Free Firebrand by P. K. Eden Page B

mystery for eons. Even we don’t know what he’s capable of doing. It’s not worth risking the life of everyone on three worlds on the slim chance you can save hers.
    “Get out of my head, Serina,” David demanded. “You don’t have to pry around in the gray matter to remind me what’s at stake here.”
    She nodded her apology. “Bad habit. What did her assistant say when you called the office?”
    “Only that she went home.” He turned in a circle, arms outstretched. “But she’s not here.” He stiffened. “God Serina, it seem as though we just found each other. How can you take her away from me like this? We should have more time. Years. Decades.” He would hold steadfast to his dream, refusing to accept the inevitable end he knew was coming until there was no more hope. “We should have children and grandchildren.”
    Serina put an arm around his shoulders. “You knew what had to be done when you were sent here.”
    His broad shoulders heaved. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with her. I didn’t mean for her to fall in love with me. I swear I fought against it. It just happened.”
    “The best kind of love always just happens.” She saw David smile with remembering. “But we always knew Amber’s time in this world was limited. She’s not totally human. You have to remember that.”
    “I have a hard time remembering that you’re not human and I’ve seen you in your other form.”
    The present persona Serina had assumed suited her well. But the thick dark hair, sparkling eyes and the soft curves of a coffee-skinned body was just an illusion, nothing like the ethereal being she really was. “Amber will be devastated,” he said. “This world is all she knows.”
    “Not for long. The Mage is preparing to greet his granddaughter as we speak. Her true mother is readying the ceremonial robe.” She shook her head in response to the hope she saw lying bare in David’s eyes. “There is not a lot of time left for you to get the Sword of Adam and bring Amber to the Triad.”
    David drew his brows together. “How long?”
    “You’ve seen the signs. The strange weather, the sightings. The barrier edges are blurring, beings are crossing the planes.”
    “How long?” David repeated.
    Serina shook her head sadly. “A few weeks at the outside.”
    His eyes fell closed even as the words were spoken. “Less than a heartbeat in the realm of time.” He inhaled deeply to recapture his scattering thoughts. “The other swords. Who will bring them?”
    “The Mage’s family has the Sword of Light well hidden. It will be retrieved when necessary.”
    “I have heard rumors that the Shadow sword is lost. All three must be in place.”
    Serina nodded. “The foolish trolls have misplaced it over the years. They search the globe frantically.” She reacted to the anxious look on David’s face. “But not all trolls follow the king. We have our spies among them. When the sword is found, we will know it and take it from them. The Triad will go on as prophesized with pureblooded emissaries of the three worlds setting the keys in place.”
    “So much to do. So much on the shoulders of one woman,” David said with a sigh.
    “We will learn from this,” she said. “And we will become stronger. Our worlds will become stronger and, hopefully, survive.”
    “I know that but…”
    Serina held up a hand to stop his words. “You will have time enough to say your good-byes. That I promise you.”
    David drew in a breath and sighed in gratitude.
    “If I only have one day, one night, with Amber, how can I make enough memories to last for a lifetime?”
    “You must be ready when the Triad comes. Emotion must not get in the way of duty.”
    David was sure she could hear the hopelessness in the very beat of his heart. “I know what I have to do. But with that said, I will protect her as much as I can. With my life if that becomes necessary.”
    Smiling her understanding, Serina took his hand in hers. “When we go