Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

with tears. “Yes, but you cannot pass through it.”
    Anna felt her chest heave with the arrival of hope and the quick destruction of it. “What do you mean? If you can open it, I can go home.”
    “I’ve search every text, spoken with the most powerful Fairies, Wizards and Witches I can find.” A tear leaked down Mara’s cheek. “The rules are clear. Even if I am able to perform the spell to open the portal, traveling between the realms a second time while the spell is intact would be devastating.”
    “What?” Anna asked as the Fairy trailed off.
    “Anna,” Char knelt before her, taking her hands in his. “Once one has passed between realms they can never do so again. You wouldn’t survive.”
    “It would pull you apart, child.” Mara added.
    “So, I can’t go home.” Anna clarified dully. “I can never go home?”
    “No, child, you can never go home.” Mara whispered.
    “Anna, you are welcome to stay here,” Char offered. “This can be your home.”
    “Thank you,” Anna offered the proper response, but her mouth was on autopilot. There was no thought to the words or Char’s offer. Anna felt an opening in her chest as the loss of her family, friends and all she loved sank in. She tried to hold out for hope, to keep the emptiness at bay, but now there was no hope to hold. The portal could be opened, but she could never pass through. Returning to her world was impossible.
    Anna vaguely heard Mara and Char speaking to her, but she shut off any part of her which would care. She embraced the coldness settling over her as she turned to look out her large window, effectively dismissing the two visitors remaining.
    ***
    Char slammed his hand against the large, wooden desk taking up the better part of his study. His anger and frustration at the information Mara brought him flamed through his pores, threatening to consume his normally controlled demeanor. Char had grown to care for the mortal woman who was brought to his castle two weeks before. Their nightly conversations brought him hours of entertainment and filled a space in his chest Char hadn’t known was lacking. While he didn’t relish the idea of losing Anna to her world, Char knew it was what she wanted more than anything he could offer. He ached for the loss of Anna’s happiness.
    “It isn’t fair, Mara,” Char muttered as he ran a frustrated hand through his black, carefully cropped hair. “There has to be something we can do.”
    “I’m sorry, Highness,” Mara swiped at the tears still streaming down her cheeks.
    Char felt sorrow for the Fairy’s pain. He knew better than most how diligently Mara searched for a way to send Anna home. Seeing Anna’s shock and despair at the news of her entrapment in the Mystical Realm was as heartbreaking for Mara as for Char, if not more so. “You didn’t fail her, Mara.”
    “I did,” Mara slipped to the floor, her golden dress draping round her hunched form as she knelt on the tile.
    “This isn’t your fault,” Char insisted. “You didn’t bring her here. You didn’t steal her from her family.”
    “No,” Mara stood with a steely set to her frame. “I only allowed it to happen.”
    “Mara,” Char took a step toward the Fairy, but she was gone before he moved. While Fairies didn’t quite have the ability to teleport or vanish, their small stature and wings made them exceedingly fast and allowed for hasty retreats. Char sighed, knowing he would not be able to comfort his friend. Mara was too lost in guilt to accept his platitudes.
    Char took a few steadying moments to compose himself, reigning in his pain for Anna with a tight leash. He couldn’t send her home, so Char had to help her make a new home. He would allow Anna a few days to process the horrid news Mara brought. However, Char was determined to help Anna make a happy life in his world; with him.
    ***
    Anna pushed the food around her plate, unable to eat past the lump she couldn’t seem to remove from her throat. It was a