9781631052415ShadowedSpiritBeck (5 page)

“Sadie
bug, everything is as it should be. This is exactly as your life way meant to
go.” Chiara brushed the springy curls from Sadie’s face and placed her hand
upon Sadie’s cheek. “Is he treating you well?”

“Yes.”

“Then
what has you so upset?”

“Mother…”
Sadie’s voice was trapped in her throat by the raw emotion that gripped her. “I
was involved with a man when I was in San Francisco. I just learned he’s one of
the men involved in this group trying to harm us.” The final words escaped
through tears.

“Oh, Sadie,”
Chiara cooed even while she tugged Sadie back into a hug. “You didn’t know. You
did nothing wrong.”

“He did
something awful the last night we were together and I ran away. I-I was so
ashamed
th
- that I-I couldn’t tell you.”

Her
mother’s arms grew tighter around her. “Oh, Sadie,” Chiara rocked her, showing
no signs of letting go. “Sweet girl, I wish you’d come to me.”

“I
couldn’t. I just couldn’t,” Sadie managed to say between muffled sobs. She was
not a pretty crier.

They
sat like this for a long while; a comforting silence surrounded them.

When
her mother spoke again, Sadie had regained her composure and lay relaxed
against her mother’s shoulder. “Sadie, I know you have been the least
interested in the prophecy growing up. Goddess, you were the least interested
in boys and beauty. The very idea of dressing up appalled you, unless it was in
costume for dance. Still, you have always known this time would come and all
the things in your past would come to reckoning. You belong to the
Circle of Magdalena
. As you are
Claimed
, your past becomes your first life and no longer
defines you. You are now defined by your powers, your strength, and your contributions
to our world as a woman of the
Magdalena
Circle
.”

Sadie
understood the prophecy well enough to know she held one of the deadly sins—a
curse put upon them for the indiscretions of their ancestors hundreds of years
ago—and that being claimed by a Valendite Breed rendered the sin gone.
Fulfilling their obligation to sustain this breed of men provides the women in
the
Magdalena Circle
a long,
illness-free life. What Sadie hadn’t considered was the idea of a second
chance. She was essentially beginning a new life with a clean slate.

“Mother,
you are so right. I am a new woman. Granger has given me that gift.” Sadie
spoke the words as the realization set it. “He gave me a new life.”

Pulling
away from her mother’s embrace, Sadie looked at Chiara and couldn’t stop the
smile that spread across her face. Chiara returned the smile and Sadie could
feel the pride and love touch her. As a purple swirl danced around her mother’s
fingers and into the space between them, Sadie reached her hand to touch it.
Amazed, she saw the lighter red swirls come from her own fingers. As their
hands grew closer, the colors entwined and appeared to be dancing with one
another. It was magnificent.

“I’m
mated to Granger, mother. I am bonded for life, for eternity,” Sadie paused
before continuing, “and I couldn’t be any happier.
Truly.”

Neither
could take their eyes off the manifestation of their powers as they met for the
first time. They spoke while following the swirling patterns of the red and
purple as they danced along their fingers.

“Granger
is a good man. Father and I couldn’t be more pleased,” Chiara shared. “We’ve
known him for a long time now though you never stayed around the compound to
get to know him. His family, they own a vineyard in our homeland, in Italy,
that works alongside the Santucci’s vineyard in America.”

“He
hadn’t told me anything of his family.”

“Likely
he won’t without prompting. He left the role expected of him to take over the
vineyard when he decided to join TEU. There is much to be settled between
Granger and his parents. I suspect your mating may help.”

“Thank
you for sharing that. I didn’t know. He’s been so focused on this mission and
now, on me.” Sadie cursed herself for blushing like a schoolgirl.

“He
needs to focus on this mission. Unfortunately, you’ve mated during a time when
everything is coming to the front. The prophecy is nearing fulfillment. I can
feel it here,” Chiara placed her hand over her heart. “You need to focus on the
prophecy as well. I believe we’ll need our combined strength to aid the men.”

Sadie
nodded, not fully understanding, but completely accepting.

“Now,
you are worrying far too much. I want you to enjoy these days. Allow the
Acclimation to pull you along and then return to the compound. There is only
Grace left to be claimed before the final prophecy moves into place.”

“How is
she?”

“Growing
restless.
Davina Santucci has been wonderful though. It appears they may share the same
soul sin and have been inseparable lately.”

“Davina
is the sister, right?”

“Yes.
She’s only a few years older than Grace but her powers are strong. She’s not
mated but honestly, some of her abilities exceed mine.”

Sadie
was shocked by that news. Her mother was an extremely strong woman. Her powers
were talked about across their community.
“Surely not.”

Her
mother just
nodded,
her eyes in the distance,
thoughtful.

“What
do I do for my powers?” Sadie shifted the conversation, hoping to glean wisdom
from the woman she always believed held the answers.

“As
they appear, as you feel them, experiment. You will always be stronger than you
think you are and trusting in your powers will carry you through.”

“Thank
you, mother.”
Sadie leaned in to embrace her mother. The feeling of warmth and tenderness
they’d always shared burst in color around them. Sadie laughed. “When I was
little, I was amazed by your powers. Now, seeing my own with yours, it makes me
yearn for more.”

“It
makes you yearn for children of your own.”

“Yes.
How do you know?” Sadie had only just thought it as her mother had spoken.

“It was
the same for me, sweet Sadie.” Chiara smiled and then stepped backward before
raising her hands and allowing the growing cloud of smoke to take her home.

Chapter Five

The
shrill of a ringing phone woke Sadie and Granger from their sleep. It had been
a good two days with just the two of them, room service, and plenty of time
spent in their giant bed. Realizing that sunlight was streaming through the
blinds, Granger knew they’d slept through the night and well into the next day.

Reaching
for the phone, Granger sat up and saw that it was Caedon. He cleared his throat
and accepted the call.
“Granger here.”

“Granger,
how’s it going?” There was humor in Caedon’s voice.

“It’s
going, and if you think you’re getting more from me, you may as well just move
on. You never call without a reason.”

“Right
you are,” Caedon affirmed. “We’re ready to move. We’ve located the woman,
Samra, who worked for Mase. Madden wants you back at the compound this evening
for a briefing.”

“This
evening?”

“Yes.
We’re sending the plane down. We’ll move on this as soon as you and Sadie are
prepped.”

“I told
you I wasn’t sure about using Sadie in this mission,” Granger growled into the
phone.

“You
can discuss that with Madden when you return. Seamus and Gemma are set to
arrive at the airfield there this afternoon. I’m sending you their flight
itinerary.”

“Very
well.
Just
be clear on this, Caedon. I’m making no promises where Sadie is concerned.
She’s mine to protect. You might want to drag her into this but be certain what
you ask of me with my mate is what you’d do with your own.” Granger hung up
after he finished, not waiting to hear Caedon’s response. Frankly, he couldn’t
really say he cared what he had to say anyway.

When he
turned, Sadie stood in the doorway listening. He wondered how much of his
conversation she’d heard. He didn’t have to wonder long though.

“We’re
heading back today?” Sadie asked.

“Yes. I’d
wanted to take you back on my bike but it seems we’ve been sent a plane.”

“So
they want us back right away?” Sadie was probing for more information. Damn if
he’d divulge just how involved they wanted her to be.

“They
want to talk to both of us. Let’s get packing and we can talk more about it on
the plane.” Granger took Sadie’s hand and tugged her towards the bathroom.

She
allowed him to pull her along and as they both took their clothes off and
prepared to
shower,
she rested her hand on his
shoulder. Granger felt a relief, a calming sensation rush his body and knew the
sensation came from his mate.

“You
need to know that my powers are strong and they grow stronger every day. I
heard your phone call and I get the feeling they want my help.” She paused and
placed her finger to his lips when he began to talk. “Hush. I’m not afraid. I
want to help.”

Granger
shook his head and stepped into the shower. He hoped a hot shower and some food
might give him a new perspective. The last thing he wanted was for his mate to
have to be a part of this mess. His job was to protect Sadie and involving her
went against every instinct he possessed.

She
stood in front of him in the overly large shower, washing her hair with her
back to him. He ran the soap along her arms and down her back after he finished
soaping himself down. Then she spun to look up at him and smiled. She brought
her hands up to the sides of his face and traced what he knew were frown lines
in his forehead, between his brows.

“You’re
worrying too much about me. I’m strong, Granger, and I trust you to make sure
I’ll be safe in whatever I’ll be asked to do.”

Before
he could move or say anything more, Sadie dropped down onto her knees before
him and took the head of his cock into her mouth.
Stunned
into silence, Granger watched as she sucked on him from root to tip.
Her
tongue did delicious things to him as she licked with firm strokes up and down
his shaft even as she hummed. Watching her was too much. The visual of his mate
on her knees before him along with the sensations she was creating was too
much. Granger was going to explode before he was ready for this to end.

His
body screamed for release, but there was no way in hell he’d let this end.
Granger squeezed his hands into fists and tried to steady his breathing. He
opened his eyes and looked down just in time to see Sadie use her tongue to
lick a drop of pre-cum from the tip of his cock. Then she licked up and down
his length with little flicks of her tongue. She peeked up and he swore he saw
her grin at his fisted hands. The little minx knew what she was doing to him.
She meant to control his pleasure.

When
Sadie ran her tongue along the underside of his cockhead, Granger stiffened and
put his hands on either side of her head. “Whoa. Sadie, I won’t be able to hold
back if you do that.”

“Good.
I don’t want you to hold back,” Sadie implored him, grinning and keeping his
cock nestled against her cheek as she spoke.

“I want
to come inside of you.”

Sadie
shook her head. “No. Not this time. This time, I want you to come in my mouth.
I need to taste you. I need to give this to you.”

“Fuck,”
Granger ground out as Sadie went back to her quest.

This
time, she gave no leeway. She took it all. Sadie slid the long, smooth shaft
into her mouth, lapping it with her tongue as it passed smoothly in and then
out again. She pressed until it touched the back of her throat and then
swallowed to constrict the tip. Damn, it couldn’t be more perfect. She worked
him out and back in with a steady rhythm, humming while she worked him.

“
Mmm
,” she hummed as she moved him out and back in deeper.

He
caught on to her rhythm and began to thrust with her. “Fuck, you are amazing,”
Granger’s voice was raspy and deep, his words struggling to emerge through the
panting.

Sadie
looked up at Granger while keeping his cock firmly between her lips as she
pulled him in and out of her mouth. That wide-eyed look she gave him was nearly
his undoing. He was ready to explode when Sadie took him down her throat and
swallowed one final time.

There
was no more holding back, no more control. His balls pulled into his body even
as the sensation clawed up from his lower back and pushed all of his need
through his dick and into Sadie’s mouth. He watched as she sucked every drop he
offered her and then licked her lips. Goddess, if she could rein that kind of control
over him, she truly was a powerful woman. And, best of all, she was all his.

* * * *

 
“Sadie,” a shrill voice yelled from the
stairs of the private TEU plane.

That
was her sister. She looked up to see Gemma waving at them and was overwhelmed
at seeing her after such a long absence.

“Gemma,”
Sadie yelled back and began to run for her sister.

Granger
followed with their bags and came up behind her as she hugged her sister. He
patted her on the back and spoke softly. “Let’s get on board and then you two
can talk the whole way home.”

They
moved to settle in and spent the next hour gossiping like little girls. Despite
their lowered voices, both women knew it was more than likely that Granger and
Seamus could hear them from the cockpit with their exceptional hearing.
Neither cared.
It was such a relief to talk to one of her
sisters. So much had happened.

“It’s
so good to see you. I feel better already.” Sadie squeezed Gemma’s hand.

“It’s
not just psychological.
The best thing is for us is to be
surrounded by other
Circle of Magdalena
women, especially those blood-related. It’s why mother and father bought us the
house so we could live together until we mated,” Gemma explained.

“We’re stronger together.”

“Yes. We’re stronger together.”

“What about the Seventh Prophecy? There have been a few
other families with seven sisters before us. How do we know we’re the ones the
Goddess spoke of?”

“There’s a difference between those families and ours,
Sadie. The most significant is that never before us have all seven sisters made
it to adulthood. In each of the other families, one of the sisters died in
childhood.”

“Do you believe it is us then?” Sadie asked, knowing Gemma
had done extensive research on their race.

Gemma shrugged in answer. “It seems likely.”

Sadie smiled. “It would be exciting to live out a prophecy.”

“Mostly for Amelia and Layla... or
maybe Gracie now.
The true consequences of the prophecy fall
to the first and last sisters.” Gemma explained her research specifically found
the prophecy stated that ‘the first sister shall bear another seven and the
seventh shall release the deadly sins so long as all are mated.’

“The oldest and youngest sisters?
Then why Gracie?
And all we need to do is mate, simple
enough.” Sadie shrugged. Being mated was certainly something she could handle.

Gemma shook her head again, “I’m not convinced it’s the
oldest and youngest. I think it’s referring to the first and last to be mated.
And that none of the prophecy will be fulfilled until all of us are mated.”

“So those who’ve learned about us might be trying to stop
the prophecy from being fulfilled so we can’t release the curse and live as
normal mortals.”

“Who says we’ll be normal mortals? Our lives will still be
quite longer than the average human. We’ll still be superior. I suspect those
against us aren’t happy about that.”

“Well, it’s definitely an incredible thought.” Sadie grew
quiet as she contemplated the future that now didn’t seem so far away. They sat
in a comfortable silence for a long time until Sadie spoke again. “They want to
use me in the upcoming mission.”

“Yes. Davina believes we can hold a circle that will keep
you protected. Our powers can fuse with yours.”

“Davina?”
Sadie questioned, skeptically.

“We’ve discovered Davina Santucci has quite strong powers.
Wait until you see her in our circle.”

* * * *

They
went directly from the airfield to the TEU offices on the Santucci Compound.
There was no time for settling in. A meal was provided during the meeting and
to his surprise, nearly everyone sat around the table when they entered.

Granger
placed his hand on Sadie’s back and guided her to a seat that placed her on his
left. Once they were seated, Granger noticed the quiet looks exchanged between
the women and then he heard the voices in his mind.

“We’re so glad you’re home,
Sadie.”

“You look wonderful, sister.”

“You got the sexy biker babe,
sis.”

 
“Sadie, I can hear you and your sisters
talking,” Granger spoke into Sadie’s ear.

“Impossible.
We’re talking in our minds.” Sadie shook her head at him.

“Well,
how might I know I’m the sexy biker babe?” The grin splitting Granger’s face
couldn’t possibly grow any larger.

“Shit!
How are you doing that?” Sadie looked to Granger with wide eyes, a look of
disbelief coloring her expression.

Gemma
laughed from beside them. “With your mate connection, Granger now shares your
mind connection. When someone speaks with you, even in your mind, he’ll be able
to hear them.”

“Can we
stop playing now?” Madden called the room to attention. Speaking lower, he
added, “this is exactly why we don’t need a bunch of women in on my meetings.”

“Damn
right, son,” the elder Santucci added.

Ignoring
his father’s agreement, Madden stood to take control of the meeting. At his
full height, Madden commanded attention. His
shoulders were broad, and likely
he was the strongest physically among them. There was nothing but muscle on his
body. And when he spoke, everyone in the room was silenced.

“This is a most unusual mission briefing. However, since
what we’re facing is not the typical TEU mission, but something much more
personal—an attack on our race, it will take our combined efforts to defuse.”
Madden paused and surveyed the room with his determined silver gaze.

Sitting around the table were the usual men, but alongside
them sat their mates. Caedon and Eloise, Seamus and Gemma, Donovan and Paige,
Gage and Amelia, along with the rest of the Santucci and Sinster families sat
ready for instruction. At Madden’s side was Layla with Anton and the baby in
her arms. Madden reached his hand and placed it on his daughter’s tiny head.

“The prophecy is nearly fulfilled. To receive its blessing
and find peace for our women and a rightful continuation and peace for our
race, it is clear we’ll need to defend it. Often a gift isn’t granted outright,
but must continue to be earned.” Madden nodded toward Gemma who continued on.