Hers to Command Read Online Free

remain.
    “ I am so sorry, my dear,” he whispered.
    She petted his arm. “Neither of us thought it would come to this, Elder. I forgive you.”
    “ You shouldn’t.” He inhaled a shaky breath. “You are well educated and practiced in our Lesser Rites .” His voice softened. “You have been an amazing student.”
    S he smiled her thanks but he looked away.
    “ My dear, there is no comparison between the Lessers and the Great Rite . In the Lessers , those every-day rites that light our candles and braziers, that heal our wounded and till our soils, the diamantorre need glow only colore rosso prior to orgasm. The celebrants recite the energy-focusing mantras themselves and the rites are not performed in the Chambre Cristalle .”
    Her unease deepened at Patricio’s increasingly strident voice.
    “ In the Great Rite , cinnagin violently escalates sexual arousal. The sigil crystals feed off this energy. Always, the diamantorre feed more heavily from the female partner, while the magister must channel the force properly. Regrettably, it is the magistra who pays the heaviest toll. It is very important that your magister maintain you at the razor’s edge of climax until the sigil radiates the arcobaleno , the purest of white lights.”
    Patricio scrubbed his face with his hands. His distress and his agitation pushed her ever closer to outright panic.
    “ Once the Rite is sufficiently advanced, the energy drain is continual. If your arousal is not maintained, it will affect you mentally. If you should climax before the culmination of the ritual, your magister will bring you back up any way he can. It is a sexual hell, your Highness, for male and female.” His voice choked. “If either of you break? The diamantorre will not reenergize. The shield wall will fail. Sylvan Mintoth will fall to the Haarb.” He struggled for composure. “You will lose your mind.” He gave a tired sigh. “And you are right. It is quite unfair.”
    He dropped his head, running his fingertips over the jewels covering the tiny box in his lap. “If you are successful, cinnagin has a nasty side-effect you should…” His voice trailed off at her harsh gasp.
    “ By the gods! Must I know all of this now?”
    “ No, no,” he said. “You need not know all of this now.”
    S itting rigidly upright in her chair, she withdrew her thumbs from the holes she had punched in the cushion . There really is no option. I cannot run away from this when so many have died to defend our planet. I cannot refuse because I am afraid.
    She placed an unsteady hand on his arm. “Elder Patricio.” She met his eyes. “We know I am the last option. You didn’t create this war. You didn’t make the diamantorre fail. You did your best. I am the Principessa Royale of Verdantia. This is my duty.”
    Elder Patricio covered her trembling hand with his. “Your Highness, about your magister , your partner in this rite, he is extraordinary, truly extraordinary. Trust him. I know this man. His skill is without equal. He will get you through this.”
    I hadn’t even thought to question who my partner would be. Oh, Goddess, not DeGregio!
    “ Are you prepared, my dear? We can give you a little more time if it will be useful. Your magister is resting from a hard journey and would himself benefit from the additional time.”
    What hard journey? Where did he come from? There are only three seventh-level magisters still alive—DeGregio, DeFlores and DeLorion. The registry notes, “incomplete” by DeLorion.
    Pulled from her thoughts , Fleur responded with a tentative smile. “Thank you, Elder. Perhaps some time alone to compose myself and clear my mind would be good.” She cleared her throat uncertainly. “Who is he?”
    “ High Lord DeTano.”
    “The commander of our military? A warlord?” She could not restrain her disbelief.
    “Yes, DeTano. He is much more than he seems.”
    The old man’s voice held a note of apology. “You would know, had you ever met the man.