Mystic's Touch by Dena Garson Read Free Book Online Page A

and worried what
his reaction might be to know she was related to the woman who turned the tide
of the Great Wars.
    But… That’s incredible! What is there to be afraid of?
Your great-grandmother made a huge sacrifice and it was unfair that her bravery
had to be covered up.
    It was war and there were plots against the royal family
that would have unraveled the balance of power. They had to cover it up.
    Even today credit for finding the people behind the plot
to kill my great-grandmother and grandfather has never been disclosed.
    Obviously you’ve been told so it wasn’t completely
hidden, she pointed out .
    I’m part of the royal family, though, so it doesn’t
count.
    If you say so.
    Danet turned to look at the prince. He was a handsome man.
It was a shame to see him trapped in his body this way.
    Don’t try to distract me, the prince said.
    How was I distracting you?
    You were thinking of touching my hair.
    I was not.
    Yes, you were.
    Danet harrumphed. What was your second reason?
    My second reason?
    You said you had two reasons for asking about my family
but only mentioned one.
    Ah, yes. I was trying to figure out how your family could
be so intertwined with mine, but I don’t remember meeting you before now.
    We were introduced once, long ago. As I have already
explained, it would have been improper for me to have served you or spent any
time in your company. Besides, you have been away from home for many turns of
the suns.
    Why is it acceptable for you to be in my service now?
    I am no longer an innocent maid. I was married for a
short time. Besides, completing my apprenticeship allows me a great deal of
freedom even though I am not mated. I believe your mother is more concerned
with your well-being than any sense of impropriety. Besides, there is little
danger of your ravishing me while in this state.
    How does she know that you won’t ravish me while
overseeing my care?
    She shot him a look that would have spoken volumes had he
been able to see it. Because your mother knows me better than that.
    Does she?
    Yes. With one word, she made sure there was nothing
to argue.
    How unfortunate.
    An image flashed through her mind of her straddling his very
naked body, both of them sweaty and flushed. Danet tripped over her own feet. She
quickly stamped the image down, not knowing if she had conjured it or if he
had.
    Either way, no good could come of dwelling on it so she
forced her thoughts in a more productive direction and began making a list of
things she may need for the next couple of days.
    Why are you not mated again? he asked, making her
forget what she had just put on her list.
    Danet shrugged. I had just finished my apprenticeship
when Okpara and I were mated. He died about six moons later in an accident. I
busied myself with a demanding schedule at the clinic as well as here at the
palace. Between the two, I haven’t had the time or the inclination.
    Interesting.
    Why? Because something must be wrong with me if I didn’t
rush out to find the first available man to fill my bed?
    That’s not what—
    Are you one of those men who think every woman needs a
man to watch over her?
    No. I—
    Just because society has dictated they expect girls to
marry by their twentieth year and have little ones a year or two later doesn’t
mean I have to comply.
    That’s true but—
    I’m not a simpleton. If I had met a man I wanted
as a mate, one who was capable of capturing my interest both physically and
mentally, I would be joined with him.
    I’m sure you—
    As it stands, I have yet to meet such a man. And until I
do, I won’t just throw myself in the path of every available man just so I
could say I was mated. Danet folded her arms across her chest and harrumphed
to herself. Actually it wasn’t really to herself since Ceros could hear pretty
much everything that passed through her thoughts.
    Are you finished?
    She took a deep breath. Yes.
    Good. What I was trying to say was that you seem to be a
talented, intelligent