Page 5 of Birthright

“Feldema, you should go. The priestess is in need of a bath. You’ll be properly introduced soon enough. Doran will be back from another pack gathering this evening and I’m sure she won’t be happy to find you and your…friends here.” Manus opened the door wide for them, making it clear it was time for the trio to exit.

As she stepped through, Feldema looked back to me with a blatantly fake smile. “See you soon, sister.”

Manus slammed the door behind them and warded it with a few flicks of his wrist and an annoyed grumble. At least I knew a ward when I saw one these days. No one could use that door unless he wanted them to. I’d successfully drawn a few wards in my work with Bevin, but not one strong enough to physically block an entryway. I stood looking at the closed door and realized that I hadn’t said a word while she was in the room. I had only stared at her, dumfounded.

What a great first impression.

Hogan led me to the bath and removed the leathers with a mumbled incantation. I stood naked before him and Manus. I was finally getting used to them dressing me and helping me bathe. It had taken many uncomfortable moments and several screaming fights, but they had finally convinced me it was the norm. Now it almost felt normal. Turns out I like being pampered.

“That’s my sister? Nice girl.”

Hogan held out his hand for me as I stepped into the tub. The water was perfect, as usual, and scented oils and freesia petals floated on its surface, soothing my sore muscles as I sank deep into the water.

“She is your twin half-sister. The archaic Vampire was Kendrick, one of her consorts.” Manus was still grumbling.

I turned the former piece of information over in my head, but I couldn’t get it to make any sense. “Clarify the half-sister bit, please.”

Hogan cleared his throat. “Your mother acquired seed from two men into her womb and held it with a powerful spell to conceive the two of you at once.” I looked at Hogan as if he were crazy. Which was in itself crazy. After all, a Gnome and a Shifter were helping me bathe. Why would anything be crazy to me anymore?

“Your mother was a very wise Witch, Keena. She knew that her child was to be High Priestess and leader of the council. Because she had two girls, she also knew they would have to fight for the right to be High Priestess and the strongest would hold the title.”

“Fight?” I looked at Manus. He nodded and let the Gnome go on.

“You will battle Feldema in the ancient ways. By might and by witchcraft to prove you’re the true heir to the throne of High Priestess.”

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.”