Lorkana by Emily Zimmerman. (free e books to read TXT) 📕

was not mine.
I could sense someone was in the room, and as my eyes adjusted, I could see a figure slumped against the wall across from me. The figure was watching me, and as I looked closer, I knew who it was “Logan?” I whispered.
He didn’t answer, so I felt my way over to him, I sat in front of him, taking his face in both my hands “Logan, talk to me” I murmured, worry making my voice falter.
Logan didn’t speak, he lifted his hands to my face, running his finger over my bottom lip, finally, he opened his mouth, “I missed you” he murmured.
I smiled and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest.
“I missed you too, so much! I couldn’t stop thinking about you, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reach you” my words were turning to sobs.
He wrapped a strong arm around me and used his other hand to grip my chin, he lifted my face up to stare into his silver eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness “don’t cry love, it kills me” he said, wiping the tears away with his thumb.
“Well it’s your fault, if you hadn’t have left I wouldn’t be crying” I laughed wetly.
I had meant it to be lighthearted, but he became serious and looked down at his hands as they played with a strand of my hair, “I couldn’t let them take you” he whispered.
I sighed, “Hey, don’t be like that. It’ll be alright, you’ll be home soon, I promise” I murmured, smoothing his messy hair from his face.
He leaned over, lighting a candle that was beside him, the light was bright enough so I could see his face, but only barely.
He stared into my eyes, sadness overtaking his. “I might not be alive when you find me. They have injured me, though in this strange dream world, my injuries are non-existent” he murmured, stroking my cheek with his thumb.
Tears welled in my eyes “no, don’t say that! It’ll be alright, they’ll find you tomorrow, please don’t say that” I begged.
He wiped away the tears that were now flowing freely, but they wouldn’t stop coming “I’m glad I got to see you again, I was afraid that I’d never get the chance, love” he murmured.
I opened my mouth to deny his words, but he suddenly leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I responded by wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling myself closer. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and leaned me back over them.
He pulled back to stare into my eyes again “I love you” he murmured.
I couldn’t stop the tears “don’t…don’t say that like goodbye, this is not goodbye!” I insisted, my voice shaking.
He sighed, smoothing my hair from my face “Johanna-“
“No. No, no, no, no, Logan! You can’t die, not now. Not now!” I was angry, struggling against his hold on my arms as I sobbed.
“Johanna please, Love!” He tightened his hold on my arms and pulled me into a hug.
I struggled to get out of his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn’t lose him, not now, not when I had just found him. I didn’t think I could handle losing him.
“No, no, I won’t let you die” I sobbed.
“Johanna, listen to me, listen!” he was firm, pulling me back to look into my eyes.
I hiccupped, looking away from him as I cried “look at me” he growled, grabbing my chin and making me look at him.
I looked at his lips, as stubborn as I was, I didn’t want to look into his eyes. “Please look at me” the scoundrel lowered his head, making me look into his eyes.
Tears were still rolling freely as I looked into his eyes, giving up trying to get away. I broke down, so he pulled me into his arms “I can’t lose you” I whispered brokenly.
“Johanna, love, please don’t cry. If I could live, I would, but I just don’t know if I can make it. I feel like I’ve betrayed you, but I can’t stop it. If I could change into my animal form, I could heal but something is holding me back, something won’t let me change” he explained, tightening his arms around me.
I buried my face in his chest, “I don’t care what he says, I’m coming with them” I mumbled to myself.
He didn’t seem to hear me; he just kept stroking my hair, murmuring comforting words. I wasn’t sobbing anymore, but quiet whimpers were escaping my mouth every time I would think of losing him. I couldn’t…no, wouldn’t lose him, he was too important to me.
“I won’t lose you” I declared.
He buried his face in my hair, breathing in deeply “you smell like roses” he murmured huskily.
I pulled away, looking up at him “Logan, why are you so calm about this? I just can’t understand how you can accept this! Logan, you have to promise me that you’ll try to stay alive, for me” I begged, my eyes pleading with his.
Sadness filled his eyes, and a single tear slid down his cheek “I’m not calm about this, I’m afraid, Johanna, I’m afraid that I’ll never see you again. I’m just trying to forget it; this may be my last chance to be with you, unharmed and alive. Can you please…give me that chance?” now it was his eyes that pleaded with mine, how could I refuse?
I was shocked into silence; I had never seen this side of him before. He was vulnerable; all emotions were now showing on his face as the one sparkling tear hung on his cheek.
I finally got the will to speak again,
“Okay, Logan” I wiped the tear away, “I won’t argue, but that doesn’t mean that I accept your dying, I’ll do whatever it takes to get you home alive” I said sternly.
He smiled and pulled me into yet another kiss. I let myself relax in his embrace.
After pulling back, I thought for a second, maybe I can help him.
“Vivia told me more about the…connection we seem to have. She said that biting your mate can heal you; she said that your mate’s blood is the only thing that can save you. Or so she had thought” I muttered.
He stared at me thoughtfully for a long time “our father had told us those legends when we were young, he and my mother were…mates, as he called it. He used to teach us to be true to our mates, and always be there for them” he murmured, stroking my cheek with the tip of his finger.
I was distracted momentarily by his touch, the way my skin tingled, and the way one simple touch could muddle my thoughts so completely. “I was thinking…maybe you should…bite me” I mumbled hesitantly.
He frowned thoughtfully “I…talked to my father about it, if I had ever found my mate, what biting would be like for her. He explained that it was painful as first, but it turns out to be quite…pleasurable, after the first bite” he seemed to grow red under his tan skin.
I blushed as well, looking down at my hands “I don’t know how affective it would be in this dream world, but it’s worth a try. Hurting you is the very last thing in this world that I want to do” he mumbled the last part, stroking a finger across my neck.
I looked up into his eyes “I don’t care how much it hurts, as long as your better when you awake from this” I muttered in determination.
He sighed, staring lovingly into my eyes “so selfless” he murmured, as if to himself.
He leaned over and kissed my neck, where my pulse hammered “I won’t do it if you’re not completely sure” he said, his hot breath hitting my skin.
I gripped the tops of his arms, leaning my forehead on his shoulder “do it” I set my jaw in determination.
He pulled me closer to him, wrapping his strong arms around my waist “I love you” he said before sinking his teeth into my shoulder. It hurt, more than breaking a finger or a toe; I had to muffle my cry in his shoulder. But soon all that was overpowered by pleasure, overwhelming pleasure! I moaned as his arms tightened and he sunk his teeth deeper.
I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, gripping his shirt so tight I thought I might rip it. My whole body was a live wire; every touch to my skin was like fire, and I could feel it coursing through my veins.
I moaned into his shoulder, making a feral, yet very sexy growl escape his lips. He broke free of the bite, both of us gasping for breath; I don’t think either of us expected the reaction I had. He gently licked the wound clean, watching as it healed.
“I don’t think this is a dream, pleasure like that cannot even be comprehended in a dream” Logan murmured before kissing my neck once again.
We sat in each other’s arms for a while longer, until I felt myself fading. His resigned sigh told me that he could feel himself fading as well “goodbye, Johanna, I love you” he murmured, giving me one last kiss.
I put my hand on his cheek “goodbye Logan…I-“

I woke with a start, my breathing was erratic, and my mind was muddled. The room was dark, except for the small candle beside my bed. I looked down at Aileen, whom was sleeping peacefully by the bed. I worked to slow my breathing; I wished we still had her pups with her. We gave them to children around the town square, so now there is only her and I.
I lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
“He’s safe, Johanna” a familiar warm voice murmured.
I jerked back up, looking around the dark room; I saw nothing “father?”
No answer.
Aileen was awake now, alert and ready as she looked around “must have been my imagination” I mumbled, kneading my forehead.
I lay back down and tried to think, but my father’s imaginary words kept replaying ‘he’s safe, Johanna’
Was he safe? Is he healing? Will I be able to see him again? I missed Logan dearly, and I hoped to God that he was alive and well.
With one last prayer, I fell asleep, my thoughts on Logan’s health.

I awoke to Aileen’s quiet crying; she licked my face and walked over to the door, sitting down impatiently. “Okay, Aileen, I’m up” I mumbled.
I braided my hair, and put on a white, gossamer dress with white slippers. Aileen suddenly barked a booming, urgent sound that made me jump. Right after, I felt my stomach lurch, and excruciating pain in my arm. It suddenly cracked with an audible ‘snap’ and I cried out in pain, holding my now broken arm. My other arm suddenly snapped as well and I cried out again, trying to go and get the guards that would stand outside my doors. Aileen cried and barked a few times at the door, just as I took my fifth step, I felt pain lance up both my legs simultaneously and I screamed, “help me!” as loud as I could as I fell to the ground. I felt my stomach lurch again, and felt the skin there stretch, pain lanced through my hands as my fingers curled inward and my fist started growing chocolate brown hair as it grew bigger.
I felt my face contort and the skin stretch, my ears stretched upward. I had fallen in front of my mirror, and all