Eternally

By Linda Mooney

After suffering a brutal beating at the hands of Goen, Juda Plesh sees her opportunity to escape and takes it. She jumps. But where—or when—will she end up? Will Cayn be able to find her? And why did he abandon her in the first place?

 

Traveling through the centuries, Cayn Stiner has always been able to find Juda, but he's disappointed when he finally locates her and she doesn't recognize him. They've always been drawn to each other, tied emotionally to one another, but realizing she doesn't remember him doesn't sit well. The new scar on her forehead could have something to do with it.

 

Juda isn't sure she knows the man at first, but she remembers the name, and slowly memories are coming back to her. Cayn is her love, her heart, for all of eternity. If only they can survive constant attacks from Goen, another Nomad like them who is determined to end Cayn and keep Juda for himself. 

 

Constantly running, jumping through time, and looking over their shoulders, the couple want to be able settle down and start their family. Here, in this time, where they are accepted and the people care for them. But how will they be able to evade the madman and end their torment once and for all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Jan 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781953797261

Linda Mooney

Linda loves to write sensuously erotic romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love. She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance. In addition, she write naughty erotic romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, and horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith. For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website. http://www.LindaMooney.com

Book preview

Separated

The blows were brutal and unexpected. Juda cried out in pain from the beating, when another one came from behind her, striking her between the shoulder blades. The pounding knocked her onto the ground, driving her face into the dirt.

The guy grabbed her by the hair at the back of her head and jerked her sideways. The booted foot that came down narrowly missed colliding with her cheek and eye, crushing it and snuffing out her life.

Hold!

The boot came down again, and this time the edge of the hard sole struck her forehead, right at her hairline. She whimpered from the agony slicing through her brain when the voice of authority boomed again.

"I said hold!"

She heard a loud thump, and the person who’d been beating on her abruptly stopped. Someone reached down, grabbed her by the front of her blouse, and lifted her until she was upright. Rough hands slammed her backwards against the rock wall. Her head connected with the roughened stone. Bright spots flashed behind her eyes. After another few seconds, something warm trickled down her neck.

Dimly, she was aware of the strip of skin that had been peeled away from her forehead. It dangled below her eyebrow. Blood flowed over the bridge of her nose. She closed her eyes as the two men moved a short distance away. They spoke in low tones to prevent her from overhearing, but she could tell the one who’d abused her was getting a dressing down from his master.

Lifting her face, she tried to focus on the men. One of them she didn’t recognize. The other…

The argument ended, and Goen strode toward her. Juda averted her face, squeezing her eyes shut again as she prepared herself for another blow. He stopped in front of her and bent over.

Listen to me, the man ordered. Where is Cayn?

I do not know, she weakly responded.

He backhanded her, striking the corner of her mouth and cheek, and sending her flying sideways. With her arms bound behind her, she couldn’t avoid hitting the ground again.

"Where is Cayn?" Goen bellowed.

I do not know! she answered between sobs.

She knows, a second voice growled.

Goen grunted. Or perhaps she does not. He dropped onto one knee. The leather leggings nearly touched her nose. When did he leave?

Ye-yesterday.

Why did he abandon you?

H-he did not… She paused, realizing that Goen could be speaking the truth. Cayn had left without letting her know beforehand that he might be gone when she awakened. He’d never done that before. What if he had abandoned her? There could be no other explanation. I do not know why, she weakly confessed.

Goen laughed at her confession. It was an ugly sound she would never forget.

He left you to save his own skin. He does not care for you. All he cares about is himself. You are…expendable.

If I am expendable, why do you beat me? If you know he abandoned me, why do you beat me? she managed to ask, keeping her head bowed. In her heart, she prayed Cayn hadn’t left her at Goen’s mercy. There had to be a good reason why he’d left while she slept.

Goen moved away. She took the chance that he wasn’t about to strike her again and slowly raised her face to see where he’d gone. He’d returned to where the other man stood. They resumed talking, their backs to her.

She may never have the opportunity again.

Moving as quietly as possible, she managed to get to her feet. A head start. That’s all she needed was a head start.

She took off running as fast as she could. Her vision blurred and pain pulsed behind her eyes as she aimed for a thicket not too far away. She needed to be at least a dozen steps away from them before she exited, or else one or both of them could be swept up inside her energy.

Someone yelled when they discovered her missing. Judging by the sound, she knew she was far enough away. At the same time she burst through the foliage. Taking a deep breath, she launched herself into the time vortex and let it sweep her away.

Juda jerked awake. Instinctively, she reached for the closest thing to ground herself, and her hands found the thin blanket. Her heart was pounding, and she felt like she was still falling through the years.

She lay there on her pallet and waited for her body to calm. Her eyes riveted on the curtainless window on the other side of the room where faint moonlight poured across the floor, stopping short of reaching where she’d been sleeping. A shiver went through her, and she pulled the blanket tighter around her.

The past few weeks were a haze. Time was no longer relevant. She was alone and would probably remain alone from now on. Cayn was gone. Somewhere. And Goen… The man was out there, too. He was looking for her. Looking for Cayn. But also looking for her because he believed Cayn would come back for her, to protect her, and she’d be the bait to lure him in.

She shuddered again. Placing a palm to her face, she felt the heat pulsing through her skin. She was feverish. She didn’t know if she’d caught something in this time period, or if she’d been infected in the previous era.

She shook her head. She couldn’t afford to be sick. She needed to work because she needed to eat and have a place to stay. But she also needed to be vigilant. Constantly on guard in case Goen showed up again. And he would. She had no doubts about that.

The wound on her forehead throbbed, sending short, quick slivers of pain through her head. Almost lighting the roots of her hair on fire. Sadly, the beating she’d taken had affected her memory. She remembered Cayn, but only his name. That and the way he made her feel.

Feel loved. They loved. They were in love. He cared for her with a strength that was equaled only by hers for him. But the rest...how they’d met…how they lived…what he looked like…

His face was a blur. His voice, she couldn’t remember how it sounded. All that remained was her need for him. For his love. His arms, his body, his kisses. His name and the emotions that flooded her whenever she thought of him—that was all she had left to remember him by.

Where are you? she whispered, staring at the window. Why did you leave me? Where did you go? Do you even think of me now?

A part of her raged against the man. A part of her wanted to believe what Goen had said—that Cayn had left her to face Goen alone. That he’d left her to save himself.

However, the other part, the deepest part of