Read Online Meanmna: Book One of the Daearen Realms by Emmy Gatrell - Free Book Online Page A

transparent crystal to an opaque stone, a quality I have yet to see documented in any textbook. After slogging through the recording of information and cataloging the samples, something drew my attention from the task at hand. I thought it was someone from the group coming back to get me, but it was your father. He walked out of the cave and approached me.” Mom looked at me compassionately. “The rest of the story I have told you is true; we did immediately fall in love. We talked together for a couple of hours and that was that; we were rarely apart after that moment. It was nearly the end of summer and my work. Your father was planning to move to Michigan with me and we had plans for a future together. We did everything that summer, a summer I will never forget.
    “ One night we were laughing and planning the rest of our lives together when he doubled over in pain. He said it felt like his heart was ripped in two. He was gasping for breath, disoriented, but he was screaming and begging me not to call 911. He stumbled to the door, opened it, and collapsed. I couldn’t move because of what I saw next. A brilliant red dragonfly flew in and landed on his chest. He was yelling at the dragonfly, talking to it as though it could understand his pleas. ‘What’s wrong? What happened?’ he groaned. It was almost more than I could take. The sound of this man, the man I loved, crying and begging a bug for news. I was beginning to wonder whether he was insane when suddenly the dragonfly changed into a Fire Fey right in front of me.” Mom looked at me. “Do I need to explain a Fire Fey?”
    “ No, please continue,” I said.
    “ I was completely lost, confused by what most people would call a delusion. I had witnessed a firefly turn into a person-like thing. I could see this creature and Roland talking to one another, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was like I was in a vacuum that couldn’t transmit sound. My mind was reeling and I was so off-kilter that I didn’t notice the fey had left. Normal sound returned. I heard the door slam—that snapped me back to reality. Your father’s face had a look of resignation and pride that I can’t explain. I instinctively knew he was leaving, and I was losing my true love. He explained everything about his world, his role, and his need to go home. I think Elwin should explain those particulars since he knows far more than I do. Okay?” I nodded and Mom continued. “Roland should have gone back right then, but he stayed a little longer. That night at sunset, we pledged ourselves to one another and performed a binding ceremony. We had one night together as man and wife in this realm. The next morning I watched him walk into the cave and disappear from this world.” Mom got up, grabbed the bowls, and put them in the sink.
    “Elwin said that you see Dad in your dreams.”
    “Yes, w ith the amazonite crystal I can see your father in a dream state, but that’s the only way I can see him. When we found out about you he wanted to come back, but he couldn’t leave. The people in both our worlds needed the leadership and balance he could provide. He needed to stay on the throne or life as we know it would dramatically change. I couldn’t let that happen. We knew you would need to join him one day, but we wanted you to have this life, too.
    “ I know it’s a lot, but you and I will still be able to see each other. I’m not abandoning you; I’d never do that. I have already asked Elwin to secure a lavakite crystal so you and I can still see each other in a dream state.”
    “ I don’t want to see you only when I’m dreaming. This is so unfair!” My stomach dropped into a pit as I thought about a new life without having my mom downstairs or just a text message away. My destiny had already been decided and I had no choice in the matter.
    “There is one more detail that you should know. Once you arrive at your castle, Meanmna, you will have to choose your mate before