by H. L. Burke
“He knows the way.” Sevaine laughed. Devin held on for dear life, glad that at least someone knew where they were going.
They crossed a bridge over a river, the water white and churning below them, then onto a great highway beneath the arching branches of an old forest. The horse never flagged in his pace, keeping up a speed that Devin would’ve assumed impossible to maintain for more than a few minutes.
Like a curtain falling, a fog descended around them. Telvido slowed to a walk, and in the distance, a hound bayed.
Sevaine cowered against him. “They’re coming.”
Mouth dry, Devin tried to urge Telvido to go faster, but with the blanket of gray before and behind them, it was probably best the horse didn’t obey. They’d likely end up running headlong into a tree or over a cliff. Voices shouted somewhere in the fog. Devin wrapped one arm around Sevaine’s waist.
Then like a door opening before them, light cut through the mist. Telvido nickered and raced towards it. They burst out of the bank of fog into an open field at the edge of the forest. Ahead the sun crept over the horizon, light spreading over farms and what appeared to be a sleepy village on the horizon.
Sevaine rubbed her eyes. “Is … is this the mortal lands?”
“Looks like it.” Devin laughed. He glanced behind them. Nothing emerged from the trees to pursue them. He dismounted and reached for Sevaine. She slid into his arms, embracing him in turn. They kissed for a long moment, his hands massaging into her back, her fingers gripping his shirt.
Finally they parted but stayed close, his eyes never leaving hers as the light of dawn illuminated her beloved face and shimmered in her hair.
“What now?” she asked.
He forced his attentions to their surroundings. In the distance he sighted a road emerging from the forest and winding its way towards the thatched roofs of a small village.
“Well, if that’s the Fairy Wood Highway, which I think it is, then we’re only about a day’s ride from my family home.” He rubbed the back of his neck, wondering how much he should tell his mother about his recent adventures. He’d have to at least explain the presence of Sevaine, though his mother might be so tickled at the idea of him settling down and providing her with grandchildren that she wouldn’t question where he’d got the girl or why she had fur-tufted ears. Yeah, actually, she probably wouldn’t care too much. “If Telvido is up for it, we should be able to make it there before sundown.”
“And then?” She gazed up at him expectantly.
“I guess that’s what the stories call, happily ever after.” He winked.
Her mouth crinkled. “I thought you said you didn’t believe in happily ever after?”
“I guess I did say that, didn’t I? Well, I have a confession.” He leaned in for another kiss, but detoured instead to whisper in her ear. “I lied.”
The End
ABOUT H. L. Burke
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
For information about H. L. Burke’s latest novels, to sign up for the author’s monthly newsletter, or to contact the writer, go to
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Also by H. L. Burke
For Middle Grade Readers
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
Cora and the Nurse Dragon
For Young Adult Readers
An Ordinary Knight
Beggar Magic
Coiled
Spice Bringer
Coming 2019:
The Heart of the Curiosity
To Court a Queen
The Nyssa Glass Steampunk Series:
Nyssa Glass and the Caper Crisis
Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors
Nyssa Glass and the Juliet Dilemma
Nyssa Glass and the Cutpurse Kid
Nyssa Glass’s Clockwork Christmas
Nyssa Glass and the Electric Heart
The Elemental Realms Series
Book One: Lands of Ash
Book Two: Call of the Waters
The Dragon and the Scholar Saga (1-4)
A Fantasy Romance Series
Dragon’s Curse
Dragon’s Debt
Dragon’s Rival
Dragon’s Bride
The Green Princess: A Fantasy Romance Trilogy
Book One: Flower
Book Two: Fallow
Book Three: Flourish
Spellsmith and Carver Series
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians’ Rivalry
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians’ Trial
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians’ Reckoning
Fellowship of Fantasy Anthologies
Fantastic Creatures
Hall of Heroes
Mythical Doorways
Tales of Ever After
Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales