Divine by Choice Read Free Page A

distastefully.
    â€œYeah, Bres. Didn’t you say something about him worshipping dark gods?”
    Alanna’s eyes narrowed with concern. “I do remember. Bres had powers granted him by evil and darkness. What would make you think of him?”
    I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “I don’t know. I guess something about the cold, cloudy night must have creeped me out.”
    â€œRhea, lately I have been concerned that you—”
    Thankfully, Alanna was interrupted by the sound of approaching feet pattering against the marble.
    â€œYour wine, my Lady.” The nymphet had returned bearing a tray on which rested two crystal goblets filled with what I assumed was my favorite merlot.
    â€œThank you,” I mentally searched for her name as I took one of the goblets and handed the other to Alanna, “Noreen.”
    â€œYou are most welcome, Epona’s Beloved!” She skipped away—her red hair flying in a breeze of her own making.
    God, she was perky.
    â€œTo our husbands returning.” I offered the toast, hopeful that it would change the subject. Alanna clicked her glass to mine as she blushed a sudden, dazzling pink.
    â€œTo our husbands.” She smiled softly at me over the top of her glass as she took a drink.
    â€œUgh!” I could barely swallow my own sip. “This stuff is awful!” I sniffed at the glass, and cringed as the scent of rancid wine met my nostrils. “Does being Beloved of Epona not mean anything anymore? Why do I keep getting everything that’s rotten?” I realized I sounded uncharacteristically petulant, and somewhere inside my mind I was shocked at my own outburst. Why in the hell did I constantly feel on the verge of tears?
    â€œRhea, let me taste it.”
    Alanna took my goblet, smelled the wine, then took a long drink.
    And another.
    â€œWell?” My voice reflected my frustration.
    â€œIt is fine.” Alanna’s eyes met mine. “There is nothing wrong with the wine.”
    â€œOh, shit,” I collapsed onto a chaise that sat near the laden banquet table. “I’m dying. I have cancer or a brain tumor or an aneurysm or something.” There was a burning in the back of my throat that signaled I was close to tears. Again.
    â€œRhea—” Alanna sat next to me and took my hand gently in hers “—perhaps you have become choleric. You have gone through much in the time you have been in our world.”
    Oh, sure, “choleric.” What the hell was that? Next she’d want to bleed me or drill holes into my skull to let out the “bad humors” or something equally medieval. My mind frantically tried to recall how penicillin was made from bread mold.
    â€œCarolan will know what to do to help you.” She patted my hand, trying to comfort me.
    â€œYeah, Carolan will know what’s wrong.” Like hell. There was no technology in this world. That meant no medical schools. He would probably want to chant some kind of off-tune song over me and make me drink something made from frog snot.
    I was friggin doomed.
    â€œA long bath always makes you feel better.” She stood, pulling me up with her. “Come, I will help you choose a lovely gown—with matching jewelry.” She paused as I got reluctantly to my feet, then added, “The jeweler was here this morning while you were busy with Epi. I had him leave all of his new pieces. I think I remember seeing a lovely pair of diamond earrings and a gorgeous golden brooch.”
    â€œWell, if you insist.” We smiled at each other as we left the banquet room. Alanna knew my weakness for jewelry and knew that it could coax me out of just about any dreary mood, almost as easily as could spending time with my extraordinary mare, Epi, who I had nicknamed after the Goddess, Epona, and rightly so. Epi was the horse equivalent of me. She, too, was Beloved of the Goddess. She and I had a connection that was as