17. Khuldruk

17

KHULDRUK

O nce again, Khuldruk found himself sitting around the fire with Calli and her bandmates. They had just played their last show earlier that day.

“Just so you know, Calli, our offer stands. You ever want to settle down, come and find us in Glendale. There is a job waiting for you at the pub, and we could still play,” said Michael.

“I might take you up on a visit, but I think I’m going to take some time and figure out what’s next for me,” she answered back.

Before Khuldruk could even feel nervous, she laced her fingers through his and held his hand. He knew what was next for her, and he hoped she was as happy about that as he was, but he had the rest of his life to make sure she was as happy as she could be.

The fire burned as they reminisced about life on the road and performing. The pauses got longer as the flames turned to ashes.

“Well, I think I’m going to turn in, but don’t you dare leave without saying goodbye,” Calli said as she moved to stand.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” answered Mason.

Khuldruk followed her to her camper and climbed in before her.

“How are you doing, my pet?” he asked as he rubbed her arms.

She looked up at him with her bottom lip trapped between her teeth before her mouth pulled into a small smile. “It’s bittersweet. Endings are hard, but beginnings are exciting,” she said.

“Endings aren’t the only thing that’s hard,” he said with a cocked eyebrow.

She moved over to the bed and turned around with a grin on her face. Even though he hated seeing her even the slightest bit sad, he was filled with such joy at the mere thought of her being his mate, living alongside him in the mountain.

He moved to the bed, pulling her down on top of him. One more night in this cramped trailer, then they would open a portal home. He sighed with contentment as he nuzzled and kissed her neck. She smelled of berries and summer, and he could not get enough.

The next morning, Khuldruk watched as the campers around them packed up. They all embraced and said goodbye. Calli had told him she never felt at home here, but she had certainly surrounded herself with people who cared for her.

Her tearful goodbye with her bandmates had even him wiping tears from his eyes. She came to him teary-eyed as their trailer pulled away and wrapped her arms around him as she sniffled.

He kissed the top of her head. “Are you sure you want to leave today?” he asked.

Looking at him, she wiped a tear from her eye. “I can’t wait to go with you. Just saying goodbye to the old to make way for the new,” she said before reaching up on her toes to kiss her.

“Look at these two lovebirds,” said a familiar Scottish voice.

“Bridget,” Calli greeted warmly before going over to give her a hug. “I think I’ll miss you most of all,” she joked.

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“Somehow, I don’t doubt that.”

“I brought someone with me,” she said, motioning to the two tall older gentlemen behind her. One was tall and broad, and the other was more slender, with gray streaking his brown curls. “This is Abe and Asher.”

They each offer a greeting, and when Khuldruk shook their hands, he could sense something magic about them, but with Bridget, he wasn’t surprised.

“I know they might be able to drive your van and store it for ye,” Bridget said.

“Would you do that? I don’t even know you.” Callie asked.

“Bridget said you’re leaving for another realm. We have plenty of space on our mountain to store it for you.”

“They also live near a portal,” said Bridget. “How did you get here anyway?”

He pulled out the phone from his pocket.

All three of them looked at him with puzzled expressions.

“I don’t really know how these work. I just know one button showed me Calli, and one button made a portal appear.”

“Can I have a look?” asked one of the men, the one with long hair Bridget had called Asher. He handed him the phone and watched as the other man examined it. “And this can create a portal?” asked the other man in a deep voice.

Khuldruk nodded. He would explain it if he could, but he had no clue how it all worked.

“Next time you guys are here, look us up in Hecate’s Hollow. We’ll keep this for you,” said Abe, patting the camper.

“I appreciate it. Thank you.”

“Hey, a friend of Bridget’s is a friend of ours. When you come back, I have so many questions,” Asher said, shaking their hands.

“Should we get going?” Calli asked him. There was uncertainty on her face; she was trying to push away, but he saw it.

Khuldruk cupped her cheek and gave a small nod.

“Now this I’ve got to see,” Bridget said with a grin stretching across her face.

Khuldruk opened his phone and pushed the blue swirl button next to the purple Kiss-Meet app. Before them appeared a cave.

“Wow,” said Asher.

“It’s incredible,” said Bridget.

Calli turned and pulled Bridget into a hug. “I’ll miss you. Thank you for everything.”

“Never fear, lass. We’ll meet again.”

Callie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Are you ready?”

Khuldruk held out his hand. She took it, smiling up at him.

Together, they walked into the cave.