Stolen Heart

by Sawyer Bennett

  He wasn’t sitting at the bar for five minutes when Marcus walked up. He held his hand out to Kieran and they shook. “What can I do for you, my man?”

  “I’d like to see Annika. That is, if she’ll see me.”

  Marcus gave a brilliantly white smile. “What, you don’t come prepared with any threats this time?”

  Kieran held his hands up in mock surrender. “Nope. Just my charm.”

  Marcus laughed. “Well, I truly would like to help you but she’s not here.”

  Kieran took a sip of beer and quirked an eyebrow at him. “Are you lying to me, Marcus?”

  “I would lie to you in a heartbeat if I thought I was protecting Annika--but no--I’m not lying. She’s been gone for over a month now. I have no clue where she is.”

  “How can you not know where she is? She has a business to run?”

  Marcus shrugged his shoulders. “She checks in every once in a while. Pops in, handles some stuff and then pops back out again.”

  Kieran nodded. “How is she doing?”

  “Annika is a strong woman. She’s hanging in there. But she’s sad. For what that’s worth.”

  Kieran nodded again. He reached in his wallet and threw a tip on the bar. Turning to Marcus, he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to him. “Will you give this to Annika for me?”

  Marcus accepted the paper. “What’s this?”

  “It’s the deed to Saving Grace. I promised Annika it was hers if she helped me with that last job.”

  Marcus quirked an eyebrow. “The way I hear it, Annika didn’t exactly help you finish that job up.”

  “Regardless…it’s hers. See that she gets it.”

  “Sure thing.” They shook hands goodbye and Kieran turned to leave.

  “Hey, Kieran.”

  He turned to look at Marcus.

  “I heard what you did with Mason and Renard.” He put his fist over his heart in a gesture of thanks.

  Kieran smiled in acknowledgment and walked out the door.

  Next, Kieran went back to Balvraine. He had hoped maybe Annika was visiting Claire. But that was a bust as well. Claire had not seen Annika in over a month but she told Kieran not to worry. She was sure Annika would show up sooner or later.

  Finally, Kieran visited Annika’s Aunt Mary, who had moved into cottage just outside of Kestevayne. She had not seen or heard from Annika either. Mary was actually worried whereas Marcus and Claire seemed more laid back about her absence. Mary and Kieran promised each other they would let the other know the minute they heard from her.

  Since returning to Kestevayne, another week had passed and he had heard nothing about Annika. Claire had promised to contact him once either she or Marcus saw her.

  Sighing, Kieran stood up and went back inside. He went into the kitchen and poured himself another beer. He looked around at his empty apartment and he felt like a stranger in his own home. Nothing in life was exciting anymore. He had a military career that was stagnant, he was being asked to be an ambassador for his country, which was such a bad idea, and the woman he loved was nowhere to be found.

  He kept returning to a crazy idea that he had been mulling over. Now, it didn’t seem so crazy. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right thing to do. He would go tell Carrick and Ava tomorrow of his decision. They would respect it. Hell, they’d be happy for him.

  He walked back toward the balcony but a knock on his door stopped him. That would be Carrick or Ava. They were the only ones that came to visit him. Now he’d be able to go ahead and tell them about his plans to move to New York.

  “Come on in,” Kieran yelled over his shoulder as he walked out onto the balcony. Leaning against the balcony, Kieran soaked in the setting pink sun. He’d miss that a lot when he was gone.

  “Hello, Kieran.”

  Kieran spun around, his heart pounding. And there she was. Annika. My Annika.

  His gaze raked in her entire appearance. She’d let her hair grow a little longer but everything else was the same. She was wearing jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and Converse sneakers. She looked young and fresh.

  “I hope it’s okay that I came here. I was just visiting my Aunt Mary.”

  “Sure. Yes. It’s fine.” His tongue was tied and his brain was racing. How could one woman have such an effect on him?

  She gave him a small smile and walked out to stand beside him at the rail surrounding the balcony. Leaning against it, she looked out at the setting sun. “I never get tired of seeing that sunset.”

  Sunset? What sunset? Kieran was taking in the view that was all Annika.

  “Marcus said you were looking for me…” Annika trailed off, waiting for Kieran to say something.

  Kieran just stood there, gawking at her. His brain was blank and he couldn’t come up with one intelligent thing to say. He’d fantasized about seeing her again. He’d rehearsed what he would say. And now, all he could do was stare at her, his mouth slightly agape. He was such a dumbass and the silence turned awkward.

  Annika’s eyebrows pressed together in what appeared to be consternation. “Um…maybe I should just leave. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be here.”

  That seemed to finally penetrate the fog in his head. “NO! Don’t leave. Of course, you’re welcome here. I’m sorry, it’s just such a shock seeing you here that I’ve momentarily lost all brain function.”

  Annika chuckled. “That’s happened to me on occasion.”

  Oh, how he’d missed that laugh. He didn’t see it often with her but he wanted to see it again…and again…and again. “Would you like a beer? Or something else to drink?”

  “No thanks. I can’t stay long.” She looked down at her hands. He noted they were grasped onto the railing, her knuckles slightly white.

  “So, where have you been the last few months?”

  Annika turned her gaze to him. “Traveling.” She shrugged, as if the details of where she had been were irrelevant. “Trying to find myself. Trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life.”

  “Trying to figure out what to do with your life? Annika, you already know the answer to that. You help people. That’s what you do and you’re damn good at it. You help women like yourself. You can’t stop doing that.”

  “Maybe.” But that was all she said on the subject.

  Kieran ran his hand through his hair. Before he could say anything, Annika reached out and gently touched his arm. He felt like he’d been hit with a bolt of electricity. “I heard what you did with Mason and my father. There aren’t any words…” she trailed off as her voice cracked. “Just…thank you.”

  Kieran covered her hand with his. He rubbed his thumb lightly her smooth skin. “I’m only sorry I couldn’t kill that bastard for what he did to you.”

  “At least he admitted the truth. That was very freeing for me.” She paused and turned to look back to the horizon and the low setting sun. “My father has tried to contact me. He’s left messages that he’s sorry and wants me to come home.”

  “How do you feel about that?” Kieran knew how he’d feel about it. He’d tell the man to go to hell. It was a little too late for apologies.

  “I haven’t responded to him. Nor do I intend to. I wrote him out of my life a long time ago.”

  Kieran was glad to hear there was no sorrow in that statement. It was just a statement of fact.

  “Annika. I’m sorry I was such a bastard to you. I didn’t mean it when I said you didn’t have anything good to offer me.”

  Annika held her hands up, looking at him in surprise. “No, I’m the one who is sorry. I lied to you. I just hope you know how much I regret what I did.”

  “I know, Annika. And I forgive you. As long as you can forgive me for not giving you more of the benefit of the doubt. It has been pointed out to me by a certain friend of yours that I may have been a little hypocritical in my actions. Forgiving one person but not the other.”

  Annika gave a slight smile. “It seems like we
both may be in need of a little forgiveness.”

  He returned her smile. “It seems so.”

  “There is something else I’ve been wanting to tell you.” She grabbed her lower lip with her teeth, a sure sign she was nervous.

  Kieran reached out and stroked her cheek. “You can tell me anything.”

  She laid her hand over his, holding it to her cheek and closed her eyes, relishing his touch. She opened those lavender jewels up and looked at him. “I love you, Kieran. I love you so much that it hurts when I’m physically apart from you. I hope, that with forgiveness, maybe you could learn to love me again.”

  Kieran inhaled deeply and let it out with a long sigh. Finally. He moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her head. He pulled her close, gazing deep into her eyes. “I never stopped loving you Annika. Never.”

  Annika let out a deep, pent up breath. She smiled brilliantly. “You have no idea how happy that makes me to hear. You’ve given me a new life, Kieran. One free from guilt and pain.”

  Oh, those words made his heart melt and he was filled with sudden elation. He gathered her in close, wrapping his arms around her. Placing his lips to the top of her head, he whispered, “It makes me happy that you’re happy.”

  He swooped down for a kiss. It was light and sweet. Filled with promise.

  Annika pulled back. “I’ll move here…to Kestevayne, if you want. I don’t want to be apart.”

  Kieran gave her another kiss. This one was deeper. “Oh, baby. To hell with that. We are living in New York so you can continue your work.”

  Her eyebrows raised in surprise and her lips curved upwards in a brilliant smile. “You’d do that? For me?”

  “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Annika.”

  She laid her head on his chest and sighed. “Nor I for you.”

  He didn’t think he could love her any more than he did right at that moment. But he was very eager to find out.

  If you enjoyed Stolen Heart, I would love for you to give me a review at Amazon. : Stolen Heart Amazon Review

  If you haven’t read Carrick and Ava’s story, turn the page for an excerpt from Second Chance.

  Connect with Sawyer online:

  Website: www.sawyerbennett.com

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/bennettbooks

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/bennettbooks

  About the Author

  Sawyer Bennett is the penname for Beth Noble, a native North Carolinian and practicing lawyer. When not trying to save the world from injustice, she spends her time trying to get the stories she accumulates in her head down on paper. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Shawn, and their two big dogs, Piper and Atticus.

  Coming Soon

  Forever Young

  Book 1 of the Forever Land Chronicles

  A Young Adult Paranormal Series

  http://sawyerbennett.com/books/forever-young/

  SECOND CHANCE

  PROLOGUE

  The AltVeritas of Vyronas – Present Day

  Laina Mercea, Chief of the Conclave of the Royal House of Clairmont, walked through town on her way to Conclave Hall. She had a meeting. One she was not looking forward to.

  She glanced over at the schoolhouse, and decided to peek inside. She knew she was just avoiding the inevitable, but she still wanted to take a look. Her niece had just started teaching Vyronasian History and she was curious as to how she was doing.

  Walking up the wooden steps to the school, she entered through the open door. Most doors and windows in Vyrona were always open, given the temperate climate.

  Once inside, she immediately stepped to the left and leaned her back against the wall. She didn’t want to call attention to herself and ruin the lesson. The schoolhouse was only one room, and it was filled with desks and chairs, all organized in neat rows. A teacher’s desk sat at the front. Laina realized they were lucky to fill half of the seats with children. It had been a brutal four years and war had decimated their numbers.

  Her niece, Shelana, was standing at the front. She was dressed in a long, flowing gown of lilac. It was simply belted at her waist and she had no other adornments. Jewelry and hair clips were hard to come by in wartime. Shelana looked up and saw her aunt, giving a short wave of acknowledgement. Laina gave her an encouraging smile back.

  Shelana walked around the front of her desk and leaned back against it. “Today, we are going to learn how the AltVeritas came to be. Who can tell me what an AltVeritas is?”

  A little girl with blond ringlets framing her face yelled out, “It’s the world in which we live.”

  “That’s correct, Nadya.”

  Shelana stood up from the desk and gracefully waved her arms in a large circle. The children all gasped as a holographic image formed in front of them. It was transparent so the kids could still see Shelana, but had enough color and substance that they could tell what it was. Taking note of the various continents and oceans, Laina realized it was a rendition of the planet Earth.

  Shelana rotated the Earth model and pointed to a place just in front of the children.

  “Here is where every AltVeritas started, in ancient Egypt. Now, much of what we know cannot be proven, as no written records have been found. Rather, these stories have been handed down from our ancestors.”

  Shelana had a great teaching voice Laina realized. She spoke as if every detail she was revealing to her students was full of mystery and wonder.

  “Legend has it that during the time of the Pharaohs, a large fragment of stone, larger than this whole schoolhouse, was found in the middle of the Egyptian desert. It was coal black, and dirty, and other than its immense size, it was not very interesting at all. It may not have been pretty, but it was different, for no other type of stone like this had ever been seen, particularly not of this size.”

  “Was it a meteor from outer space?” one of the children asked.

  “As a matter of fact, that is exactly what most people thought. The Pharaoh, King Khufu, certainly thought it came from outer space. In fact, he believed that this stone contained magical properties and he sought to hide it from the rest of the world. He built a giant pyramid over it that was later called the Great Pyramid of Giza.”

  Shelana waved her hand to the side, and another holographic image appeared beside her, showing a picture of the Giza Pyramid. The children gave oohs and ahhs of appreciation.

  “But, as is often the case, some secrets are not well kept, and people found out about King Khufu’s hiding place. Thiefs broke into the pyramid in an attempt to get the stone. Of course, it was so large, that most looters could only hammer off a piece or so to bring with them. Some pieces were sold, but most were studied by scientists, sorcerers and alchemists.”

  Shelana made a quick motion with her hands, and both images disappeared. Hands clasped behind her back, she walked up and down the rows of desks as she continued her lecture.

  “Again, we have no known records, just stories handed down, but our own mythology says that someone discovered that the stone could create a doorway that led into another world…a world that co-existed on the planet Earth.”

  A small boy in front raised his hand and Shelana nodded at him. “I don’t understand. How can there be another world that co-exists on Earth?”

  Some of the older kids giggled, like this was the easiest thing in the world to understand. Shelana gave a sharp look around the room and the laughing died.

  “That is not a silly question. It is a difficult concept to understand. Because we only have an oral history of the AltVeritas, we don’t necessarily know how or why it works. We just know that we exist on the planet Earth, but in a completely different dimension that is unknown and unseen by the people that live in Earth’s First Dimension from where we all originated.”

  Shelana waited to see if there were any further questions. There were not so she started to wrap up her lecture.

  “No one knows what happened to the original stone inside Giza. It is gone. No one knows exactly how
it was determined the Giza Stone opened up an AltVeritas. But we do know that there could be hundreds of these hidden worlds, all co-existing on the planet we know as Earth. It is safe to say that the stone clearly had inherent magical properties, because the residents of any AltVeritas that have managed to travel among the worlds have inherent magical abilities themselves. So far, no modern science or technology in The First Dimension has been able to discover these AltVerita. Only those with magical abilities like us here in the AltVeritas of Vyronas can travel among The Veils that separate them.”

  A bell rang that signified the end of class. Laina did not wait around to talk to Shelana. She gave her a wave to indicate she was leaving and left the schoolhouse.

  As Laina continued to walk to the Conclave Hall, she ruminated on the concept of AltVeritas. In ancient times, they named another world that co-existed on Earth as Universitas Caecus. Somehow, in the Modern Era, it got changed to AltVeritas, which she knew roughly translated to mean Alternate Truth. Regardless, she had never given it much thought until she was forced to send someone out of the AltVeritas of Vyronas to live back in The First Dimension. That was four years ago.

  Laina knew that many people with magical abilities traveled freely between the worlds. It was done with a simple, magical incantation. It was believed that when the original AltVeritas was created, the stone from Giza was used as nothing more than a way to tear open a doorway between the places of existence. Thereafter, magic allowed people travel to and fro. The doorway was often referred to as The Veil.

  It was fascinating to see how different Vyronas was from The First Dimension of Earth. Like most AltVerita, Vyronas’ growth and advancement did not mimic that of The First Dimension. Because the original inhabitants of most AltVerita were those practiced in the art of magic, that was the only advancement that was considered necessary among the people who settled there.