Keldan stood on the balcony of the palace overlooking an incredible waterfall, lush greenery, and mountains topped with snowy peaks. He loved this time of day where it wasn’t quite daybreak or night. It was the time of in between, and it was his time.
He had just finished ‘the Calling’ in his meditation routine and hoped it would reach the woman it was meant to since his powers were a hit or miss right now. He was growing increasingly concerned about how much energy it took to do the simplest things and often wondered if it was worth using so much power to do the spell. He had plenty of females to choose from within his own people but for some reason, the Moirai, also known as the Three Fates, decreed his Bride would come from the outside world.
He wouldn’t have gone deep into the swamp to see the Priestess had he not been desperate. It was said she obtained her information directly from the Moirai much like the Oracles of the Gods. She informed Keldan that his Bride was from the human world and that she would save him and his people. But only if he completed the ritual Binding ceremony at Ostara.
He was at his wit’s end about the continuing battle with King Zierok and Keldan felt tired after all the fighting lately. Being a king was hard enough but being one who always led his own armies was taking a toll.
And all over the Alwan Door between worlds. He had been its protector and caretaker for most of his life as had his father before him.
His people, the Trolls, had been fighting the Ogre’s for a year now. He tried numerous times to get a truce in place, to spare his people from any more loss, but the Ogre king refused.
He needed to find his Bride in order to regain his full powers, which were waning with age. He was over eight hundred years old after all.
His Bride, once the Priestess completed the Binding, would bring back all of his powers and increase them three fold. He would be nearly invincible. Nothing would be able to hurt him or his people again. Once he had his powers back. Once he found his Bride and bound her to him and to the people.
Roanoke Virginia
Frankie hopped off the train at the station house and went inside the building to collect her luggage. It took two days to make the trip, but she had a wonderful ride from Milwaukee to Roanoke on Amtrak.
It had been an adventure all it’s own, and she couldn’t wait to take it back home. Although a part of her didn’t want to return home. Didn’t want to return to her old boring life as an insurance agent.
She shook herself to get rid of the maudlin thoughts.
Stop that! I’m here to have some fun.
The company she’d hired to set up this whole vacation, Trails R US, booked her into Hotel Roanoke and had a cab waiting on her. The cabbie stood just outside the door holding a sign with her name.She happily hopped inside the car while he put her luggage in the trunk.
The drive to Hotel Roanoke was a fairly short one, but traffic was backed up every route he took. She wanted to get to her room and write everything from her train adventure in her journal, so she wouldn’t forget a single detail.
Her room was fairly simple but luxurious, and she loved it just for the simple fact of having time to herself with no worries. She decided to just relax for the rest of the afternoon, write in her journal, then go to bed early. Her day tomorrow would start at 4 A.M.
She ordered room service after showering then settled in to watch an old favorite movie with Johnny saying “nobody puts Baby in the corner”.
Frankie laid down after the show and instantly fell asleep.
She was dreaming. She had to be.
The surrounding area was incredibly lush. Bright green grass soft underfoot. Deep blue sky overhead. She could hear a waterfall in the not too far distance.
Where in another world am I?
She knew it was nowhere she’d ever been. Nothing in the waking world was this vibrant with colors.
Frankie heard a sound behind her. She turned slowly hoping it wasn’t going to change into a nightmare.
She just stood there gaping at the large beautiful man walking towards her in nothing more than a black pair of pants that reminded her of soft leather.
Nope. No nightmare here.
No man could be that beautiful and look at her the way this one did. It just confirmed to her that she was indeed in a dream, which meant that it could still go either way, happy ending or nightmare.
Frankie knew she was plain looking, a little on the larger side being a healthy size 16 with mousy brown hair and hazel eyes.
Her dream man stood well over six feet and was packed with muscles. Or at least the parts she could see were all muscley. He had the most intense blue eyes of anyone or anything she’d ever seen. Even huskies had nothing on this man. He had dirty blonde hair with a goatee to match and a chest that she desperately wanted to run her tongue all over, tracing those delicious looking muscles.
Can we say yum boys and girls?
He slowly walked towards her with a predator’s stride. Saying nothing.
Her heartbeat sped up. Her eyes widened at the intent look on his face. While she was slightly scared, she was also more excited than she’d ever been in her life.
He stopped just in front of her, reached out, touched her hair. He slid his large hand down to her neck, cupping it, pulling her closer, causing her to shiver. Her eyes slid closed. She knew he was going to kiss her. She waited for it and poof.
The alarm was shrieking in her ear.