by Dakota Trace
“I warned you, Sweetheart. If it’s driving you insane you’ve no one to blame
but yourself.”
“I thought we already established we weren’t going to talk about this, Zara.”
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“No you’re just being your normal stubborn self and refusing to face the
reality of your situation –“
“Rand, I’ve found her.”
Jonathan’s voice jerked her out of the argument with Zara. He was holding his com unit and speaking into it.
“Damn it, Jonathan, I wished you hadn’t done that.”
Taking advantage of his distraction, she flew into the traditional forms of the Vindexicis training she’d taken with Rand. His curse was short lived while she flowed smoothly from one form to another with blazingly accurate speed. Within moments Jonathan was laying in a heap on the floor, unconscious with a shattered kneecap.
“Oh my God! Gracie you’ve – “
“Relax, he’ll be fine. He might have a bit of a headache when he wakes up though.”
“If anyone had ever asked me, I would’ve never guessed you’d ever hurt him. For the love of Mica, he’s your best friend! I can’t believe you took advantage of that.”
“Advantage of what?”
“The fact he’d never hurt you because Rand would never forgive him if he did. You used it to your advantage!”
“Of course I did. But have you ever known me to not do what was needed? And in this case, I need time and if the two Neanderthals I call friends won’t give it to me, I’ll take it.”
“Even if it includes hurting them?”
Propping her hand on one hip, she locked eyes with Pati. “I’m not like you Pati. I can’t keep giving and giving. I’ll serve my country and my king but if I’m going to give 101
the ultimate sacrifice to it, I need to make my peace with it and having all of you - even Mom or Dad in my face about it isn’t helping me in any way. I need to be alone to think.”
“You act as if giving yourself to the man you love is a bad thing.”
“It is when I’m sacrificing my friendship for it. Not to mention the new relationship Rand wants to have with me will more than likely be the battle of my life.”
“So what are you going to do to me? You’ve knocked out Jonathan, so what are you going to do to keep me from telling Rand or using our twin bond to find you?”
“I was hoping you’d understand, Pati, but it’s obvious you don’t.” Drawing her sister into a hug, she exerted just the right pressure to ease her sister into a deep sleep. “I’m sorry, Pati but I’ve got to deal with this on my own terms.” She gently lowered her sister to the floor beside Jonathan then placed a powerful healing spell on his broken kneecap. After making certain the two of them would awaken within a few hours, Grace vanished again.
* * * *
When Rand showed up at Pati’s, he found both of them in the living room. Pati was sitting on the couch holding her head and Jonathan was pacing without even a trace of a limp. Jonathan stopped when he saw Rand. "I'm sorry, I didn’t think she’d fight me."
Looking at his best friend, Rand saw the bruise running down the length of his jaw.
“Wildcat, you sure did a number on my best friend. Damn if I don’t love that feisty side of yours.”
Silence greeted him.
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“I know you can hear me. Do your thinking fast because come dawn, I’m coming after you. You got your reprieve, enjoy it while it lasts, because once I’ve got you back at my side you’re not leaving it again.”
* * * *
Standing outside in the Palace gardens, Rand stared up at the stars. He wasn't surprised when his father joined him. "Hi, Dad."
"How are you holding up, son? I know giving Gracie time, even overnight, has got to be difficult.”
"It is, especially with your grandfather riding my ass about it. Was he really as aggressive and dominating in real life?”
“That he was. I remember many a time when your great grandma locked him out of their rooms. In fact Gramps was known for sneaking into my room and bedding down with me when she did. Grams was a stubborn woman at times.”
“So it’s no surprise when she chose to merge with Gracie.”
“No, it isn’t. I hope you realize how blessed you are to have Gramps. He could’ve chosen any wizard he wanted. “
“I know and he chose to become my sentient power.”
"So when are you going after her?”
“At dawn and she’d better pray I don’t have far to look.”
* * * *
Gracie lay on the bed in the rented room she’d purchased for the night. She’d hoped that with distance her struggle with the mezclar would become easier. 103
“I could’ve told you it wasn’t going to, Grace Ann. But as usual you’re going to
do this the hard way. Do you realize what is going to happen the longer we’re
gone?”
“I was hoping it would lessen and I’d be able to reason this out.”
Zara laughed. “Sweetheart, there is no reasoning with the mezclar. It is what it
is and it has one solitary purpose - to bind completely. It doesn’t care whether or
not one party is struggling with the changes it requires; it just simply is…and
mere distance has no affect on it.”
“I’m simply tired, Zara. Can you understand that? Tired of being told what I’m going to do. Tired of having no choice in my future. For the love of Mica, I’m even tired of fighting my need for him. Sometimes I swear it’s going to swallow me whole and leave nothing but an ulcer.”
“I understand. Why don’t you try to sleep, while you can. I’ll resist as long as I
can, but be prepared for a hot and bothered Rand to show up in the early
morning.”
Rolling over, she tried to ease into meditative sleep. As usual she examined her power as she slipped into the first ring. She could already see the obvious connection between her sentient power and Rand’s. I wonder what other changes will occur once we’re fully bonded. As she navigated the inner rings of the ritual, she became more relaxed until she came to the final inner ring. When, instead of accepting her into its embrace, it remained closed. Gracie frustrated - questioned Zara.
“Why is it closed?”
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“It’ll remain closed until you accept your chosen. Now that you’ve begun the
bonding, the inner circle of introspection will never again allow you to enter
without your chosen at your side.”
“Wonderful!” Rolling over to face the open window, she watched the stars come out one by one.
* * * *
When dawn arrived the next morning, Gracie was standing in front of the window, watching the sun begin its ascent in the cloudless sky. She’d tried to sleep but erotic dreams had woken her several times during the night. Each time Zara had apologized and swore to try to hold on a bit longer, and each time it had taken even longer to drift back off with her body drenched in sweat and tight need. “It’s time to come home, Wildcat. I hope you’ve gotten it worked out in your head because,” Rand stepped into the room and slammed the door behind him. "…It's you or no one."
Drinking in his presence as if she’d been gone for a year rather than just a day, she noticed how rough he looked. It looked like he’d pulled an ‘all-nighter’.
“You cheated, Rand.” She turned back towards the window.
Stopping inches from her, his voice was tight. “Really? How do you figure?”
“You promised you wouldn’t come after me until dawn. The sun is just now peaking over the horizon. You had to have left the palace nearly four hours ago to reach me.
You left long before dawn.”
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"You left me no choice. Neither you nor Zara showed any mercy. Once you merged with me last night, Ruzac offered none either. I could’ve resisted the first time, Wildcat, but after the fourt
h merge, I was nearly out of my mind.”
"You mean every time I dreamed I was…" Her face reddened.
"Yes. I tried sparring with Jonathan. Hell I even woke Dad up after the second one and he walked the floor with me. When each one became more intense, I left with Jonathan and had him drive me here. Do you realize the accidents I would’ve caused if I’d driven myself when you had your third dream?”
She shook her head.
“Letting me tie you to the bed and eat to my heart’s content nearly had me spilling in my pants like an untried youth.”
When she moaned softly and reached towards him, he stepped back quickly. "Don't touch me, Wildcat. I’m at the end of my tether here.”
“This was why I left, Zara. It’s uncontrollable. I’ve no pride because if he’d let me I would drop to my knees right now and blow him, especially if I thought it would tempt him into taking me before that damn ceremony.”
“I know. It’s scary but I promise you it’ll be all right. You’ll come through this
just as every other chosen pair has.”
“But the question is: will I come through with my pride and sense of self-esteem still intact?”
A knock at the door and Rand letting the person in, had her looking over her shoulder to see Jonathan.
“Where one goes, so does the other. I see you’re no worse for wear, Jonathan.”
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“No, it seems the little witch who disabled me also made sure I was healed before I awoke. Rather thoughtful of you, Gracie.”
“I can be at times.”
“I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll never again underestimate you.”
“It’d be a wise idea. Smartass!”
“Are you ready to go, Wildcat?” Rand looked around the room for any bag she might’ve taken with her.
She glared at him. “Do I have a choice?”
Rand glared back at her.
“I don’t think there’s any other option, Gracie.” Jonathan took her arm and started to lead her from the room and spoke so softly only she could hear. “As your mom would say, ‘it’s best to let sleeping tigers lie’ and just go back with him.”
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Chapter Six
Resignation filled Gracie when they arrived back at the palace. Opening the car door, she grimaced and walked to the entrance of the palace. Her father stood on the steps waiting for her. He had a frown on his handsome face. “I know I’ve probably angered him by running off, Zara, but I won’t apologize for it. For the love of Mica when will he realize I’m a grown woman?”
“Probably never, sweetheart. You’re always going to be his baby. But running
away only to be brought back by Rand seems more like the act of an angry child
than a grown woman.”
“Perhaps. But I tried to explain my fears to him like a grown woman, and like everyone else he’s ignored them.”
Brushing by him, she wasn’t surprised when he grabbed her arm.
"Grace O'Connor, I'm very disappointed in you and we need to have a talk."
"Dad, I’m tired and I’m in no mood to deal with your anger at the moment.”
“If you’d stayed where you belong, instead of running away like a scared child…”
Jerking herself free, she glared up at him.
“I said no! Dad, it’s time for you to realize I no longer have to answer to you. My actions are my own as are the consequences to them. And if you’re angry with me, deal with it, because I’m not going to bend over backwards to keep you happy!”
Shock filled his face. “How dare you!”
“I dare many things these days, Dad. Now if you excuse me I’m going to retire to my chambers.”
“Like hell.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her into his study.
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“Let go of me!”
Once the door was shut and she was alone with her dad, she realized it was time to set a few things straight with her domineering father.
“This has got to stop!”
“Take care of where you tread, Grace Ann.”
Ignoring Zara’s advice, she walked over to the bar, pulled out a crystal decanter and poured both of them a finger of scotch.
"Gracie, don't you think it's too early to be drinking?" Colin stared at the drink before finally accepting it.
"No. You want to have this out? Fine. Lets have this out, Dad." She moved over to the floor length windows. Staring out into the gardens, she paused to gather her thoughts barely aware when Rand entered the room.
“Are you sure you want to do this with him here, sweetheart?”
“If he has the nerve to stay and listen then he deserves no less than he receives because I’m not going to back down on this.”
"Well?" Colin grew impatient with the silence.
"It’s this simple, Dad. I'll marry Rand because I haven’t a choice. As usual when the royalty decrees something, it is as good as gospel. It doesn’t mean I have to be happy about the circumstances surrounding my marriage." She turned back to her father. "I never planned on marrying. I was happy with my life the way it was. I had just finished my studies, had the prospect of a good job, and two best friends I wouldn't trade for anything in the world."
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"Gracie, did you honestly think you were going to escape the prophesy? That it wouldn’t come true?" He watched his daughter pace back and forth in front of him.
"Who said I had to accept it, Dad? Oh, that’s right. In one fell swoop of the pen, you decided for me. Despite the fact you knew how I felt about it, you chose for me like I was still a child unable to make her own decision. You could’ve removed my name from the list or simply told Rand I wasn't a suitable candidate to be his bride."
"I won't lie, Gracie, even for you. You were the most suitable match for him." He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, I hope I'm as suitable as you think. I may end up losing more than I could ever hope to gain. My studies are done, but what about a job? I won't be working anymore. I could handle losing a job. I might get bored but I could handle it. What I don’t know if I’m going to able to handle is the loss of one of my best friends. How the hell, Dad, did you think I could possibly convert my best friend into my husband?"
"Grace!" Setting down his drink, he moved towards her, responding to the misery in her voice.
"Stop” She held up held up her hand. “There’s nothing you can do now. Even if Rand decided today he no longer wants me, nothing will ever be the same between us again.
Now all I have left is my duty and honor. I'll share Rand’s bed, even his throne if he’ll let me but what little else I can salvage for myself I’ll keep.” Placing the glass down on the edge of his desk, she left the room, never acknowledging the stone-faced man who had been watching them.
* * * *
Rand longed to go after Gracie but knew he had to deal with Colin first. 110
“He only meant to help, boy.”
“Then he failed miserably, Ruzac.” He locked gazes with his dad’s advisor and trusted friend.
“Well that didn’t go as I hoped it would.” Colin rubbed the back of his neck.
"No, it didn’t. Do you realize what you’ve done?" He leaned over Colin's desk.
Colin’s back stiffened. "She’s my daughter and I’ll speak to her…”
Rand cut him off. "She’s also my chosen, Colin, and I happen to be in love with her.
I suggest the next time you think about laying into her, put yourself in her place. Right now, she’s struggling with the idea I’m serious about changing our relationship. Then throw in her accidental triggering of the mezclar to the equation and she’s now running scared or angry as hell. Personally I’d rather deal with her anger than her fear.”
"I can empathize with how it must be but it's still her duty." Colin’s tone was fierce.
"Her duty isn’t going to prepare her for the reality of our bonding. She still thinks she’s going to be able to hold part of herself back and your ang
er didn’t help matters.
Do you realize how much harder I’m going to have to fight to get her to let go? It’s bad enough I have to compete with the memory of her lost love.
“Lost love?” Colin eyes narrowed. “For the love of Mica, what are you talking about?”
“I’m assuming it’s someone she met after I left for my advanced studies. She refuses to talk about him. Perhaps you know who it might be?”
“I don’t have the slightest idea. The only wizard I remember sniffing around her was that Costas boy.”
“Costas?” Rand’s mind was whirling quickly.
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“Yeah, she tutored him the year after you left. Harold Costas. Had a hell of a time learning to control his water spells. Gracie took him on as a favor to his cousin. The gay one. Damned if I remember his name…Adam, Alec…”
“Alexander Costas?”
Colin’s face lit up. “That’s it. Alexander. I wondered what happened with him. Last I knew, he was living with his lover, Thomas.”
“I don’t know but I think it might be worth the time to find out.” Rand turned and left the room. Lifting his com unit to his mouth, he summoned Jonathan.
“I’ve got a small job you, Jonathan. Find Alexander Costas and whatever you can about Harold, his cousin.”
* * * *
Standing on the balcony outside her room, Gracie ruthlessly pushed down her need to run. “What would it accomplish, sweetheart?”
“Not a damn thing. Rand would come after me. Why do you think I’m still here?”
“Pure stubbornness. You’ve decided to go through with the mezclar but you
still haven’t accepted it.”
“Acceptance isn’t required, Zara. All Rand needs is a warm body…”
“The boy needs more than that, Gracie.” The unexpected voice of Rand’s sentient being was a shock.
“Great! Did you forget to mention something, Zara?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to put any more stress on you. Once the mezclar
