Shit. This way, then.”Farrow tried to lead us to a side alley.More guards.They closed in on us from every street and angle, creeping stealthily forward on foot, weapons raised.“We’re surrounded.”I glanced around desperately, only to spot a weathered old man sitting in a two-wheeled cart that w
