Chapter One High Wizard’s Castle, Ten Years Later Rand watched as the young woman exited the room with her head held high. Grace O’Connor was not the most striking woman, that he had ever met but she had captured his attention none the less. If he had not known her well, he never would have guessed that the news of her betrothal to him had shocked or upset her. As the heir to his father’s people, the courtship process had been long and very detailed. Grace had not even wanted her name to be placed on the long list of eligible women that could be a possible mate. Rand had personally seen to it; that her name would be placed at the top of his personal list. Grace and he had gone to school together. The attraction on his part had been immediate. She was a strong-willed and powered witch. And according to his advisors she was a perfect match for him, power to power, and most importantly socially. She was the daughter of his father’s best friend and advisor, Collin O’Connor. But with his blessing also came a warning; “My daughter may be talented and sophisticated, but never forget that she has Irish blood flowing in her veins.” And it looked as if Rand was going learn how to sooth his beloved’s ruffled feathers. “Guess it’s never to soon to start.” Rand said after he thanked his father and Colin for their help in the betrothal.” Then he turned and followed Grace out of the room. The King and Colin watched him leave. “What strong children, those two will have.” The king said. “If they don’t kill each other first.” Colin replied. Rand found Grace standing beside the fountain in the Royal Gardens. She was sitting on the edge of the fountain, gazing at the down at the gold coins that were scattered across the bottom of the fountain. When she heard him approach, she glanced up. “You know, Rand , I use to come here with my father and toss coins in and make the craziest wishes. Some of them would come true and some wouldn’t. But at eight , I was still innocent enough to hope that wishes would come true.” Grace said with a note of wistfulness. “I did the same thing.” Rand reminded softly. “As long as I can remember, Gracie, we’ve been as close as two peas in a pod.” Rand moved closer to her and sat down next to her on the ledge. “And you knew that I didn’t want to be considered as your wife. Yet you still insisted upon having me.” She said softly with a glare in her eyes. “And you never told me why.” Rand replied. “There are personal reasons, Rand. We have been friends for years.” She said looking at him. “Which will make our marriage even stronger.” Rand said quietly. “It just doesn’t feel right. We’ve been friends for so long, that making the jump to a full partnership and marriage, seems near impossible.” She protested. “You know, I think that you are hiding something from me, Gracie. This talk of our being friends as having an ill effect on our marriage is covering up the real issue. So what gives?” Rand asked as he edged closer to her. “I resent the fact that I have no say in this marriage. Your father and mine in their infinite wisdom, decided that this was the best thing for both of us. Yes, I understand that socially and magically we are compatible. But marriage is much more than social obligations and magical duties. There are two living, breathing, people in this. They have needs, wants, and desires. Which they didn’t factor into this decision. This is the year 2113, not 1913. I would have thought that we would have made some progress in this.” Gracie continued. “So you’re concerned about your needs, wants, and desires being attended to. Surely you know that I’ll be more than happy to see to any need, want, or desire you have.” Rand said huskily. Reaching out he gently grasped her hand and edged her closer until there was no marble separating them. Grace pulled her hand free and stood up. “This is not the time to be joking, Rand. This is a serious issue. There has not been as much as a spark of attraction between us. How are we to fulfill the primary duty as a royal couple; produce a heir for your father.” She started to pace back in forth in front of him. She couldn’t believe that her life had come to this. There was a grain of truth in what she was telling him. She knew that Rand looked at her as if she were a younger sister. It didn’t matter that she found him to be the sexiest thing that she had ever set her eyes on. His family had been generous with the genes that they had given him. From his ebony hair that he kept pulled back with a black thong, to his broad shoulders and towering presence, he was the poster child for Prince Charming. But the attraction wasn’t mutual and she was to proud to throw herself at him, when it was clear that he wasn’t interested in that way. When she turned to face him again, she almost ran directly into him. When he put his arms out to steady her, she looked up at him. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been this close to him. After the incident in high school, she had learned to keep her distance from the Prince. That is what she kept telling herself anyway. He was the Prince and not for her. Now with this scheme that their fathers had cooked up, how was she going to be able to keep her distance? Rand watched Grace and could almost see the wheels turning in her head. She was a quick thinker and rapidly processed everything around her. It would only be a few moments before she realized that she was safely snuggled in his arms. It had been years since he had gotten this close to her. In fact looking back it had been the final dance at their high school prom. He had almost kissed her at the end of the dance if it hadn’t been for the strobe light that they had shone on him. He was use to having things like that happen but it had broken the spell that had been woven around them. But that was the past and soon he would have every right to kiss her. He just needed to stay one step ahead of her until the ring was on her finger. Then he would have all the time in the world to court his lovely wife. Grace realized that Rand had her wrapped his arms the moment before he started lowering his head. Immediately she started to squirm away. “Hold still, Gracie. I am not going to hurt you.” He reassured her with a smile. “Rand, let me go. I don’t know what are trying to prove.” She said as her face began to flush. “You said some nonsense about there not being any sparks between us. How do you know that there isn’t any?” He asked quietly. “I didn’t say that there wasn’t any sparks, I said that there is no mutual attraction between us. There’s a big difference, Rand . Something that is one-sided just won’t work. So we’ll just have to tell our fathers’ that there has been an error in the selection process and have another woman chosen.” She said as she continued to try and wiggle free. She had forgotten how strong he was. “If you don’t quit wiggling, you are going to find out exactly how attractive I find you.” He said huskily. She immediately froze. “That’s better. You are saying that any attraction that might between us is one-sided? Correct? Well, then you are saying that you aren’t attracted to me?” “Quit fooling around, Your Highness.” She whispered. “I don’t find this amusing. I’ll file a petition in the morning to see this undone.” “Your Highness?” Rand repeated slowly. “You haven’t called me that since we met in grade school. This must really be upsetting. Believe me Gracie, I am not kidding around at all about us suiting.” Releasing her, he turned back towards the fountain and rubbed the back of his neck. “Gracie, I don’t know where you got the idea that I don’t find you attractive. I’ve been hot for you since our senior year in high school.” When there was no response, he swung back around to find her gone. “Great. That really helped your case, Romeo.” He muttered to himself. “I’ll just have to try a different tactic.” The East Gardens On the far side of the court yard, two figures watched the prince toss a coin into the fountain. “What do you think of his new bride?” The one asked the other. “I don’t think she’ll be a problem. I’ve checked it out. She doesn’t want to be his bride. She’s been in the process of becoming an advisor to the king. What a joke. Who has ever heard of a woman filling the position of advisor? They stopped that practice years ago.” “Do you think that she could be turned to helping us?” “It’s a possibility. I’ll continue to dig. Maybe I can find something on her to “persuade” her to our way of thinking.” The figure glanced at his watch. “I have some unfinished business to complete. I’ll report later.” Later that night, Grace let herself into the suite that had been assigned since she had been selected as Rand’s bride. After she managed to give Rand the slip, she spent the rest of the afternoon in the palace library, searching for a loop hole in the antiquated courtship laws. So far she had not found any. It looked as if Rand had her cornered for the time being. She was very well trained in the laws of her country due to her dream of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming an advisor to the king. But it didn’t look as if that would be happening in the near future. “No, only my father would try to marry me off to the future King.” She said aloud. “Of course, Dad wants you to marry Rand.” Spinning around Grace saw her sister sitting on the couch. “Hi, Patience.” Grace said as she went over and sat down next to her. “Round one, didn’t go in your favor did it?” Patience asked. “Neither did round two.” Grace replied. “What am I going to do, Patience?” “Are you sure that it won’t work out?” “Oh, Patience. I don’t see how it will. I’ve been his friend for so long and I’ve seen the women that he has gone through. That’s why I decided back in school not to pursue any kind of relationship with him. I didn’t think that I could handle watching him walk away when he got bored. But being married there is no way to just walk away. In the royal marriages, there is no divorce. It’s part of the Royal Law and that’s why there’s such a long courtship process.” “Why, Gracie, it sound s like you are in love with him.” Patience said slowly. “I’ve been half in love with him since my freshman year in high school.” “When did you fall the rest of the way?” Patience wanted to know. “Somewhere between the start of the dance and the end of it.” Grace replied. “Gracie!!! You know what that means???” She asked excitedly. “Now don’t you start about that prophesy nonsense again.” Grace groaned. “You know it’s true, Gracie. You just don’t want to admit it.” Before Patience could go any further, the telephone next to the couch rang. Grace quickly picked up the receiver to stall her sister. “Hello.” “Gracie, that wasn’t very nice.” Rand’s warm voice said in her ear. “Rand. I wasn’t expecting you to call.” “We have unfinished business to take care of. There are few misconceptions that need to be corrected.” Rand paused for a moment. “Since you’ve been avoiding me at all costs, I guess I’ll be seeing you in your dreams.” “Don’t!” Gracie protested. In a dream state there was no way to fool, lie or deceive the one that you were with. That’s why not many wizards or witches attempted to communicate in that fashion. Grace and Rand had both practiced on each other in college to prepare themselves for what they thought would be a future partnership like their fathers. At least that was what Rand had told Grace when he had broached the subject of trying it. Now she wondered if that was the true reason that he had wanted to practice. “Sweet Dreams, Gracie. I’ll see you tonight.” Rand said huskily as he hung up the phone. “Damn.” She said as she hung up the phone. “That didn’t go as well as you hoped.” Patience observed. “No. I’m in for a long night. Do you want to stay and keep me company?” Gracie asked. “Why?” “Because I’m not going to sleep any time soon.” Grace said wearily. “I told you all that practice would come back to haunt you. You’re the one that let him into your dreams in the first place.” When she started protest, Patience stopped her. “I know, you said that it was practice for Rand and you were hoping to follow in Dad’s footsteps. And now he’s using it to woo you. That’s just classic.” “Thanks. My sister is laughing at me.” Grace just shook her head. This was quite a pickle she had gotten into. “I’m twenty-eight years old, I have a best friend who wants to marry me, and a sister who just thinks it is hilarious.” “Don’t forget that you have your final wizardry exams to take. That’s if you still want to take them.” “Oh, I’ll take them. And I’ll pass them with flying colors. That way when I finally talk Rand out of this betrothal, I still can hold a spot on his cabinet.” Grace stated. “Well, the best of luck.” Patience said. “I won’t be able to keep you company tonight, Gracie. I have a date tonight. Jonathan finally asked me out. We’re going to La Chez, uptown.” “You’re going uptown with Rand’s best friend?” “Yeah, I’ve only been trying to catch his attention for the last six months.” “Well, have fun.” Grace said as her sister walked out her door. Patience and Jonathan were shown to their seats, shortly after they arrived at La Chez. After sitting down and ordering their drinks, they cut to the heart of the matter. “You called this meeting. So what are we going to do?” Patience asked as she took a sip of her wine. Jonathan waited for the waiter to leave. After he left, he looked her straight in the eye and said “We’re going to play cupid.” “We are? Who’s the lucky couple?” “ First Rand and you sister.” Jonathan said after taking a long swallow of his wine. “Believe it or not Rand actually asked for help. He wants this marriage to work. As a matter of fact, he has had a thing for her since high school.” “Has he?” “Yes, but he’s was buying time. He wanted to be sure that she was ready. He has foreseen that their future will be very passionate but dangerous.” “So that’s why he asked to be paired with her through out school.” “Yes, he wanted it to be second nature for them to communicate.” “Yes, I heard from her about it before I left her. Something about not sleeping.” Patience said as her salad arrived. She wasn’t surprised when Jonathan laughed. “So that’s his tactic. Let’s hope they have sweet dreams.” He said after the waiter had left to get the main course. “Do you think it is very difficult to sustain that type of communication.” Patience asked. “If both parties are receptive to it, no it’s not difficult in the least. But if one party is not then it will take a tremendous amount of concentration on the others part.” Jonathan replied after the waiter set down his entree. “Does it take a certain amount of magic?” Patience asked. “For receptive dreaming, no. A low level witch or wizard can accomplish it. But to a resistant dreaming it takes a high level witch or wizard. Say a level eight to ten.” He explained. “So what happens if the person has no power or magic, can they still have this type of dreaming?” Patience asked. “Yes. I keep forgetting that you have no power, Patience. You are such a capable woman.” “Don’t feel sorry for me, Jonathan. I may not have any magical powers but I have other strengths. But it is nice to know that I can still participate in some things that are magical. I’ll just have to find someone with magic to assist me.” Jonathan’s fork paused midway to his mouth. Slowly he lowered it back to his plate. “Who are planning on asking to help you with this?” Jonathan asked softly. “I haven’t any particular wizard in mind, I guess.” Patience said unsure in the sudden change in his demeanor. “Well, when you do decide, let me know.” Jonathan said as he continued to eat. “Why?” “Because I want to be on the top of your list.” “Really. What level are your magic powers, Jonathan?” “Level nine.” He said in a dead pan voice. “More than adequate for dream merging.” Grace yawned and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. The digital display read 1:07 am. She usually was sleeping by this time of the morning. But since she was studying for her final exams, she was keeping later hours. That’s what she kept telling herself. It had nothing to do with the fact that Rand was just waiting for her to fall asleep. Beside her clock the telephone started to jingle softly. Groaning inwardly she debated on wether or not to answer it. If she didn’t he would surely come to her suite to make sure nothing had happened to her. After the fifth ring she snatched it up. “No, I am not asleep yet.” she said without waiting for the standard greetings. “Well, I can see that.” Her sister’s voice said. “I thought I would check in with you. I just got home. I had a wonderful yet unusual evening with Jonathan. We’re going to do it again, next week. He doesn’t hold my being non-magical against me. He really is a sweet man. And very informative. We had a long talk about dream merging. It sounds like fun. But in order to do it you have to have magic.” “Oh, sis. You could have asked me about that. Hopefully Jonathan explained to you that you can receive dream merging just not initiate them.” “Yes he explained that to me. He even offered to be the one to do it.” “Patience! You lucky little devil. Jonathan is very selective to who he dream merges with. I’ve only done it once with him. And it was entirely by accident. Rand was trying to see if he could merge with two wizards at the same time.” “Did it work?” “Yes it did. But it can give you a headache if you try to hold it to long.” At the same moment, Rand and Jonathan were discussing the same subject in Rand’s private wing of the castle. “She actually said that she was going to find a wizard to initiate her in dream merging?” Rand asked. Somehow it didn’t surprise him that Grace’s sister had wanted to experiment with dream merging. Gracie had been very receptive to it. “Yes, she did. I told her that if she was looking, that I would be happy to help her.” “I see that you are laying your trap very carefully.” “Yes, I am. By the time Patience realizes what is going on, I don’t want her to have anywhere to run. My Patience is definitely related to Grace. They both believe that marriage is not for them. My plan is to strike when Patience is occupied with you and Grace. I’ll sneak under her defenses.” “Your strategy has more tact to it than mine does.” Rand said “Lets hope that both of them work.” “When are you going to visit her?” Jonathan asked. “In about another hour, Gracie’s defenses will be at their lowest point. She will be more susceptible to my dream merge. I know from school that between the hours of two and three are the hardest for her to stay awake.” “Rand you’ve tested off the charts when you took your final exams. I would think that a dream merge would be easy for you, no matter who the other person is.” “Yes but I don’t want to take something by force that she would simply give me if I ask the correct way.” “That’s why, you are next in line for the throne. Always thinking.” When Grace had hung the phone up from talking with her sister it was after two am, and she was very sleepy. This was the worst time of night for her. This is when Rand would, more than likely make his move. If only she could make herself more alert. Yawning again, she flipped the covers off her legs and walked to the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror, she winced. There were huge bags under her eyes. Maybe she should go to sleep and face him. r she could try to be the aggressor and attempt to dream merge with him. Going back to her bed, she climbed back in and got comfortable. Then drawing a deep breath she sent her mind out to find his. Rand was still in his library after Jonathan left when he felt the first brushes of what he recognized as a dream merge. He was awake so this surprised him. Curious, he opened his mind to see who was trying to merge with him. He was very surprised when he realized that it was Grace who initiated the merge. “Gracie, I didn’t expect this.” Rand said softly as they met in the middle of the physic plane. “What unfinished business, do we need to resolve, Rand. I am getting tired.” “So you figured that you would make the first move and have the upper hand so to speak.” “You know me to well, Your highness.” “Gracie, you know that really annoys me when you call me that.” “The unfinished business?” She reminded him. “Ah, yes this unfinished business. It seems that you have got it in your head that I don’t find you attractive. And vice versa. I am wagering that there is enough heat between the two of us that we will set the room on fire.” “I doubt that. I won’t marry someone who will end up pitying me.” “Christ the last thing I’d ever do is pity you? In the end it will be me asking you to take pity on me.” “Really,” She replied , “now why would I ever want to take pity on you?” “Because I’ve wanted you for almost twelve years now. And you know that I can’t lie in this state.” “Yes that is true.” Grace said softly. “I know it is.” Rand said huskily as he pulled her back into his arms. Lowering his head he gave her every chance to back out of the kiss. When she didn’t , he lowered his head the rest of the way and claimed her soft lips as his own. But neither were prepared for the sparks that flew when they met. With a deep groan ringing in his chest, he pulled her tighter against him. She answered with a soft moan. When her lips parted he took advantage of the moment and slowly slid his tongue out to met hers. More sparks flew in their dream world. When he would have brought his hand up to caress her breast she suddenly disappeared from his mind. “Damn.” Rand muttered as he glanced down at the tent in the front of his pants. “I wonder what happened. I better call her and make sure she is okay.” Reaching for the phone, he dialed her number. As he waited for it to ring, he couldn’t stop thinking about their shared kiss. Gracie laid back against her pillows, breathing raggedly. That had to be the most intensive experience that she had ever had. It was so good that she lost her focus and had slipped out of the mind merge. The telephone rang by her beside once again. This time she knew that it would be him. Picking up the receiver she held it to her ear. “Are you alright, Gracie?” Rand asked his voice hoarse with desire. “Yes. I am sorry that I woke you.” She said, “I know what a busy schedule you keep.” “That’s the funny part, Gracie. When you connected with me, Hell, even throughout the merge I was awake.” “How did that happen?” Gracie asked. “I am not sure. Our connection must be very strong.” Rand said. “Maybe it was all the practicing we did in school. Which reminds me, why did you insist on practicing dream merging with me. I was two years behind you in school. Surely there was other people you could have practiced with.” Gracie asked as she wrapped the cord around her finger. “Because you were the only one I wanted to practice on.” Rand said easily. “I had heard that making love on the physic plane was intense.” “Rand!!!” Gracie gasped. “I am being honest with you, Gracie. Don’t ever doubt the strength of my attraction to you.” “I never would have even thought that you found me attractive. You never gave any indication that you wanted me.” “I was waiting for you to grow up. I want a woman who can handle a man’s desire, not a young girl who will be overwhelmed.” ‘Who is to say that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed now? I do not have the experience that most woman my age would have.” “I know, Gracie. I know. But I have prepared myself for that. You are more than enough woman now to handle the man in me. Ten years ago it would have overwhelmed both of us. It won’t now, Gracie. Both of us have more control.” “I don’t know Rand. I lost the connection because I lost control.” “Sweetheart, you and I did the impossible. We met on the physic plane without either one of us slumbering. Wait until we try it when we’re asleep. I’ll bet that neither one of us will lose the connection until we are both sated.” “You wish.” Gracie said. “You keep forgetting that I won’t marry you. I’ll find a loop hole somewhere.” “Keep looking Gracie. When you realize that there is no way out, I’ll be waiting. Sweet dreams, Gracie. I hope yours will be as sweet as mine.” Another Room of the Castle The man in the communications room, smiled at the exchange that he had just heard between Rand and Gracie. The woman was very resistant to Rand’s advances. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage. But the question was, what could he hold out as a carrot to lure the staid beauty away from Rand. He was sure that she was sincere about not wanting to marry Rand but he knew from his sources that Grace O’ Connor was a very loyal friend of the prince. He would just have to continue to wait and it would eventually present its self.