Twin Passions: 3 Read Online Free Page A

sense the strength of the intuitive magick these warriors possessed as it sought her out, confused why she did not reveal herself to the Wizards standing just beyond the column.
    The urge to go to them, to reveal herself and her knowledge that they were her natural Consorts was an impulse so very difficult to deny. An impulse that only grew at the knowledge that her Consorts were seeking another.
    “Did you hear me, brother?” the eldest Delmari Wizard questioned harshly.
    “I have not gone deaf, Torran. I but question this plan you intend to enact. I am not so certain it is the wisest course to take,” Rhydan snapped. “Already I feel our Consortress, I feel our magick reach for her and I am certain we met her the day of our arrival. As much as I agree with the Veressi in their present plan, still, this reeks of a deception I am not certain needs to be practiced.” As he spoke, their magick feathered against the lobe of her ear, the ghostly tug of its touch urged her once again to reveal herself.
    “And for that reason alone I am most grateful that it was not of my design. Should you suspect who our Consortress is, then I beg of you, brother, do not reveal such to me.” Torran sighed. “I can do naught but pray to the Select that we are doing what is best for all concerned and that soon this will be over.”
    What plan? If only they had entered the great hall sooner, perhaps when they were discussing the details of it rather than arguing the advisability of it, then Astra would at least have information to give to the Guardian of the Power of the Lands of Covenan and the commander of the Sorceress Brigade.
    “We are to attempt to convince her to align with us in a Covenant as our Consortress and we are not even certain which Sorceress she is.” Torran seemed to be reminding him. “The Guardian of the Lands of Covenan hides herself well, but she is the only Consortress the Veressi will accept for us if we wish to ensure our lands remain within Delmari control as it has since the dawn of Wizard magick.”
    Agony struck at her once more. She could not believe they would do this. Since their arrival mere days before she had known who they were to her. And she knew now, they sensed her. They might not know which Sorceress she was, but they sensed her. She had known she was their Consortress, yet they would take another instead? They would force the alignment of magicks rather than coming to her, the Sorceress who had awaited them since she had awakened to her female power and desires? They searched for another as Consortress, when they knew, she knew, they must be aware that their Consortress was near.
    How had this happened? What stroke of insanity would make them consider such an act? To convince a Sorceress to “align” with them? Such an unnatural act of Consortship would never be considered by any Sorceress, especially the one Astra knew as the Guardian of Covenan.
    “What of the one our magick seeks? Even now I feel it reaching out to her,” Rhydan asked then, his voice heavy. “I still cannot learn which Sorceress it is, as though the weave of magick that has searched evermore for her now refuses her identity to us. It is now to the point I believe I fear the ball to introduce the Sorceresses to those of us who have come seeking Consortresses.”
    “Perhaps it is better we do not know which Sorceress it is, brother.” Torran sighed regretfully. “To know, yet to be unable to touch, unable to take her as our own, surely would be a fate worse even than seeking a Consortress not our own to possess.”
    She could not bear this pain.
    She could not bear such a betrayal.
    Remaining hidden, feeling the consoling caress of their magick and the regret that lay heavy within it, Astra could only bite back the furious anger growing inside her, even as a single tear escaped her control.
    A second later she felt their magick receding as they walked away and took with them the pleasure spilling over her body.
    Her