The Wizards of Venus Book One: Magic Touch (20 page)

* * * *

Gracie sighed softly as she listened to the sound of her husband's even breathing. They were once more inside the wedding suite. Looking at his relaxed features, she still found it hard to believe she was here with him. Fingering the loose amulet, she knew what he’d hoped to achieve earlier with his slow and easy routine.
He thinks he’s going
to seduce me into forgetting my anger and hurt. It doesn’t work that way, it never has.

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Rolling over on to her back, she moved as far as she dared. She didn't want to wake him. Besides, the blasted silk binding was starting to get on her nerves. She couldn't even move without him. She knew the purpose of the binding. It wasn't as if Rand would ever let her forget he had bound them together.

"Come here."

Looking over, she saw Rand had his eyes half open. She expected to see desire in their depths. Instead she found a sleepy warmth, which made her more uneasy than the intense desire they’d shared since entering the suite.

"Come here," he repeated, his voice soft and full of sleep. When she didn't move towards him, he rolled towards her and pulled her into his arms. "Better," he muttered, before sleep reclaimed him.

Gracie sighed. It seemed as if she was going to sleep in her husband's arms whether she wanted to or not. As she slipped into slumber, she found Rand waiting for her.

"Every night, Wildcat. I’ll accept no less.”

198

Several Days Later

"That's it, Gracie, relax. We'll get there." Breathing hard, Rand kept the pace of their loving slow and easy. Their bodies were still in the grip of the
mezclar,
but he didn't feel the need to pound the hell out of his wife. The desire to be inside her was all that mattered to him. The sensations seemed to build even more as he watched the slow joining of their bodies. “See how well you cup me, Wildcat?”

In the mirror he’d placed at the foot of their bed, both he and Gracie could see every intimate detail as he held her with her back to his chest. Cupping her under the knees he lifted her legs up and back, exposing all her most intimate flesh to view. Her muffled moan turned him on even more.

"Feel good?” Leisurely he explored the inner whorls of her ear while he continued to rock her slowly on top of him.

"Yes.” Her eyes drifted shut.

“Keep watching! I want you to see how well we fit together. We’re two pieces of the same whole.” Guiding her with their joined hands, he bent his mouth to her neck and muffled a groan against it. Each thrust brought a moan in return from her. Locking eyes with her in the mirror after making sure he had a firm grip on her, he began slamming up into her hard and deep. The change from slow and easy to fast and forceful had her writhing in his arms.

“No!” Shaking in his arms, she fought to free herself.

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“No, isn’t acceptable, Wildcat. You, this pussy…” Reaching down, he cupped his free hand over their joining while pressing their joined hands against her heart. “…and this heart belongs to me!” Nipping her shoulder, his hand pressed against her mound and tilted her so he was rubbing along the most sensitive spot of her sheath.

"Rand…no!” Her body trembled on the edge of completion and she fought to hang onto her control.

“By the love of Mica, you will not deny me any longer! Before we leave this room, I will have your heart.” He punctuated every word with a hard and deep thrust of his hips.

A savage smile crossed his face when she screamed before exploding around his cock.

“Mine!”

* * * *

Patience opened her eyes. The ache she’d felt earlier seemed to have multiplied while she slept. Feeling along the side of her body, she felt the nubby fabric of the blanket covering her lower body. She winced when she heard the soft sound of the door opening, then closing. Rolling her head to the side, she saw Harold coming in with a familiar tray. "I see you're awake, Gracie. I really wished you’d let me call a doctor. This sickness isn’t right. You should be over this virus already. I hunger to return home with you and show you our new home.” Harold kept his voice low because he knew her head was probably hurting.

"Do you have my medicine?” Her voice came out as a croak. Despite the pain in her head she knew there was something off about the medicine he’d been giving her but no 200

longer cared. In spite of the burn the medicine inflicted on her, a side effect of it allowed her to reach Jonathan. She didn’t feel so alone with the burning fire when she knew he was there with her, trying to shield her from the most violent pull of the medicine.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed Harold gently lifted her head and placed the medicine inside her mouth, following it with a sip of the Earthly 7-Up. The pallor of her skin worried him and he was beyond frustrated that she wouldn’t let him contact a doctor for her. He’d even stressed his concern to Princess Deanna when she’d arrived earlier.
Perhaps I need to be more forceful about this. If she continues on like this she’ll
be unable to travel, and our ship is supposed to leave tomorrow night.
Soothing a hand over her forehead, he whispered a quiet, “Sleep, love” before leaving the room.

Walking back to the kitchen, he placed the cup on the counter and noticed a bag on the counter which Deanna had placed there earlier when she’d arrived. Looking around to see if anyone was looking, he picked it up. Thinking perhaps there might be something useful inside, he dug through it. Finding a small vial of pills, he glanced at the label. Staring at the long chemical name on it, his analytical mind picked it apart. Horror raced through him when he realize what he was holding. Opening the vial, he shook out a few tablets and nearly sank to his knees.
For the love of Mica, I’ve been poisoning
her!

“Did you find something of interest, Harold?”

Deanna’s sugary sweet question had Harold’s head flying up. She was standing in the open doorway of the kitchen

"This is a narcotic. I’ve been giving her Raz-ice!”

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That’s not any mere version of Raz-ice, Harold. It contains a special property which has prepared her for a series of injections.”

“What injections?” He dropped the vial, not caring when it rolled under the table.

“The ones I’m having Brett give her right now. Once injected, she’ll become a writhing mass of sexual desire from which there will be no escape or relief. It takes the addictive nature of the Raz-ice and combines it with a potent aphrodisiac; one which will consume her and become permanent.”

“Why would you do something that horrific?”

“Because she’s merely a means to an end.”

“Gracie O’Connor is a vibrant and beautiful witch, she’ll never be a means to an end!” He rushed towards her, his intent obvious.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Move! I’m not going to let you drug my Gracie!”

Deanna smirked. “Ah I see, but you’ve a couple things wrong, Harold. One, she’s not your Gracie. Only an idiot would kidnap the wrong woman. You took Patience, her sister. And two, you’re not going to do anything because you’re not going to remember this conversation.”

“I’m not?” Shock rolled over him when she started to rhythmically move her hands, painting intricate designs in the air. He tried to fight it but only could swear under his breath as the shimmering figures dragged his awareness under.

* * * *

Patience surfaced from her drug-induced sleep to hear Brett arguing with another woman. Trying to focus, she fought her body's need to go back to sleep.
Damn I feel
202

like crap. I need more of that medicine Harold’s been giving me.
Squinting against the bright light, she tried to focus on the couple. Finally after a few moments of intense concentration, the words seemed to become clearer.

"I’ve already injected her with two shots. I don’t think more is needed.” The man was fierce in his argument.

“It doesn’t matter what you think. You’re nothing more than a peon. I’m of royal descent and you’ll listen to me!”

The man crossed his arms over his chest. “Listen little girl. I’ve the oldest blood of Sandova running through my veins. I’ve more magic in one pinky than you do in your entire body. If I say two shots are enough, then it’s enough!”

A flash of light filled the room just before another man appeared. “Do as she says, Brett.”

From the look of the fear crossing Brett’s face, Pati realized the newcomer must be of some importance.
Now if he’d only turn around, so I can see his face and I can
identify him. I do believe he may be the mastermind of this scheme.

“She’s already drugged out of her mind. What purpose would another shot do?” Brett tried to reason with the newcomer.

The newcomer walked over. Squinting up at him, she tried to distinguish his features only to have them obscured by the cowl of his robe. When he reached down and flicked open the high necked gown she wore, she tried to roll away from him.

“No…” Her weak protest seemed to amuse the man.

“The little bird is bonded to a powerful wizard.”

“Are you sure?” Deanna moved forward.

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“Yes, and from the looks of it, it is from the
Vindexicis
warrior class…” Tracing the symbols embedded in the amulet, he paused. “…and from the royal linage of de Carthwright.” He looked over at Deanna. “The only person who fits that description is the prince’s cousin.” He looked back down at the amulet. “All the better.”

“Excuse me?” Brett’s voice seemed a bit higher pitched than normal. “We’re all going to die! By grabbing the wrong woman, we’re going to bring both the
Vindexicis
and the royal family done upon our heads.”

“Calm down. You had no compunction about taking the future queen and now you’re worried about her little sister?” The man moved away from Pati. “Give her another shot.

This is going to work out better than I planned. With her having a bond with both Gracie and her chosen, the drug will leak through the bonds and incapacitate all three.”

Understanding washed over Brett’s face, and Pati panicked when Brett approached the bed with another syringe.

"Stay away from me." Pati tried to crawl off the bed but her limbs were lethargic

"Sorry, I can’t do that.”

Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a vial and shook it. Her eyes immediately focused on the vial instead of the syringe. She watched as he popped the lid on the vial.

"I bet you'll let me do anything if I give you a couple of these.” Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he spilled two pills across her chest. With the blind need of an addict, Pati grabbed the small pills before they rolled off her. With her attention now focused on the relief the pills would bring, she barely felt the sting of the needle in her arm.

"Now that wasn’t so bad was it?" He stood as the drug began to blur her vision. "It won’t take long now.” Pati watched Brett’s lips move and assumed he was speaking to 204

the woman. Everything faded as the need and burn built to even levels inside her.

Pressing her hand to the amulet at her throat, she gave into her overwhelming need and called out to her chosen.
“Jonathan!”

* * * *

“Jonathan!”
Pati’s pain-filled voice broke through the intense desire and debilitating need which currently wracked his tall frame. Lying on a bed in his room with Queen Aria attending him, he was oblivious to everything but the need for his chosen.
Whatever they’re doing
to her is horrible. This fire is so hot that not even I can control it and shield her.
Tears ran down his face.

Aria, who was soothing a cloth over Jonathan’s face, stilled.

“Everything will be fine, Jonathan. We’ll find her. The
mezclar
is almost complete now. Only a few more hours and
your uncle will complete the ritual and we’ll kick the dastardly villains’ asses who took her.”

The impassioned tones of her voice gave him the strength to pull away from the edge of oblivion. Opening his eyes, he focused on his aunt. “Such language, Aunt Aria.”

“Jonathan! Mica, he’s awake!”

Her husband who’d been dozing in a wingback chair on the other side of the bed woke with a start.

“That’s a boy. Stay with us. You gave us such a scare.” Mica leaned over Jonathan and helped him sit up.

* * * *

Gracie arched off the bed as a wave of intense uncontrollable desire hit her. 205

“Rand, what’s going on? Why is the burn becoming brighter?”

“Mine!”

A scream filled the room as Rand rolled her over on her stomach and mounted her from behind. He began to thrust wildly against her. The pleasure burst once and then again while he continued to ride her.

This is wrong. This doesn’t feel like the mezclar.
Her thoughts were vague as the burning pleasure continued to wrack her body.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

To hear Zara, who’d been silent since the initial mating, shocked Gracie enough to cut through the burn of their mating frenzy.

“I don’t know. I woke up with the overwhelming need to mate.”

“This isn’t the mezclar. It’s coming from your twin bond with your sister.

Something’s wrong.”

“Fuck! Please don’t tell me Pati and Jonathan are doing the wild thing. That’s just too
much information.”

“No, this is not the same as normal mating. This is artificial. It feels like it’s

drug induced.”

“Oh, Pati, what have you gotten yourself into?”

Her thoughts shattered when she felt the firm and unexpected burn against her anus when her husband buried two lubed fingers up her ass.

“Oh my god!” Another orgasm washed over her and she shook under him.

“Yes! Come for me Wildcat! Come hard! I’m going to ride your ass until I finally put this fire out once and for all!”

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A scream of pain or pleasure, she wasn’t sure which, ripped out of her when he ripped himself out of her convulsing pussy and placed the head of his slippery cock against her asshole and shoved deep inside.

“Fuck, so hot!” Gripping her hips, he stilled and fought the need to ride her brutally hard.

“Oh god, what the fuck am I doing, Wildcat? I don’t want to hurt you, but the burn!”

“Ride me!”

His body trembled while he continued to fight the need, afraid he was injuring her.

“Ride me!” she repeated aloud this time. His control shattered and he gave her the wild ride she’d been begging for.