By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

An Excerpt From: SECRETS OF THE WIND

Copyright CHARLOTTE BOYETT-COMPO, 2005.

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

"Do you not want a man who will make your blood boil one moment, and then make it flow like hot molasses in the next as his fingers ply your flesh? Do you not desire a man who will take you soaring to the highest mountains then cradle you gently in his arms as he settles you back to earth?"

"Your Majesty," Chas protested, her voice a whine of complaint.

"I am told that when he laid hands to you in the marketplace, you were seen to shudder as though a lightning bolt had traveled the length of you. Is that correct?"

"While it is true I felt a charge from his touch,I..."

"Did you not call him Enlil?"

"Aye, but I don't have any idea..."

"Enlil," the queen said, "was the Lord High God of the Winds in ancient an Iaráin. His wife was Ninlil. That phantom woman you were in the distant past called out to her lover."

"That is only speculation," Chas denied.

"Had you heard the name before? Is it one you commonly use?"

Chas groaned with frustration. "No, Your Majesty. The name was new to me."

"No, it was love calling to love, Chastain. Ruan Cosaint is the reincarnation of an old, old love and he is the man for you, lass," the queen said, her statement brooking no argument. "And you are the woman for him! You were meant to be together! The mystic says so!"

"But when he finds out you hired me to..."

"Don't let him!" the queen snapped and rose from the bed. She smoothed the skirt of her gown. "Men don't need to know everything a woman does, lass. The sooner you learn that lesson, the better off you'll be!"

When Queen Annalyn left her, Chas went over the information regarding her heritage and realized she was crying. She had been trying for so long to find out whom she had been, who her parents were, the reason Charlton Neff and his wife, Catherine, had adopted her, it was a relief to finally have answers. To learn she had been of noble blood? Unexpected and totally surprising. No wonder the Tribunal did not want her to know of her heritage.

As to the Gaelachuan queen's assertion that Chas and Ruan were fated to be mates? Well, she thought as she swiped at her tears that remained to be seen.