before I kill him.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at his chosen.
“And don’t I have a say in this, Grace Ann?”
If she’d been calmer, she would’ve realized how close to the edge she’d pushed him. His calling her by her full name was a dead giveaway.
“No.”
“Sorry, Your Highness, but I’m here to protect her even from you. Please
leave.”
“Woman, what do you think you’re doing?” Ruzac’s voice boomed across the dream plane.
“Don’t you take that tone with me, Ruzac! This is my place, not yours. Take the
whelp with you and leave!”
Quickly realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Gracie decided to abandon the dream plane, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Jerking awake, she was surprised to find Rand curled around her. Slipping out of his arms, she jerked her robe on and turned to leave the room.
“Running away again, Gracie?” Rand’s voice brought her to a stop.
61
“No, I’m leaving. I’m through arguing with you. I’m going to use the loophole and put an end to this madness.”
Crossing his hands over his chest, he glared at her. “You really are begging to get your ass warmed, Wildcat.”
“This is ridiculous. Even our sentient powers are fighting. When are you going to realize this is pointless and despite what the prophesy says, we’re simply not meant to be? I was going to be content to be your advisor but you had to force the issue. In the morning I’m going to go out and find the closest wizard and break this damn betrothal.”
“Do you want the death of an innocent wizard on your head, Grace Ann? Because whoever you go to will be signing his death warrant the moment he touches you.”
“Then let me go!”
“I can’t.”
She stomped in her foot in frustration. “You mean you won’t, you selfish bastard!”
"That's enough!" Rand rose off the bed, furious. "I’ve done nothing but give you time.
By all rights, I could’ve claimed you the night of the Gathering. You weren’t ready for what would have exploded between us.”
“Like hell! You’ve accused me of running from you, Your Highness, but let’s not forget who ran first, rather than stay and fight for what he supposedly wanted.”
“You little bitch.” The narrowing of his eyes should’ve been warning enough. She was totally unprepared for his actions when she immediately found herself bent over his lap and his hand coming down hard on her ass.
“Stop it!” Arching her back, she tried to scramble off his lap.
62
Holding her in place, he continued to spank her, accenting his words with a sound spank. “You’re–are–mine–and –I’m–never–going–to–let–you –go!” After his final stroke, he jerked her upright on his lap and covered her crying mouth with his. Kissing her, he poured as much of his love for her into the kiss as he could. She was crying even harder when he lifted his head. “I love you, Wildcat, but there are limits even you can’t cross me.” Setting her down on her newly tender butt on the bed, he tucked her back with a flick of his wrist before he disappeared through French doors.
“Zara?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
Closing her eyes in relief when her sentient power responded, she continued, “Why didn’t you stop it?”
“Stop him from spanking you? You were being a brat, sweetheart. I warned
you if you kept pushing you were going to trigger something you wouldn’t like.
Calling your chosen a coward is one way to guarantee a swift spanking.”
“I never dreamed he’d raise a hand to me. How can I marry a man who’ll hit me when he’s angry?”
“This is something you’re going to have to make your peace with, Gracie. Just
as a child you knew you could only push your father so far, Rand is no different.
For once use your head and not that Irish temper of yours.”
Sighing, she finally faced the cause of her anger. “He ran from me, Zara. Instead of staying, he ran from what could’ve been between
Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at his chosen.
“And don’t I have a say in this, Grace Ann?”
If she’d been calmer, she would’ve realized how close to the edge she’d pushed him. His calling her by her full name was a dead giveaway.
“No.”
“Sorry, Your Highness, but I’m here to protect her even from you. Please
leave.”
“Woman, what do you think you’re doing?” Ruzac’s voice boomed across the dream plane.
“Don’t you take that tone with me, Ruzac! This is my place, not yours. Take the
whelp with you and leave!”
Quickly realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Gracie decided to abandon the dream plane, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Jerking awake, she was surprised to find Rand curled around her. Slipping out of his arms, she jerked her robe on and turned to leave the room.
“Running away again, Gracie?” Rand’s voice brought her to a stop.
61
“No, I’m leaving. I’m through arguing with you. I’m going to use the loophole and put an end to this madness.”
Crossing his hands over his chest, he glared at her. “You really are begging to get your ass warmed, Wildcat.”
“This is ridiculous. Even our sentient powers are fighting. When are you going to realize this is pointless and despite what the prophesy says, we’re simply not meant to be? I was going to be content to be your advisor but you had to force the issue. In the morning I’m going to go out and find the closest wizard and break this damn betrothal.”
“Do you want the death of an innocent wizard on your head, Grace Ann? Because whoever you go to will be signing his death warrant the moment he touches you.”
“Then let me go!”
“I can’t.”
She stomped in her foot in frustration. “You mean you won’t, you selfish bastard!”
"That's enough!" Rand rose off the bed, furious. "I’ve done nothing but give you time.
By all rights, I could’ve claimed you the night of the Gathering. You weren’t ready for what would have exploded between us.”
“Like hell! You’ve accused me of running from you, Your Highness, but let’s not forget who ran first, rather than stay and fight for what he supposedly wanted.”
“You little bitch.” The narrowing of his eyes should’ve been warning enough. She was totally unprepared for his actions when she immediately found herself bent over his lap and his hand coming down hard on her ass.
“Stop it!” Arching her back, she tried to scramble off his lap.
62
Holding her in place, he continued to spank her, accenting his words with a sound spank. “You’re–are–mine–and –I’m–never–going–to–let–you –go!” After his final stroke, he jerked her upright on his lap and covered her crying mouth with his. Kissing her, he poured as much of his love for her into the kiss as he could. She was crying even harder when he lifted his head. “I love you, Wildcat, but there are limits even you can’t cross me.” Setting her down on her newly tender butt on the bed, he tucked her back with a flick of his wrist before he disappeared through French doors.
“Zara?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
Closing her eyes in relief when her sentient power responded, she continued, “Why didn’t you stop it?”
“Stop him from spanking you? You were being a brat, sweetheart. I warned
you if you kept pushing you were going to trigger something you wouldn’t like.
Calling your chosen a coward is one way to guarantee a swift spanking.”
“I never dreamed he’d raise a hand to me. How can I marry a man who’ll hit me when he’s angry?”
“This is something you’re going to have to make your peace with, Gracie. Just
as a child you knew you could only push your father so far, Rand is no different.
For once use your head and not that Irish temper of yours.”
Sighing, she finally faced the cause of her anger. “He ran from me, Zara. Instead of staying, he ran from what could’ve been between
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