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

the moonlight seemed to dance across the water.
I looked at Logan in awe. “How?”
Logan laughed softly. “Life. You gave life to the pond.” He said.
I looked down as a night lark landed beside me. It cocked its head and hopped closer. I held out my hand and it flew onto it, flapping its wings every once in a while as it stared at me. “Logan…this is amazing.” I whispered, watching as the bird flew away, gliding over the pond.
“It is…but I’ve seen something that doesn’t even compare.” He said.
I smiled at looked over at Logan. “And what is that?”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into him, kissing below my ear. “If you could take a guess…” he whispered, trailing light kisses down my neck.
I blushed deep red and shivered involuntarily at his touch. “I love you, Johanna.” He whispered.
“I love you too, Logan.” I whispered back.
He pulled away and pulled me back into his chest in between his legs. He settled his chin on top of my shoulder and sighed. I snuggled back into his warmth and sighed softly as well. We sat in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
I watched the pond in amazement as a beautiful carp with wispy fins flowing out around it like a dress swam by. “I’ve never seen something like this before. It’s like a fairytale.” I whispered.
“It is. My father took me to this lake years ago. When I was just a boy. This lake is very special to me.” He murmured.
“And what about your brother and sister? Is it special to them too?” I asked him.
“It’s more special to them then they’ll admit.” He said, kissing my neck softly.
Chapter Thirteen:

I awoke with a start when I felt the cold edge of a blade on my neck. Labara’s right hand man, Gilligan, and his group had caught up with us. He pulled me into him as I yelped in surprise, keeping the blade pressed to my neck. Logan, Vivia and Demetrio awoke with a start at my yelp, Demetrio and Vivia still in their wolf forms, Logan and I still human.
“Let her go!” Logan ordered.
Gilligan laughed menacingly. “I’m under Labara’s orders to bring you all back to the kingdom. You do not comply, she dies.” He said, pressing the knife deeper into my skin to make the point clear.
I whimpered in pain but infinitesimally shook my head at Logan. He stared into my eyes, conflict swimming in his, before looking at Gilligan and nodding once.
“No!” I screamed, and then I acted on instinct.
I grabbed Gilligan’s wrist with my hand and used my strength to squeeze until he grunted and dropped the knife. I whirled around and kicked him in the soft spot and he went down, clutching himself and groaning.
I dusted off my hands and looked at Gilligan’s guards; they all stared at Gilligan with pained looks. “Anyone else?” I asked.
They all looked up at me in anger. I put my hands on my hips and cocked my head to my side. “Well then come get some.” I taunted.
One of the men grabbed his knife from his sheath and ran at me, a bellow of rage coming from his lips. I stood my ground, and just as he reached me, I stepped aside, grabbed the back of his shirt and used my strength to slam him down on the ground. I kicked his knife away and turned just as another charged.
I twisted away as he grabbed my arm and he paused, looking around for me in confusion. I winked at Logan, who stood rigid; Demetrio, now human, had his hand on his shoulder, seeming to be restraining him. I tapped on the man’s shoulder and when he turned I punched him, knocking him out cold. I felt the presence of another man trying to sneak up on me and slammed my elbow back into his ribs, using my wolf strength. I heard a crack and winced, I didn’t mean to break his ribs!
He fell to the ground and I dusted my hands off. Gilligan had regained his composure, but was still hobbling slightly. “You’ll…” he paused to suck in a breath and grab himself. “You’ll pay for this!” he promised.
I shrugged as I disarmed his men, picking up all of the daggers that were on the ground. “Okay. But I don’t have many shillings on me right now, so I’ll pay later.” I said lightly.
Gilligan gathered his men, carrying the one that I knocked out. The one with the broken ribs held his torso, grunting in pain as he walked. I felt bad, I didn’t plan to harm them long term; I just don’t know my own strength.
Logan wrapped an arm around my waist and stared at the men in silence as they walked away. He looked at me when they disappeared and their footsteps faded. “How the hell did you do that?”
Demetrio and Vivia bellowed a laugh, and I smiled. “Do what, Logan?” I asked innocently.
He gave me a look that said ‘you know what.’
“She’s been training in combat since she was old enough to hold a sword, Logan. And she’s a wiz with a bow.” Demetrio said.
I nodded and slipped out of Logan’s arms. “Now let’s go home. I’m tired and I’d like to see Aileen.” I said.
“Wait, wait, wait. So you know how to use a dagger, a sword, and a bow?” Logan asked.
“All manner of weapon, Logan. My father wanted me to be ready in case I was called on to be part of the kings’ army.” I shrugged.
“She hit a moving target at twenty feet with the bow. It was like she wasn’t even looking at the target anymore, her eyes would glaze over, and she’d shoot. She hit the bulls’ eye every time.” Vivia said.
I nodded, and before Logan could ask any more questions, I shifted to my wolf form. Everyone followed suit and we took off through the forest. I followed Demetrio and Vivia, and Logan and I ran side-by-side.

We hit the shore and I skidded to a stop, I’d never been on the shore before. I looked out at the beautiful water and looked over at Logan. This place was beautiful. He gestured with his head for me to follow him and we caught up with Vivia and Demetrio. We came across a well hidden cave; it looked like the side of a cliff, covered in moss and rocks. But as we came closer, I realized that there was an entrance between all of the moss.
Vivia and Demetrio paused and had Logan and I go in first. They followed us back in and we heard the bellowing voice of Ben. “They’re back!” he yelled, his voice echoing through the cave.
We heard the running footsteps and voices filled with relief at our return. Ben appeared first, jogging through the cavern. “Johanna! My lady I’m so glad to have you back home and safe!” He said in relief.
I smiled, Ben was like a grandfather to me, he gave comfort, and he had wonderful stories of when my father’s father ruled the kingdom, he said he was two hundred and five years old, and had a while to go before he was ready to depart from life. Ben pulled me into a tight, affectionate hug and I wrapped my arms around him, smiling and laughing as he lifted me off the ground and rocked us from side to side. “We were all so worried about you, Jo-Jo.” He said when he put me down.
I smiled. “I missed you all so much.” I said.
My people smiled and bowed down on one knee, except for Valor, who stood at the back of everyone else, I spotted him when everyone bowed to his level, he was growing, but he had a ways to go before he could be as tall as everyone else. He held something gleaming in his hands. He walked towards me with Faolan walking faithfully by his side. As he came closer, I realized he had my mothers’ – and now mine – crown.
I took my mothers’ clip from my hair and gave it to Logan, smiling at him. I leaned down on one knee in front of Valor and kissed his forehead. I gently took the crown from his hands and set it on my head. Valor smiled and bowed his head, he then snapped and the dog did the same. I wondered how he taught him that.
I stood and gripped Logan’s hand tightly in mine. “My brothers and sisters! Labara has kidnapped, beaten, and killed us too many times! Though I do not especially like the idea, it is time to retaliate!” they cheered in agreement. “Labara and Yuma are cruel human beings. And they do not deserve to rule! Now I’m not saying that we sink down to their level and kill as many human beings as we could find. But I am saying that we should fight back! We cannot just sit here and wait for the next attack to be brought onto us, we’ll bring the attack to them!” I said, and they all nodded in agreement.
“We’ll show Labara that his army can be defeated, and that his people will not help him once we have brought him down. I just need your help to do it! So my question is, are we going to lie on our stomachs in submission while Labara kills our kind?”
“No!” They all yelled in unison.
“Then join me, that we may we fight together, as brothers, as sisters, as one!” I yelled.
They cheered and I smiled. ‘I told you Labara, my people would fight with me any day.’ I thought triumphantly.

After gathering Salvator and the rest, I told them I would meet them tomorrow when the sun was highest in the sky. They agreed and Logan led me to my room so I could bathe and change. The caverns were different then the wolf kingdom. Instead of a castle, there were thatched houses that lined the edge of a forest. I wondered how these forests grew underground, but quickly pushed the thought to the back of my head when Logan led me to one of the thatched houses.
He kissed me lightly on the lips and then left so I could bathe. The house was small, and the bath sat against the wall with a curtain around it for privacy. I pulled it back and sighed in relief, it was full of water. I stripped my dress and slipped into the bathtub, sighing in content.

Authors note:

I hope you liked the chapter! Please friend me if you'd like me to tell you when I update. If I spelled anything wrong or if there are any grammatical errors that I need to fix, please tell me!

Em.