The Wizards of Venus Book One: Magic Touch (9 page)

* * * *

“Yes! It’s begun.”
“What’s begun?”
Rand rubbed his eyes. He’d been pouring over the journal for the past hour.

“The mezclar."

85

Glancing at the calendar on his desk, he frowned.
“Are you sure? The next full moon
is nearly two weeks away. It shouldn’t have started yet.”

“Blame it on your hot headed chosen. Zara warned her about what would

happen if she didn’t control herself.”

“What do you mean control herself?”

“Strong emotions this close to Zara’s evolution can trigger it and your chosen

with her stubbornness ignored the warning. Let the games begin.”

“Fuck!”

* * * *

“Gracie?”

“Yeah?” Gracie was reeling as the burn of the
mezclar
wrapped around her.

“What’s wrong?” Aria stepped forward and placed a hand on her forehead.

“
Mezclar,”
she mumbled as she stumbled to back into the chair. She never saw the look which passed between her mother and Aria. Surfacing long enough to focus on them, she asked the first question which came to her mind.

“How long does this last?”

Touching her shoulder Aria, tried to reassure her. “A week.”

"A week!" The uncontrollable desire they’d experienced during the dream came back to her.
How am going to survive a week and not go out of my mind?
Her body softened with desire at the thought of being locked away in the bridal suite with Rand as tradition dictated. “
I shouldn’t be reacting this way.”

“Oh yes you should. You know you’d be willing to take everything he has to

give and then beg for more.”

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“Oh God, I hate when you’re right.” Desire warred with exasperation.

“Wildcat, this is not a good line of thought. You’re tempting me to forget about
waiting.”

Shock filled her when Rand’s voice filled her head.

“How are you…”

“
Its part of the mezclar, sweetheart. Once it begins, your chosen can touch

your mind at will.”

“Wonderful. Just what I need. Stay out of my head. You may not like what you find.”

“You mean the truth, Wildcat?"

“What? That I find you irritating and wish you’d leave me be?”

His laughter washed over her. “Somehow I doubt that. You want me just as much as
I want you and I don’t need to prowl around inside your head to know it.”

“Well arrogance is something you’ve never lacked, Rand.”

“You can blame it on Ruzac. He’s the truly arrogant one.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
Zara’s voice was a matter fact.

“Oh, really? Do we need to go back over the rules again, Zara, my love?

“She’s not ready for this, Ruzac. Please be patient while I guide her.”

“I don’t need to be guided anywhere other than away from here.”
Staggering out of the chair, she attempted to make her way across the room to only have the heat in her build to distracting proportions.
“Damn it. If this is what the mezclar entails, just fuck me
and get it over with, Rand.”

“Damn it, Gracie, this isn’t something to just get over with. This means more than
just a quick roll between the sheets. We’re talking bonding here.”

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“Who says? I say we just fuck and get this out of our system so we can go back to
being friends.”

“We’re always going to be friends, Wildcat, and much more.”

His promise sent shivers through her
. "Please.”

“What's wrong, sweetheart?" Aria caught Gracie as she stumbled.

“Rand – he’s inside my head. Make him stop.”

“What is Rand doing to her?” Alarm filled Olivia’s voice.

“I don’t know. This courtship is going to give us gray hairs, Olivia. I’ve never seen two better suited for each other. Why are they fighting it?”

“I don’t know. The sooner they complete the ritual the better.”

“No I won’t!” Looking up at her mother, Gracie crossed her arms over her chest and tried to ignore the burning inside her. “I’ve got to get out of here. I don’t want any part of this.”

“Like hell you will! You’re mine, Wildcat, and you’re not going anywhere without me.”

Panic raced over her.
“You can’t stop me!”

“Gracie, please don’t do this. You don’t realize what you’re tempting. Ruzac

won’t let it happen.”

“Then you deal with him, Zara because I’m done.”

* * * *

Watching her future daughter, Aria decided she had no choice but to call upon her husband. It would be disastrous if Gracie tried to run now. Reaching out, she used their bond with ease. 88

“Mica, she’s going to run. I fear what will happen if she does. How strong do you
think our son’s control is?”

“I’m not sure it’s strong enough to take her running at this point. Keep her there and
I’ll get him.”

“I will.”
Turning back to face Gracie, Aria paled. She was gone.

* * * *

Rand entered Gracie's rooms without knocking. Gracie was curled up on top of her bed. Her head turned to him as he strode across the room. Placing his hands on his hips, he stared down at her. “You dare to think about running from me?” He reached down and pulled her off the bed.

“Let me go.” Pushing against his chest, she tried to break free of his hold.

Queen Aria rushed into the room followed by Olivia.

"Now, son, you need to stop and think this through.”

“What’s to think about? She threatened to leave me! I won’t allow it!”

* * * *

“Of course not, her place is at your side.” Keeping her tone soft, Aria sent an urgent plea to her husband.
Hurry up Mica. He’s going to lose it. Why did she have to
challenge him? I don’t think I’m strong enough to prevent him from claiming her.
I'm coming, love, and Colin is with me. Between the two of us we’ll be able to
prevent this from happening.

When King Mica and Colin burst into the room, the sight greeting them was worse than they’d expected. Rand had Gracie wrapped in his arms was mating with her 89

mouth. From the sounds coming from the couple, it was obvious time was of the essence.

"Rand!" When his son was slow to respond, Mica realized just how far he was gone.

A curse escaped him. Stopping next to him, he knew laying hands on Rand could possibly make things worse. Striving for patience, he began speaking calmly; hoping common sense would win out over the overpowering need to claim.

"Son, listen to me. I know how hot the
mezclar
burns. Gracie doesn’t understand the temptations it represents. But rest assured we’ll keep her at your side until the completion of the ritual. She’s not going anywhere but you’ve got to release her. Don’t throw your honor away in a moment of burning passion. Pull back from the edge. You’re stronger than this. In less than ten days you’ll wed. Gracie and you will probably set the whole palace on fire but for now just hang on."

* * * *

From a distance, Rand could hear his father’s words. The words of reason; he couldn’t do this now. His honor would be forfeit.
“No! Claim her! Make her ours.”

“No! It’s not the time.”

“Yes it is. She’s challenged us and it
cannot
go unanswered.”

“No. I’m in control here, Ruzac! This is Gracie. My Gracie, not your Zara.”

“
Claim her!”

Pushing down on his sentient power, he focused on his dad and the incendiary heat consuming him. He needed an outlet. Releasing Gracie, he stumbled towards the 90

French doors. A shout rose from courtyard. The water in the wishing fountain began to roll wildly.

"That's right, son. Get rid of it."

As the last bit of the wildest part of the fire extinguished in the fountain, he spoke.

"I'm in control now. I promise I won't rape her." His own disgust at his lack of control struck home. Not trusting his fragile hold on Ruzac, he left Gracie’s room without even looking at her, scared that one look into her passion glazed eyes would break it.

* * * *

When her father and Mica followed Rand out of the room, Gracie sank onto the bed. "This has got to stop.” Looking up at her mother and Aria, she gestured wildly. “The wildness of this can’t be controlled. This is only going to get worse. Why else do you think I’ve been fighting so hard? It has nothing to do with the fact I’m his best friend. Or even if I love him." Standing on trembling legs, she faced them. “It can’t be controlled and in the end it’ll destroy us both.”

“It’ll never consume you, sweetheart. With the balance between you and Rand,

it may become wild and erotic but never will the fire consume either of you.”

“As much as I’d like to believe you, the burn is still so strong. I think perhaps a walk
is in order for me to cool down.”

* * * *

Mica tapped his fingers on his desk as Colin and he waited in the King's Solar for Jonathan to join them. He’d a plan but it all hinged on Jonathan’s participation. The incident in Gracie’s room had been too close for comfort. 91

Jonathan strode into the King's solar a short while later. After making the customary bow to the king and his advisor, he waited to for the King to speak.

“There was an incident early this afternoon with Rand and Gracie.”

Jonathan nodded. “Yes, I’d heard about it. It’s quite the buzz around the castle.”

Mica nodded. “The only thing I can suggest to keep it from happening again is having a chaperon with them at all times – even at night. I know Rand will be resistant to the idea but out of everyone I can think of, you’re the one I think he’ll be the least likely to object to.”

“True. I don’t mind chaperoning him even though it’ll make my own courtship plans a bit more difficult. We can’t have them spinning out of control again. And knowing Gracie, it’s only a matter of time before she tests his patience again. She’s made an art form of getting under his skin.”

"I don't want this to interfere with your courtship of Colin's daughter, Jonathan but I’m glad you understand the severity of this."

"Courtship?”

Facing Colin, Jonathan nodded. “Something peculiar has happened. My sentient power has claimed Pati, Colin. I don’t understand why but you know as well as I, once it happens there is no reversing it. Not that I’d want to. I’m having one of the Masters look into it to see why it occurred and what protocol I need to follow. But doubt me not, Colin, Pati is no sooner going to escape me than Gracie is Rand. She’s mine.”

“I would expect no less of you, Jonathan. Now that only leaves one more thing to discuss.”

"What's that?" The king looked at him.

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"Who gets to tell Rand he's gonna have a babysitter?"

* * * *

"How did I get elected to do this?" Jonathan mumbled to himself as he knocked on the door to Rand's suite. He could hear his friend moving around in the room before the door slowly swung open. Jonathan was taken back at his friend’s appearance. Rand's ebony hair stood up at all angles on his head and Jonathan could see the tremors still racked him. Deciding to take this into his own hands, he threw his arm around his best friend and smiled. "Come on let's go work off some of this energy." Jonathan dragged Rand down the hall to the palace’s exercise room.

93

“
It’s too much, Wildcat. We can’t…” Rand ripped his mouth way from the bared
curves of her breasts. After the brutal workout Jonathan had forced him through, he
assumed he’d be tired enough to resist temptation and had merged with his chosen as
was his nightly custom. He just hadn’t expected to find her having an erotic dream.

“What did you expect to happen when you snuck into my dreams?” Gracie crossed
her arms covering her breasts. “Zira has gone into heat and you honestly expected
Ruzac to resist temptation once he found himself here? You’re a bigger fool than I
thought you were if you thought he would.”

Sitting on the edge of her rumpled bed, he drew deep breaths into his burning
lungs. He didn't dare look at her; it wouldn't take much for him to give in to both Ruzac
and his own burning need to claim his chosen.

“Perhaps this was a mistake, Rand. I thought I could control it. I’d forgotten

how out of control the mezclar makes me.”

For once Ruzac actually sounded contrite. Surging to his feet, he paced over to the
large standing armoire. Leaning against the cool wood, he couldn’t help but stare at her.

Sitting amidst her pillows and ‘dryla’ sheets, she was the ultimate temptation.

“Bastard!”
Zara’s cry rang through the dream plane.

“What the hell did you do, Ruzac?” Rand was astonished.

“Gave Zara incentive to keep Gracie in line. There’s no way, she’s going to let

her use the loophole now.”

94

“I ought to, Ruzac, just to spite your stubborn ass! Get the hell out of her

dream and don’t come back until you’re both invited!”

Without warning Rand found himself barred from Gracie’s dream and back in his room. Rolling over and off his bed, he headed for his French doors, intending on walking the short distance to Gracie’s room.

“Where are you headed, bud?”

Jonathan’s voice jerked him to a stop. Running his hand through his hair, he shrugged.

“After what happened earlier do you honestly think being alone with Gracie is wise?”

“Not really but I need to see her. Ruzac did something stupid to Zara and I’ve a feeling I’m the one who’s gonna pay for it.”

“Even though he’s your sentient power, Rand, you control him, not the other way around. Sometimes you have to put your foot down. He may be the reincarnated spirit of your great grandfather but you’re in control.”

“Boy, you were the one who was worried about her using the stupid loophole.

You should be thanking me. She won’t be able to escape you now.”

“What the hell did you do, Ruzac?”

“I placed a spell on Zara.”

“What kind of spell?”

“One which will keep her on the edge of release until you claim Gracie.”

“
Rand?”

Opening his eyes, he focused on Jonathan. “If he weren’t already dead, I’d kill him.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

95

“It’s not. He’s placed a sexual non-fulfillment spell on Gracie’s sentient power. She can’t come anymore than the two of us.”

Jonathan paled. “I’ll kill him for you. Do you realize with Gracie’s sentient power entrapped in such a spell the
mezclar
is only going to get worse?”