The Wizards of Venus Book One: Magic Touch Read online

  short truce before the war resumed. Stopping next to the gazebo, Rand tipped her face up towards him.

  “Gracie, you’re a very beautiful woman. I must’ve been better at hiding my attraction to you than I thought. I can’t wait until we’re married.”

  “You’re so full of it, Your Highness. And I thought we agreed no fighting tonight.

  Tomorrow will be soon enough to argue about it.” She turned to head back.

  “Who says we’re going to argue, Gracie? Why can’t we let nature take its course?”

  She paused for a moment. Finally she turned and faced him.

  “If I let nature takes its course, Rand, we’ll have a miserable marriage and then wished we’d remained friends.”

  “You're so certain we can't make our marriage work that you're nixing it before it's even begun. Why not give it a chance and see how happy we can be?"

  He closed the distance between them. Standing inches away from her, he waited for her answer.

  “I’m better suited to be an advisor than a wife. I never intended on marrying anyone, Rand.”

  "Why not?”

  “I thought about marrying once. I changed my mind.”

  "What changed, Grace? You’ve the perfect example of a happy marriage. Your parents are still very much in love. What’s soured you on marriage?" He brushed a lock of hair away from her face.

  "There was a guy once. But we came from very different backgrounds. I never would’ve fit into his world."

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  Rand stiffened and anger coursed through him.

  “You made this decision without asking him?"

  "Who I marry or if I even marry should be my choice!" Gracie stepped back from him. “I'm too tired to fight with you tonight, Rand."

  “Just tell me this. When did you find time to meet him? You’ve been so wrapped up in your studies you barely surfaced to eat, let alone go out and date someone.”

  “Rand, it’s none of your business. You’re my friend, not my lover, boyfriend or husband. Even if you were, it's in the past. It's been twelve years. I don't ask you about all of your past lovers.”

  "Lovers?" Rand’s laughter had a bite to it.

  "I'm sure you’ve had plenty of them, Rand. And I'm not judging you."

  "Just as many as you have!" Taking a deep breath, he composed himself. “How long will I have to fight his memory to take his place in your heart?”

  "It’ll never happen."

  "You’re mine, Gracie, I won't accept less than everything. Whoever this man is, forget about him. He'll never be yours."

  * * * *

  The man standing behind the bushes smiled widely. He’d finally found the way to lure Grace away from the prince. All he had to do was find the man who’d stolen her heart so long ago. He could tell she still had affection for him. All he had to do was convince the man to help him. The girl wouldn’t have a choice. She would fly to her former love and leave the prince weakened. The prince was going to find out how much 54

  of a weakness his affection for the Advisor’s daughter was going to become. Then, when the time was right, he would strike.

  * * * *

  Gracie sat down in front of her vanity and stared at herself in the mirror. Putting her head down on her arms, she groaned. What the hell am I going to do? “You never should’ve lied to him, Sweetheart.”

  “I didn’t. I just let him assume that…”

  “That he had competition. This is going to backfire, Gracie. No man likes being

  told he’s second best, even if the only one he’s competing with is himself.”

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  Chapter Three

  It took some time, nearly two weeks, but Gracie was patient and it soon paid off.

  She’d thought she’d found a loop hole in the Royal Law.

  “That’s if they’re still enforcing the chastity rule.”

  “I like this not, Gracie. You keep pushing and you’re going to force his hand

  and you’ll find yourself wedded and bedded before the next moon.”

  “Oh shut up, Zara. You’re not the one who’s being forced to marry your best friend. If I can see why it’s such a disaster, why can’t everyone else?”

  “Perhaps, sweetheart, everyone else sees the truth and you’re the one who

  can’t see what’s right in front of you.”

  “I don’t want to argue with you too but I’m getting darned tired of being told marrying Rand is my only option. I’m tempted to go and find the nearest wizard and have my

  ‘chastity’ taken care of.”

  “Then I fear you’re doomed to fail, Gracie. Your chosen will allow no other

  wizard near you until your marriage takes place.”

  “It’s ridiculous! I’m nothing special and he deserves better.”

  Continuing to brush her hair, she stared at her reflection. While she didn’t see what Rand saw, he’d been sending the message of his desire for her loud and clear. It still surprised her when she’d look up and catch the heat in his eyes and he wasn’t the least shy about invading her dreams each night to drive the point home. She normally awoke in the morning more frustrated than she’d been when she gone to bed.

  “Zara, is possible to die of frustration?”

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  “Your joining is coming, sweetheart, and I fear the frustration you feel right

  now is ‘nil’ compared to what is going to occur when I go into heat and trigger the

  mezclar.”

  “Mezclar?”

  “Yes. I know you’ve probably only heard bits and pieces about it but…” Zara

  paused. “He’s near, Gracie and waiting.”

  Glancing at the clock, she wanted to growl in frustration. “Damn it, he’s early tonight.” She knew if she didn’t go to sleep soon, Rand would walk the short distance across their shared balcony and check on her.

  “Damn, why can’t he just leave me alone? Whether it’s the dream state or physical, he just won’t leave me alone.”

  “It’s your choice. In which state do you feel you’re stronger?”

  “Neither. But I’m not up to dealing with the physical affect he has on me.”

  Setting her brush down, she clicked the light off and crawled into her bed. Taking a deep breath, she tried to relax.

  Standing outside Gracie's room on the balcony, Rand watched the light turn off.

  “How long are you going to resist, Gracie?” His words were soft and lost to the breeze.

  “She’ll come around, Rand.”

  “ She’s resisting more each night, Ruzac. I’m trying to gently woo her but it’s becoming more difficult the closer the mezclar gets. My instinct says to mark her and claim her as mine. Once she finds the loophole in the Royal Law, I wouldn’t put it past her to throw herself at the closest wizard.”

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  “Zara won’t let her.”

  “God, I hope not because if I catch her trying, I’ll blister her ass..”

  Sighing he pushed off the railing and walked towards her door. Laying his hand upon the handle, he whispered the simple unlock spell. Slipping inside her room, he approached her bed. She was curled on her side with numerous pillows stacked around her. He remembered the first time he’d seen her fetish for pillows. He’d been five. He’d asked her about it and she told him it felt like someone was holding her all night. Soon, Gracie, you won’t need all the pillows. I’ll be holding you all night, every night.

  * * * *

  Gracie felt the moment Rand chose to enter her dreams. It was like an electrical charge filling the air. She wasn't surprised when she felt him kiss the nape of her neck. It’d become a habit for him. One she’d previously avoided by wearing her hair down to cover her sensitive neck.

  "I need to hold you, Gracie.” He wrapped his arms around her, and with a sigh of relief, pulled her deeper into his embrace. As she squirmed against him, he tightened his arms. "Enough!”

  “Or what?”

  “Or I won’
t be responsible for the consequences."

  "Let go of me!" she replied through gritted teeth.

  "Why? You'll have to get used to it. I intend to hold you every night after we’re married. Won’t that be better than a bunch of pillows?" Nuzzling her neck, he was nearly on the verge of sleep when her words shocked him back to alertness.

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  “It’s not going to happen, Rand. I’m not going to marry you. Pick another woman or I’ll use the loophole I found.”

  “Like hell you will! If I catch you even looking at another wizard, I’ll paddle your ass!

  You’re mine and no other will do. It’s our destiny to be together. I've known it since we finished high school."

  "And you chose not to tell me.” Rolling out of his arms, she sprang up until she stood next to the bed glaring at him. “Did you honestly think you could keep me in the dark, Rand? That I wouldn’t realize what’d happened? That I didn’t long for what I knew I could never have?”

  "What do you mean you could never have? Just because I choose to wait…”

  Cutting him off, she threw one of her pillows at him. “It’s always been your choice, Rand, always. It damn near broke my heart to watch you walk away but I figured you’d come to the same conclusion I had.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “I’m not the one you wanted or needed. It hurt but I’ll be damned if I was going to chase after you like all the other simpering little witches do. I’ve got my pride and I have to tell you it’s sure taken a beating in the last couple of weeks.”

  “Not want you?” Rand rolled off the bed and grabbed her. Smiling down at her, he deliberately rubbed his erection against her soft stomach. “I’ve wanted you like hell on fire every time you’re around. You little wildcat! I should’ve done what Ruzac wanted the night of the Gathering.”

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  “Like hell! I was seventeen and I’ll be damned if I was going to be claimed by His Royal Arrogance. Even friendship doesn’t go that far. It’s a good thing you didn’t because I would’ve fought you with everything I had.”

  “Really? Too bad I can’t go back in time and test that theory.” Lifting his hand, he cupped her breast in his hand and squeezed. Not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to have her arching in his arms. Covering her open mouth with his, he plundered it without mercy. As he continued to kiss her roughly, he flicked the end of her nipple with a finger, loving her muffled moan flowing into his mouth. Within moments, the passion he’d been fighting broke loose and they somehow ended back on the bed, with her sprawled across the top of him while he held her tight against him. Rocking against him, she sought her own release.

  Ripping her mouth away from his, she cried out as she trembled on the edge. “Oh, I’m going to come.”

  Her words seemed to be the same as a dousing of cold water. Rand pushed her away from him abruptly and rolled from the bed.

  Sitting up, Gracie tried to make sense of what’d just happened.

  “What? Why did you stop?”

  “I can’t, Wildcat. Tradition…”

  A shriek escaped Gracie and she lashed out at him. “Tradition! You stopped because of some stupid tradition! If you don’t want me then why the hell are you doing this? I knew you were arrogant but I never dreamed you be this cruel! Get the hell out of my dream. I don’t want you here.” Surging off the bed, she pushed him away from her, intending to force him out of her room and dream.

  60

  “Calm down, Gracie. Let me explain.” Grabbing her by the arms he tried to control her.

  “Sweetheart?”

  Zara’s interruption obviously surprised Rand and he paused. It was the first time he’d actually came into contact with Gracie’s sentient power first hand.

  “I want him gone, Zara, before I kill him.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at his chosen.

  “And don’t I have a say in this, Grace Ann?”

  If she’d been calmer, she would’ve realized how close to the edge she’d pushed him. His calling her by her full name was a dead giveaway.

  “No.”

  “Sorry, Your Highness, but I’m here to protect her even from you. Please

  leave.”

  “Woman, what do you think you’re doing?” Ruzac’s voice boomed across the dream plane.

  “Don’t you take that tone with me, Ruzac! This is my place, not yours. Take the

  whelp with you and leave!”

  Quickly realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Gracie decided to abandon the dream plane, hoping to diffuse the situation.

  Jerking awake, she was surprised to find Rand curled around her. Slipping out of his arms, she jerked her robe on and turned to leave the room.

  “Running away again, Gracie?” Rand’s voice brought her to a stop.

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  “No, I’m leaving. I’m through arguing with you. I’m going to use the loophole and put an end to this madness.”

  Crossing his hands over his chest, he glared at her. “You really are begging to get your ass warmed, Wildcat.”

  “This is ridiculous. Even our sentient powers are fighting. When are you going to realize this is pointless and despite what the prophesy says, we’re simply not meant to be? I was going to be content to be your advisor but you had to force the issue. In the morning I’m going to go out and find the closest wizard and break this damn betrothal.”

  “Do you want the death of an innocent wizard on your head, Grace Ann? Because whoever you go to will be signing his death warrant the moment he touches you.”

  “Then let me go!”

  “I can’t.”

  She stomped in her foot in frustration. “You mean you won’t, you selfish bastard!”

  "That's enough!" Rand rose off the bed, furious. "I’ve done nothing but give you time.

  By all rights, I could’ve claimed you the night of the Gathering. You weren’t ready for what would have exploded between us.”

  “Like hell! You’ve accused me of running from you, Your Highness, but let’s not forget who ran first, rather than stay and fight for what he supposedly wanted.”

  “You little bitch.” The narrowing of his eyes should’ve been warning enough. She was totally unprepared for his actions when she immediately found herself bent over his lap and his hand coming down hard on her ass.

  “Stop it!” Arching her back, she tried to scramble off his lap.

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  Holding her in place, he continued to spank her, accenting his words with a sound spank. “You’re–are–mine–and –I’m–never–going–to–let–you –go!” After his final stroke, he jerked her upright on his lap and covered her crying mouth with his. Kissing her, he poured as much of his love for her into the kiss as he could. She was crying even harder when he lifted his head. “I love you, Wildcat, but there are limits even you can’t cross me.” Setting her down on her newly tender butt on the bed, he tucked her back with a flick of his wrist before he disappeared through French doors.

  “Zara?”

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  Closing her eyes in relief when her sentient power responded, she continued, “Why didn’t you stop it?”

  “Stop him from spanking you? You were being a brat, sweetheart. I warned

  you if you kept pushing you were going to trigger something you wouldn’t like.

  Calling your chosen a coward is one way to guarantee a swift spanking.”

  “I never dreamed he’d raise a hand to me. How can I marry a man who’ll hit me when he’s angry?”

  “This is something you’re going to have to make your peace with, Gracie. Just

  as a child you knew you could only push your father so far, Rand is no different.

  For once use your head and not that Irish temper of yours.”

  Sighing, she finally faced the cause of her anger. “He ran from me, Zara. Instead of staying, he ran from what could’ve been between us and that hurts more than anything else I’ve ever experienc
ed. What was I supposed to think? I felt our bond just as deeply as he did.”

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  “Did you ever think maybe he was scared of the intensity of what was going to

  happen between you? Place yourself in his shoes. You find out your best friend is

  your chosen, but she’s still in school and years younger than you. Add to that

  the intense desire to claim that comes with the sentient power awakening. What

  would you’ve done, Gracie? Take and let the pieces fall where they may?”

  “I would’ve at least spoken to her about it. It’s selfish of him to take the choice away from me. How can I have a partnership with Rand when he assumes he knows what’s best for me and does it without even asking me what I think about it?”

  “His need to protect you is part of him, sweetheart. You’re going to have to

  find a common ground between you or I foresee a very rocky start to your

  marriage.”

  * * * *

  The next morning, Gracie went in search of her mother. Surely Mom can give me some advice on how to deal with dominating wizards. Before she could find her mother, she found Queen Aria.

  "Good morning, Queen Aria." She curtsied to the queen.

  "Good morning, Lady Grace. How many times have I told you, it’s not required of you to bow to me, dear? You’re going to be my daughter. I couldn’t have picked a better woman for my son. Rand has chosen well." Motioning for her to sit, the queen sat down across from her.

  “I suppose he has.” Gracie tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

  “Do I detect a note of bitterness in your voice, my dear?”

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  "I wish I could be as happy as everyone else is, and perhaps if I’d had a say in it, my reaction might be different. I’m not comfortable with the social obligations I know are required of Rand’s wife, which only adds to my reaction."

  "I can understand your concerns but I can assure you as time goes on you’ll become comfortable in your role as his wife. It’s why traditionally the next queen and king are chosen so early. They train under the current monarch for a year or more to prepare them. I wish you wouldn’t fret about it. Neither Mica nor I have any doubt in your ability to be a great queen."