AN ETERNAL LOVE

CHAPTER: 30

Adira wanted him. She knew it with a sudden, urgent pang that left her breathless. But she knew it was

impossible. For Damien was a church minister, and she was a witch. She had to put him out of her

mind. She must. But she was unable to do that.

After the sermon and prayers concluded, the entire population of the Thunder Bay Sanctuary turned

out for the mid-day meal to welcome the new minister. It was held outdoors since there was no building

yet large enough to accommodate everyone for the meal.

Adira sat upon a blanket near a shade tree, putting out the food her aunt had brought along when she

felt his gaze on her again. And looking up, she saw him, Damien Walter, staring at her. He did not look

away when she met his eyes. Instead, he inclined his head very slightly and then turned to go back

inside the church.

He wanted her to come to him. He had made it quite clear. Adira's throat went dry as she rehearsed in

her mind what she would say to him. She had gone over it before, of course. Many times she had tried

to imagine what explanation she could devise should she meet anyone who had seen her being

hanged. But always, she had been imagining this man in her mind's eye. Secretly hoping, perhaps, that

she would see him again one day.

"I left my shawl inside," Adira told her aunt.

She only looked at Adira and winked. "Best go and find it, then, Adira. Before someone else does."

Adira thought her aunt had some clue, that she was truly going to speak privately with Damien. But no

hint of disapproval clouded her shining eyes.

Adira went inside and saw him sitting on a bench near the front of the church. Her hands trembling, she

went to him, stood before him, looking down, and thus having a view of the door beyond as well, lest

someone came in and overheard what Damien was going to say. Would he accuse her? Condemn

her? She did not know.

Lifting his eyes to hers, he whispered, "It is true, then, after all. You are alive."

Adira swallowed hard. More than anything, she did not wish to lie to him. Not to him. But her mother's

words seemed to ring in her ears. 'Trust no one. No one!' She could not tell him what she was.

Especially not while he wore minister's robes. Though it bothered her to deny the truth to him.

"You say such odd things, Pastor. Of course, I am alive," Adira said.

Holding her gaze, he shook his head slowly, wonder in his eyes. "I saw you die, girl."

Pretending shock, she lifted a hand to her breast. "You have mistaken me for someone else, then. I

have never died, else how could I be here?"

"Do not lie to me, Adira. Not to me." He rose suddenly, tall and strong and so close his body was nearly

touching hers. "I brought your dead body down myself, held your corpse in my arms, and dampened

your hair with my tears. I..." He broke off there, closed his eyes, and lowered his head as if he were too

overwhelmed to go on.

Adira was speechless. "You brought me down? You wept for me?"

He looked into her eyes, and she felt an incredible yearning build within her soul.

"You have haunted my dreams since that vile day, Adira Thompson. And now you stand here before

me, as beautiful and alive as you were the first time I looked into your eyes when you stood so bravely

upon the gallows."

Adira felt a stinging in her eyes, burning in her throat. She could not deny who she was, for he would

never believe her. No more than she would have believed him, had he told her that he was not that

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"I would know you anywhere," he told her, and his hands clasped her shoulders, warm and firm. She

could feel him wanting her, just by his touch. And she wanted him, too. "I knew you on the ship," he

said. "You came to me then, when I was ill." He searched her face then. But she said nothing.

"Admit it to me, dammit! Have you any idea how many times I have doubted my own sanity since that

night? Have you?"

"I am sorry," Adira whispered. "Hope God forgives me? I am so sorry. Yes, Damien, I came to you that

night. I... they wanted to put you off the ship, they thought you carried the plague. I could not let them."

With one trembling hand, she touched his cheek. "No matter the cost, I could not let harm come to

you."

He nodded slowly, closing his eyes in relief. "I knew it was you. Even without the light. I would know

you even if I were blind, Adira."

"And I would recognize you, Damien," Adira murmured, lowering her head. "I... I never forgot how you

tried to help us."

"Then you will tell me the truth," he said softly.

She looked into his eyes... and she wanted to share this burden, this wonder, this miracle of what she

was with him more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. And she lied to him.

"It was a trick and nothing more." She had to avert her eyes to force the words out. She could not lie to

him while looking into his eyes. "The dress I wore that day had a high neck. Do you remember?"

"Yeah, I remember everything. The dress was brown, with small yellow buttons up the front, all the way

to your chin. And your hair smelled of lavender," he said.

Adira felt warm inside. His voice was like a caress upon her very soul. "Beneath the dress, I wore a

steel collar. No one could see it. It protected my neck from the noose."

His eyes narrowed, probed her's. "And where did you get this collar? They said you had spent the night

with your neck and wrists locked in the stocks."

"A friend... he stole into the square and slipped it around my neck," she said.

Frowning at her, Damien shook his head. "No. Even with the collar, the fall could have broken your wee

neck." And his forefinger danced across her neck as he said it, sending shivers down her spine.

"I could have," Adira said. "But did not."

His eyes were piercing, as if he sought to see inside her mind, to the truth hidden there.

A/N: To be continued...