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

and caring woman. I’m surprised that a dozen or more men
haven’t come along and turned themselves inside out to impress and please you
just so they could have the privilege of being with you.
    Oh.
    I respect your decision to help your father at his
clinic. It is probably rewarding work that you do. But I also know what it’s
like to lie awake at night and wonder how much more rewarding life would be if
there were someone it could be shared with.
    Danet swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. His
admission mirrored her deepest longing. One that she kept locked down and
rarely examined so she wouldn’t be reminded of what she might be missing. It
was too risky to allow anyone to get close enough to discover her “gifts”.
Especially when she didn’t know the extent of them herself. The idea of passing
unknown abilities on to a child made her gut clench.
    She clamped down on her thoughts and her feelings before
Ceros picked up on them.
    You know you’ll only tempt my curiosity by trying to hide
things from me, he told her.
    No. Just forget about any temptation. I sense you are an
honorable man and you should be able to understand that we both need
boundaries. I won’t go dancing through your private thoughts if you’ll leave
mine alone.
    If they impact Licosia, how can I just look the other
way?
    There is nothing in my head that truly impacts Licosia. She
frowned. At least, not that I can think of.
    And if there is?
    You will just need to trust that I would tell you if
there was. We just need to agree to stay out of each other’s closed-off
thoughts.
    He fell silent for a moment. Long enough to make Danet
squirm.
    Very well.
    She let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
    I will trust you, he said. But don’t be surprised
if I bring it up after all of this is over.
    She groaned.
    I heard that, he reminded her.

Chapter Six
     
    Ceros’ sisters came to check on him and provided a welcome
relief from his relentless questioning. Danet enjoyed catching up with them and
found it hard to keep the information about Ceros’ true condition to herself.
Harder even than it had been with the queen.
    As she held one of the girls’ newborn son, she realized she
was missing a piece of her life she hadn’t previously noticed.
    It took a lot of focus to bury her thoughts about mates and
what her connection to the prince might mean, but Danet felt as if she
accomplished it. She hoped the prince’s lack of questions on the subject was
proof she had succeeded.
    The next distraction was provided by Hesina and a few
members of her staff.
    As Hesina’s girls busied themselves cleaning and
straightening the room, Hesina pulled Danet aside. “It relieved my mind to hear
the queen assigned you to the prince’s care.”
    “He is still under Darius’ care. I will simply oversee his
daily needs.”
    “However you wish to look at it, I know he’ll be in good
hands now. And I’m sure your being here eases some of the queen’s stress.”
    “I just hope we are able to figure out what is wrong with
him quickly.”
    Hesina patted her arm. “I have faith that you will.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Now, what can we bring you? Knowing you, there are probably
a couple of lists started.”
    Danet smiled. “Naturally.” She gave Hesina a note with the
things she needed.
    “What about you? There’s a rather comfortable lounge in one
of the guest rooms that I can have brought in if you’re planning to stay
through the night.”
    “I hadn’t decided whether I would stay or not. I told Father
I would return home whenever possible, but I was going to wait to see if there
was any change in the prince’s condition.”
    Have them bring in the lounge. If nothing else, you can
use it for extra seating when my sisters return.
    “How about if I bring it in just in case,” Hesina suggested.
“If it’s not needed, it’s no trouble to take it out again.”
    “Very well.” She wasn’t fond of the idea of walking home
late