Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter Thirteen

   King Mica and Queen Aria were seated together in the Queen's sitting
room when Colin and Jonathan found them.  King Mica first noticed the odd
gate to Jonathan's walk.

   "Are you all right?" he asked.

   "Yes.  Nothing that time won't heal," Jonathan promised.

   "We have an issue," Colin explained.  "It seems that my daughter has
been taken."

   "Patience?" the king asked quickly, knowing that Gracie was still in the
wedding suite with Rand.

   "Yes.  Two men took her at gun point earlier today.  In the scuffle,
Jonathan got shot in the shoulder.  As soon as the medic took care of it,
he came straight to me."

   "Your highness, one of the men told me that the only way they would
release her is if Rand and Gracie came with me," Jonathan explained, his
voice filled with guilt.  If he could have stopped them from taking
Patience, this never would have happened.

   The king watched the rapidly shifting emotions crossing Jonathan's face.
The young wizard was torn up with guilt inside.  From what they had told
him, there was no way that Jonathan could have possibly stopped Patience's
abduction.  Whoever was out to cause mischief was a force to be reckoned
with.

   "Well, then we find ourselves in quite the predicament," King Mica said
thoughtfully.  Pacing back and forth, he tried to bend his mind around a
solution for this mess.  Rand and Gracie were still in the midst of the
<i>mezclar</i> and until it ran its course, there was no way feasible for
them to go with Jonathan to rescue Patience.

   * * * * *

   Patience awoke with a terrible pounding in her head.  Groaning, she
slowly sat up.  She was afraid to even open her eyes in fear that the pain
would worsen.  She heard a door near by open softly, then shut.  Just
barely cracking her eyes open, she watched William enter the room she was
in carrying a covered tray.

   "I see you're finally awake," he said in a soft voice.  Patience didn't
bother answering him.  She couldn't believe that William would betray
Jonathan.  She had seen him quite often due to her relationship with his
ex-boss.  Slowly, she sat up and braced herself against the headboard of
the bed that she had been lying upon.

   "Here you go, Patience.  I've brought you some pain pills and something
to eat," William explained as he laid the tray across her lap.  With a
shaking hand, she slowly picked up the pills and took them.  She'd do
almost anything to stop the pounding in her head.

   "Thank you," she whispered after she had swallowed them with a sip of
juice.

   "You're welcome," she heard him reply as everything became fuzzy again.

   "What..." she mumbled as she sank back against the pillows.

   "Patience, are you alright?" William asked, concerned.

   "I don't know.  I...I feel funny..." she finished as she drifted back
into the black void.

   * * * * *

   William stormed back into the kitchen where Brett, the man from the
plane, sat eating a sandwich.

   "What were those pills?" he demanded.  Brett looked up at him blankly.

   "Nothing for you to concern yourself over," he said taking another bite
out of his sandwich.

   "She's innocent," William protested.  "Why do we have to drug her?"

   "Like I told you already, it's nothing for you to concern yourself over.
If boss man wants her drugged, we drug her."

   "But it's not right.  And I won't do it again," William told him hotly.

   "Fine, don't.  Next time, I'll do it the hard way and just knock her
out. It's your choice, William.  Either give her the drugs or I'll do it
the hard way," Brett told him, walking over to the garbage and tossing the
remainder of his sandwich away.

   William felt helpless as anger washed over him.  He couldn't believe
that he had gotten himself into this mess.  He genuinely liked Patience. 
He didn't like the idea of drugging her but loathed the idea of Brett
placing his hands on her.

   "Fine, you win.  I'll give her the drugs.  Just stay away from her."

   * * * * *

   Brett opened his cell phone and called his boss.  As he waited for the
man to answer, he paced back and forth on the patio.  William was becoming
a problem.  When his boss finally picked up on the other end, Brett
explained the situation.

   "He what?" the boss asked coldly.

   "He's giving me guff about the girl.  He's becoming a liability."

   "Then keep an eye on him.  When this all over, he's disposable.  We'll
get rid of him then," the boss man assured him.  "But for now we need him.
He's too valuable as a patsy to dump at this time."

   "Understood," Brett replied.  Shutting his phone, he walked back inside
the house.

   * * * * * King Mica was at a loss.  He didn't quite know what to do.  He
couldn't interrupt Rand and Gracie, to do so would bring sure disaster. 
They had to complete the ritual.  He didn't want to tell Colin, his most
trusted advisor, that he had to wait until the <i>mezclar</i> was over.  He
kept racking his brain.  There had to be another way...

   There was a knock at his study door.  With a gruff voice, he bid the
person to enter.  He was not surprised to see his advisor in the doorway.

   "Colin," the king greeted his advisor.

   "I know this puts you in quite the spot.  As king, only you are allowed
to interrupt the bonding of your son and my daughter.  And I know the
consequences of this action," Colin assured him tiredly.

   "Yes, I know you do, Colin.  How do I weigh the importance of one
daughter over the other?"

   "And I don't want you to.  Let Grace and Rand be.  Let them finish the
bonding ritual.  They will be much stronger in the face of this if they
complete the bonding.  I don't believe that whoever took Patience will harm
her.  They want Rand and Gracie too much do that," Colin assured his liege.

   "I hope you are correct."

   "I hope so too," Colin said, agreeing with him.

   "If it helps at all, I'll be able to tell where she's at and if anything
happens to her," Jonathan said softly from behind Colin.  Colin swung
around and stared at him.

   Looking at him, thoughtfully, King Mica smiled.

   "You've bonded with her?" he guessed.

   "Yes.  It wasn't planned but I love her," Jonathan said, his voice full
of emotion.

   * * * * *

   Gracie sat on Rand's lap.  They were sitting in a wicker lounger on
their shared balcony, enjoying the view of the sun making its descent. 
With their hands still joined, she couldn't go anywhere without dragging
him along with her.  Time alone was not an option at this point.  She was
almost looking forward to King Mica cutting the bindings.  Then she could
at least attend to her needs without having her husband hovering over her.
It was rather disconcerting to use the toilet in his presence.

   <i>The only good thing,</i> she thought, <i>is that I enjoy the
closeness.

   Good.  I want you to enjoy our closeness.  Even after Dad, servers this
silk binding, I will demand the same amount closeness.  Don't ever try to
shut me out, Gracie.

   He has spoken, I shall obey</i>, she thought sarcastically.

   "If only I could count on that," he whispered against her ear.  "But
<i>mi reina</i> wouldn't be herself, if she obeyed me.  My queen likes to
challenge me.  She likes to push me to see just how far I'll let her go. 
She likes to drive me crazy with lust, until all I can think about is
burying myself inside of her." Rand gently took her earlobe between his
teeth.  Matching his words with action he buried himself slowly inside of
her.

   Gracie gasped, squirming on top of her husband.  She could feel every
inch of him buried in her moist depths.  Wiggling her hips, she encouraged
him to start the hard thrusts that would bring both of them pleasure.

   "Shh, relax, little one.  There's no rush.  We have all time in the
world to enjoy this," he coaxed as he pulled her back against him, so she
was lying back, with her legs parted by his.  Growling softly, he bent his
knees and placed his feet flat on the lounger.  "We've done the fast and
furious, now lets try the slow and easy."

   Gracie moaned as his movement caused her to slide down further on him
and to be cradled in his lap.  Still nibbling on her ear, he slowly traced
circles on her stomach with his fingers.  Taking both of her hands in his,
he brought their joined hands to her heaving breasts.

   "Feel how soft you are," he said, his voice tightening with desire. 
Together they slowly caressed and rubbed erotically over her upturned
breasts.  Sliding their hands under the folds of robe that covered her
body, he urged them up and down her satiny skin.  "Oh, you feel so good,"
he whispered as he slowly began rocking her.

   "I could say the same about you," she gasped and moved with his slow
movements.  She didn't know if she was going to survive this slow loving,
but damn, what a way to go.

   "That's it, Gracie, relax.  We'll get there." Breathing hard, he kept
the pace of their loving slow and easy.  Their bodies were still in the
grip of the <i>mezclar</i> but he didn't feel the need to pound the hell
out of his wife.  The desire to be inside of her was all that mattered to
him.  The sensations seemed even more sharp as he slowly loved his wife on
their balcony, watching day turn to night.

   To Rand this was fulfilling one of his deepest desires.  He had watched
the stars appear numerous times, wondering when he would have the chance to
love Gracie under them.  Now that he had his chance, he was going to enjoy
every second of it.  Hopefully he could convince his sexy, little wife to
indulge in this again.  Moving slowly, but with powerful thrusts, he
continued to love her under the stars, wanting to make it so good that she
would scream with pleasure.

   "Feel good," he murmured into her ear.

   "Oh, yes!"

   "Take a chance Gracie, and let me in," he coaxed, his voice becoming
more ragged as they drew closer to the edge.

   "You're buried inside of me," she gasped, "Just how far in do you need
to be?"

   "I want inside your heart, not just this luscious little body," he
hissed as their peak drew nearer.

   "Rand please," she pleaded arching back towards him.

   "I'll always please you, Gracie," he promised as they started to peak
together.  Gripping her tightly, he arched under her and drove as deep as
he could.  "Always," he repeated, as the night sky exploded around them.

   * * * * *

   Gracie sighed softly as she listened to the sound of her husband's even
breathing.  They were once more inside of the wedding suite.  Looking at
his relaxed features, she still found it hard to believe that he was hers.
Remembering his earlier words, she shook her head.  True to form, Rand
wouldn't be happy unless he owned her heart, body and soul.  He may have
staked his claim on her traitorous body.  He may even have bound their
souls together, but there was no way she was going to let him know that she
was in love with him.

   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 that he had
bound them together.

   "Come here."

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

   "Come here," he repeated, his voice 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, Gracie," he promised, pulling her into his arms.

   * * * * *

   Patience slowly opened her eyes.  The ache in her head had become even
worse.  Feeling along side of her body, she felt the nubby fabric of the
blanket that covered her lower body.  She thought about sitting up but the
pounding in her head made her reconsider.

   She winced when she heard the soft sound of the door opening, then
closing.  Rolling her head to the side, she saw William coming in with a
familiar tray.

   "I see you are awake, Pati," William said softly, knowing that her head
was hurting.

   "Pill..." she croaked.  She knew that what ever was in the pill he had
given her would help with the pounding in her head.  She needed that pill.

   Sitting down on the edge of the bed, William gently lifted her head and
placed the pill inside of her mouth, following it will a sip of the orange
juice.

   Patience smiled softly as the drug entered her system.  William tried to
ignore the tug on his conscience.  He hated to give her the drug.

   Walking back to the kitchen, he placed the cup on the counter and
noticed a bag on the counter.  Picking it up, he realized it was the same
drug that he had just given Patience.  Flipping it over, he read the label.
Rage, hot and potent flowed through his veins.  Spinning around, he glared
at Brett.

   "This is a narcotic.  You realize she's going to get addicted?" he
asked.

   "Just a bonus." Brett sneered.  "What could be more ironic?  The
sister-in-law to the prince being a raz-ice addict." William stared at him
with disbelief.  He could not believe that he was so casual about hooking
an innocent bystander on the most potent narcotic that Venus had to offer.
It took years to get over the habit for even the most determined of
abusers. Some never recovered after introduction to the drug.

   What had he done?

   * * * * *

   The next morning, when Gracie awoke, she no longer felt the burn of the
<i>mezclar</i>.  She did feel the heat of her own desire though.  She could
feel every inch of Rand behind her.  They were molded together front to
back.  Smiling with pleasure, she enjoyed the first rays of sun that poured
through the french doors.  Looking down, she stared at their intertwined
hands.  She didn't think that she would ever get use to seeing the dark
contrast of their skin.

   "Good morning," Rand murmured in her ear.

   "It's done," Gracie told him.

   "Really," he whispered against the back of her neck.

   "Yes.  The <i>mezclar</i> is finally over.  We can go back to normal,"

   "I don't think so," Rand stated rolling her over to face him.  "Nothing
will ever be just normal between us, Gracie.  It doesn't matter if there's
a <i>mezclar</i> or not.  The heat, the chemistry will always be there."

   "At least I'll be able to control it," she whispered, pulling back from
him to look him in the eyes.

   "Control?  That's an illusion, Gracie."

   "Then let it by my illusion, Rand.  It's the only thing I have left,"
she pleaded with him.

   Before he could respond there was a knock on the door of their suite. 
Looking over her, he waved a hand and the door opened.  He was not
surprised to see his father in the door way.

   "It's over, correct?" King Mica asked from the door way.

   "Yes, we came through it just fine," Rand said, his voice full of
satisfaction.

   "Good,"

   "But..." Rand prompted.

   "We have a situation."

   "What?" Sitting up, he pulled Gracie up with him, pulling the coverlet
up with him to protect her modesty.

   "Patience has been taken."

   "Pati?" Gracie asked, shocked and then angered.  Sitting up, she edged
to the side of the bed, only to brought up short by the silk binding. 
Scowling, she turned to look at her husband.

   "Going somewhere?" he asked.

   "Yeah."

   "Come here," he whispered, gently tugging on her hand.  Pulling her
close enough, he kissed her softly.  When they parted, he smiled to comfort
her.  Then he turned to his father.

   "Well, lets go get Patience back," Rand told his father, holding out
their joined hands for his father to sever the silk binding.

   "With the power vested in me, I here by sever these bonds of silk to
only replace them with bonds of power," his father said most solemnly. 
Then a small surge of power ripped the silk binding in two.

   Gracie almost felt at a lose as the two pieces of silk fluttered to the
coverlet.  Unease at being no longer bond with Rand coursed through her.

   <i>You'll never be free of me, Gracie.  I'll be with you always.  Now
let's go retrieve your sister.  Jonathan and Pati have to take their turn
at the alter.</i>