“Unice was a Centauride. She was exquisite: long flowing blonde hair, bright blue eyes, a kind smile and a soft heart. She roamed the pastures of Thessaly with the other Centaurs. Unice had the voice of an angel and often sang as she galloped along the countryside. Her voice would entice strangers, beckoning them forward in search of the angel on earth who sang to the heavens. One day a human, a man, happened upon her pasture. Her body was obscured by a large boulder, so he only saw the human half of her beauty and heard the magic of her voice. The man’s name was Winfield. He was so taken with her that he sat perfectly still, content to listen to the beautiful songs she sang.”

“Winfield came to the meadow for weeks. Anytime he tried to come closer than his perch, she would disappear behind the rocks. When the weeks turned into months, Winfield confessed that he was deeply in love with Unice. Unice was sure when he found out what she was, the lust he felt for her would disappear. She stepped out from behind the rocks she had hidden behind and showed her whole body to Winfield.”

Winfield cried out to her, begged her not to leave, and professed his love for her. The two spent their days and nights together, deeply in love but unable to be together. Unice wept one evening and Aphrodite saw her tears and felt her heartbreak. Aphrodite took pity on the couple that was so deeply in love and changed Unice to a human. Unice was the first Centaur to be changed from a Centauride to a human, years before Zeus gave his gift to the Centaurs.”

Zandra looked squarely at Gage, “Has your father ever shared that story with you?”

He nodded, “Yes, he has, many times.”

“Do you know why the story of Unice and Winfield is so important to your family?”

“It’s just a legend, Miss Zandra. It is a fable for lovers who think their challenges are insurmountable, that love can conquer all.”

“No!!” Zandra screamed. “It is not a fable. It is your heritage, Gage.”

Gage said nothing. Zandra was furious with him when she continued, “Imagine my elation when I find out my granddaughter, one of the few living Centaurides in Chiron’s bloodline is going to marry a Centaur in the Winfield bloodline?”

“That’s right, Miss Zandra. I believe my father is pleased with our betrothal for the same reason.”

I was interested in the story, partly because the story tied to a living breathing person. I directed my question to Zandra, rather than Gage, “So is Gage a pure-blooded Centaur?”

Gage looked embarrassed by my question. I’d meant no offense, but after all her lessons over the last six weeks; I didn’t know what to make of the story. Zandra answered, “Winfield was human. Aphrodite’s magic transformed Unice to a woman, but the bloodline remains Centaur, and it retains Aphrodite’s magic.”

I smiled at Gage, who I worried might have been offended with my question on his ancestors, and ribbed him good naturedly, “So you have love magic. Am I under your spell?”

Through clenched teeth, Gage answered, “As much as I am under yours, Darling.” He wasn’t offended. He was trying to maintain his composure, hiding the humor behind a stoic expression.

Zandra interrupted our private joke, “So, tell me, Gage. Why is it that this morning I saw a woman, other than my granddaughter, slip from your room when she believed no one was near?”

Alarm spread on Gage’s face; he stayed silent. Zandra turned her attention on me, “Did you know that Bianca spent the night with Gage?”

I should have denied it. I should have played dumb waiting for Gage to think of a reasonable excuse. I knew I needed to choose my words wisely, as I was acutely aware that the necklace was unforgiving. I kept my voice even and strong, “Grandmother, I was aware. They spent the night together with my blessing.” Gage’s expression moved from alarm to shock. I think he believed my honesty would enrage the necklace.

Zandra screeched, “What?! You allowed this?” I could feel the necklace pulsing with energy. It had to have reacted to her fury, but I didn’t receive a shock. I strained the muscles in my neck in anticipation of the electric charge, but nothing happened.

In a gentle tone, careful to be absent of any hostility, I answered, “Bianca is my dear friend. She tried to choose Gage, but her mother wouldn’t permit it. Gage has accepted your invitation to be my husband, but until we are bound by marriage, he has my blessing to see Bianca.”

She turned her rage on Gage, “It is you! You are the one who interferes with Camille’s destiny. I have put the necklace of obedience around my granddaughter’s neck, and it was you whose fate was fallible. It is your unwillingness to commit that leaves her destiny undecided!”

“Miss Zandra, I will honor my commitment to Camille. I am ashamed that you so easily read my desires for Bianca and misinterpreted them as intentions by Camille. Camille will make a good wife, and she does not deserve to wear this necklace of obedience you have put on her.”

Zandra eyed him suspiciously. “You mean to tell me, you have hoped for another woman while staying at my estate, then brought that woman here? That is why I keep seeing a man other than you in Camille’s future?” Gage was definitely braver than I was. I checked my mind’s brick wall – it was intact. There was nothing to contradict Gage’s confession or augment it with one of my own.

Zandra glared at both of us. She stomped out of the garden and slammed the door to the house. I asked tentatively, “Now what?”

“Now, we wait. Why would you tell her it was with your blessing?”

“It was the truth. The necklace didn’t zap me.”

“You knew we were getting together?”

“I assumed you and Bianca had the same arrangement as Drake and I did. You choreographed the perfect arrangement for both of us. Thanks, by the way.”

Gage chuckled at me, “Well, our midnight rendezvous may be over for a while.”

“Did you mean what you said to Zandra?”

“What part?”

“That you’ll honor your commitment to me. You’re still going through with it?”

“We don’t have recourse, do we?”

“Ten minutes ago I would have said that we didn’t, but given her reaction, I wonder if there isn’t a shred of decency in her.”

Gage looked surprised by my statement, “How do you mean?”

“She didn’t seem pleased about her decision to put this stupid necklace on me. If we can get her to take it off, I’ll leave. Not just the estate, I’ll leave the country if I have to.”

“Zandra would find you.”

“She never found my mother.” I wondered if Gage knew our parents had once been betrothed. “My mom ran away on her wedding night and was never found.”

“I knew that much, but I think that had more to do with my dad protecting your mom than anything else. He really loved her. He’s told me about Angela my whole life. Even my mom doesn’t mind him telling the stories.”