Chapter 2 #2
I put my head down on my knees. I knew I should have had some compassion for the woman.
After all, she was my sister. But Blondie threw the first stone, and I wasn’t in any position to try to make amends for whatever the last twenty years had created between us.
If I had needed to be her friend, Doran would have said so.
Right? “Great. I think I could take the skinny bitch in a fight, but when it comes to even basic spellwork, I suck.”
They both laughed as Manus washed my hair. Bevin came around the corner scowling. She’d obviously heard my last comment. “If you don’t soon choose a man, well…”
That got my mind away from my twin. I jerked my head up so fast that water and petals sloshed out of the tub. “Choose a man? Choose a man for what?”
Manus chuckled again, shaking his head. “You didn’t realize all the Magicians and half Demons that Bevin and Doran have been introducing you to were for your selection? She’s had some of the most powerful Kith brought here to the castle and you haven’t shown the slightest interest in any of them.”
“I’ve kind of been busy trying to accept all this.” I gestured around the cavernous black marble bathroom, sloshing even more water. “And all the training. The last thing I want is a man.” I suddenly felt self-conscious and vulnerable, and pulled my knees up, hugging them to me to cover my breasts.
“Pardon me for my bluntness here, Keena, but your previous life was…it’s gone. You don’t have to love this one anyway. You just have to join with him so your magic will mature. Then spells will be no problem for you.” Hogan was getting towels ready as he spoke.
“Tell her all of it, Hogan,” Manus said. He was working a sweet-smelling shampoo into my hair as he eased me back against the tub. His hands felt so good as they massaged my scalp. The caresses relaxed me a little and I let my head fall back.
“By ‘join,’ you mean sex?”
Hogan gave me his wicked, toothy smile and nodded.
“I have to have sex with someone to bring my full powers out?” I was shocked. And after three weeks of Gnomes, Weres, and all sorts of Imps and such, that was really saying a lot.
“Yes, dear,” Bevin said, as if I should have known. “But there is a catch to it.”
“Of course there is,” I said, sinking farther into the tub as she dug a pain amulet from her pouch. I needed it for the aches and bruises from the battle training. Manus let go of my hair long enough for me to hang it around my neck.
“The one you choose will be spelled to love you all his days, whether you return that love or not. He will never take another. The spell that binds him to you will prevent him from abusing his ability to take in some of your magic. Joining for creatures of magic is quite different from human sex. We exchange power, share magic in our couplings. Your first lover as a Witch is an awakening, a call to your power.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. I get full powers, and he gets zilch. Do I have to marry him then?”
“Absolutely not! We don’t marry in the sense that you understand. And he will benefit from your coupling. The spell merely prevents him from using your own magic against you. You can keep him as a consort as long as you like, but you can send him away whenever you please,” Bevin explained.
“Consort?”
Manus answered, “You should have two consorts at any given time. They are sworn to you. But your first experience with a member of the Kith will awaken your powers completely. Your powers as a Witch are part of your essence as a woman. The first lover, or la graine as we call him, will simply bring on the bloom of your full abilities.”
“La graine?”
“The seed,” Bevin said. “It is the bringing of life to your power as a Witch.”
I thought on that for a moment, not sure how sex could manage to awaken my power. Yet I had no choice but to believe.
“Can I have Manus as a consort?” I looked at him, then Bevin. His face brightened and those green eyes shone as he smiled.
“No, Keena,” Manus said with a soft lilt. “I am honored deeply that you would consider me for a consort, especially as la graine, but I have sworn my life to you as your guardian. I pledged an oath to you and your mother. I will not go back on that oath no matter what may come.”
I had a hard time imagining having that kind of relationship with him anyway.
He was my friend, my strength…my cat. And he’d seen me wax.
“Never mind.” As it all settled into my brain, I put my hand on Bevin’s arm, suddenly panicked about my lack of magical skills and the subtle threat from Feldema.
“How long do I have to find a consort? When is this battle with the wicked half-sister? She mentioned something about ‘mere months’!”
They all smiled at me—the Shifter, the Gnome, and the Witch.
I had daydreamed of a life where I was fuller, more complete.
And now I had it. I was given attendants, clothing fit for royalty, magic, and a huge suite in a castle.
I was getting used to it, but they had neglected to tell me I had to fight for it all.
What if I didn’t have the power to beat Feldema?
“You may not believe this, Keena, but you are stronger than I ever imagined you would be, my child.” Bevin’s wrinkled face was soft, but a shadow of concern shifted across her eyes.
“But the sooner the better. We have no idea how strong your powers will be. Feldema’s magic…
her powers are great. You need all the practice you can get before you have to face her.
” She handed me another amulet. I groaned as I eased it over my head.
Manus had stopped pulling punches in our sparring, and I hurt all over.
Bevin continued, “Doran is back this evening, and we will be heading home tomorrow. There will be more men to choose from there. Don’t worry, my child, your body will tell you when the time is right if you open yourself to your senses.
You still don’t trust yourself, your new magic.
It will come when you open up to it and accept it. ”
She turned to Hogan, and the bun in her gray hair wobbled. “Something formal this evening, our host will be here as well.” Hogan gave her a little bow.
“Our host? This isn’t home? You people don’t tell me anything,” I said with a pout. This lack of information was getting very irritating, and I had every intention of speaking with Doran when she returned.
Bevin gave me a confused look. I guess she assumed I knew.
“This is the home of Lord Tynan, of course. He’s been very generous to house us for this long while we helped you to adjust. But we leave for the homeland tomorrow night.
All the Kith will welcome you and you’ll feel more confident. It will feel like home.”