Vanished Pride (The Seven Sin Sisters 4) (10 page)

“Let
everything go. Relax and let go so I can catch you,” Donovan leaned over her
and spoke into Paige’s ear. His breath was warm and caused shivers. He
continued to tap her sensitive bundle of nerves until her legs shook. Then her
whole body began shaking. “That’s it,
Principessa
.
Let all that energy out and I’ll catch you.”

Her
inner muscles clenched down tightly and the first tremor hit out of nowhere as Paige
screamed out an orgasm she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t sure how long it went on
but when Paige opened her eyes, she was in Donovan’s arms.

“Well
done, Paige,” Donovan grinned at her.

Why
did that make her feel so shy?

Chapter Six

Donovan wasn’t happy when he’d woken up alone. He’d become reliant on
Paige being in his bed since they’d spent the past week together nearly
constantly. Donovan had taken his role as bodyguard seriously and shadowed her
wherever she went. He couldn’t say he minded, but this, the waking up alone
thing, he did mind. They were supposed to celebrate their Pronouncement today. Where
could his mate have gone off?
 

Donovan slipped on loose pajama pants and looked for Paige in the
kitchen. He found her there, though not cooking as he’d assumed. She was
sitting in the window seat reading from one of his old history books. Donovan
had been surprised at how little she knew about their history. He’d always
assumed the women of the
Magdalena Circle
knew far more than the Valendite Breed. The
Circle
of Magdalena
, as referred to in modern day, is the only vessel for
procreation and life sustenance of the Valendite breeds. The determinate for
finding their mate was in finally partaking in or being free from their soul sin.
Passing down this history from one generation to the next was paramount, which
is why Donovan kept his family’s books well preserved.

Donovan often wondered about the times of the Italian Wars in the early
1500s, and the eventual consequences.

Those living on the Italian peninsula had no alliances when the war
started, and the Italians stood no chance of victory. He understood why their
scientists developed these chemicals that transformed men into the ultimate
soldiers.

It was the actions after the war, after these men were no longer needed,
that chafed him. Since much of their strength had been hidden, and their
unanticipated need for blood was concealed easily enough on the battlefield, no
one knew of them. They had resumed as normal a life as possible once the Peace
of
Cateau-Cambresis
was signed and the French renounced
any further claims to Italy.

Normal was relative. Their need for blood meant they lived in solitude
among their own kind for years, eventually returning to wives who possessed no
understanding for what had happened to them. Some men mistakenly killed their
own wives. Mistrustful of those who might be frightened or threatened by their
gifts, they had nowhere to turn and the scientists who worked in the labs had
since past away. The Valendite Breed learned to drink from one another, a blood
exchange that left them unfulfilled and empty. After they settled into life on
the Italian hillsides, the wives who survived weren’t able to conceive, and
soon began to die anyway as their husbands lived longer lives.

In desperation, the men assembled their women at the steps of the
cathedral in Rome, the place most known for sanctity, to ask for God’s
intervention in their lives. Pleading, one woman by the name of Magdalena, offered
a sacrifice in exchange for fertility. Her plea was granted. Each woman present
that day – seven in total – were filled by one of the seven deadly sins in
exchange for the honor of bearing breed children, continuing the race and
nourishing their breed mates.

Donovan moved to kneel before Paige. “Why read history on our
Pronouncement?”

“I want to feel a connection to all those women who came before me. My
mother raised us to believe that since we are connected through the earth and
the elements, we are linked through past generations. Imagining their lives
humbles me,” Paige smiled up at Donovan and shrugged. “We both know I need that
humbling every once in a while.”

Donovan leaned forward and kissed Paige. “You are transforming before my
eyes.”

“Thank you,” Paige replied warmly before turning her attention back to
the book in her lap. “Did you know the leader of the rebellion in the late
1800s was by a woman said to carry the soul sin of pride?”

“That is not your burden.” Donovan knew she was referring to the
generation of women who became unhappy in their roles and sought out
independence from the bonds that held them to the breeds. Without their mates,
the women could survive; the breed mate was the only to suffer from separation.
Upon learning this some women began leaving to travel to other countries and
begin lives apart from the Valendite Breed.

“And what if it is? Surely, this prophecy is coming to pass. I can feel
it. I can also feel that I will have some important role in it, Donovan. I’m
worried.”

“Do you remember the part of the story that tells of the women who
disobeyed being killed in the great storm of
Samhain
in
1804? An apparition appeared outside the cathedral ruins that day and spoke to
the women present...”

Paige finished his story, “And she said to them, ‘You shall call me
Magdalena. You shall pray to me as Goddess. For you are those I saved this day.
You are true to the promise made so long ago and granted to us through the
grace of God. Your honor lies in claiming your breed mate. It is as it should
be.’ My mother has us memorize that benediction as young girls.”

“That’s right. You and your sisters are living as you should and you are
being held in the grace of God through the presence of the Goddess. Greatness
is coming, Paige, and you have an important role in that. There is nothing to
fear.”

Paige shook her head.

“Paige, I will let no harm come to you.
I vow this.
Sei tutto per me.
Nothing is more important.” Donovan’s promise brought
a smile nearly as bright as the sun to Paige’s face. He felt a thousand feet
tall, awed by her faith in his protection.

“It’s all so much to take, but I feel safe with you.” Paige’s words
affirmed the feelings he got from reading her emotions. He was shocked though,
when she took his large hands into her tiny ones and said, “I love you,
Donovan.”

“Oh, Paige. I wasn’t sure you were there yet with me.
I love you too.
Ti
voglio molto bene
.”

* * * *

Paige wasn’t sure how she got Donovan to agree she could go off to the
spa with her sisters, but somehow he’d reluctantly said yes. “Just remember
what I told you, Paige. It has gotten dangerous for the Valendite Breed, and
especially those of us serving in the TEU, so be extra vigilant. These people
we are up against won’t hesitate to use any weakness against us. They’ve
already proven that.”

When Stefan arrived and escorted her to the car, Donovan was still
briefing her on security protocol as if she could remember every detail of what
he was saying. Goddess help her but she would have to rely on Stefan because
aside from, “push this button if you need anything,” Paige hadn’t been able to
concentrate on a thing Donovan said. It was her Pronouncement day! How could he
expect her to think about anything else? She needed this to be perfect.

So consumed in her thoughts, they arrived at the spa before she even had
time to reapply her lip gloss. She’d already broken rule number one to be aware
of her surroundings, but her sisters were waiting at the spa with a few of
their own guards and that’s all that mattered. Paige needed sister time. Just
seeing them watching for her arrival made Paige jump from the car.

Seeing Layla’s headshake and the other guards move forward quickly, she
realized she’d broken another damn rule. Looking sheepishly at Stefan, Paige
asked, “Can we not tell Donovan about this? I’ll be more careful next time.”

Stefan nodded once and moved in front of her to open the door. “Let’s
just get you all inside the building.” He didn’t look happy with her and a
slight feeling of guilt washed through her. Maybe she felt so secure because she
also had a tracker in her purse. She couldn’t help it if she felt safe enough
not to worry. She was also a member of the
Magdalena
Circle
with some powers of her own growing stronger by the day. Paige knew
she could defend herself if she needed to.

Once inside, the sisters fell into a chaotic mass of enthusiastic
embraces. It was difficult getting used to not seeing each other daily,
especially with Eloise and Gemma now spending most of their time in Italy.

“I’ve missed you all so much,” Paige cleared the threat of tears from
her throat just as a frail woman with enormous glasses stepped into the room.
She had starched hair pulled back in a severe bun on top of her head. When she
greeted them with her high-pitched voice, she brought the Sinster sisters to
attention.

“Shall we get started?” the woman asked as she clapped her hands and four
young men came to stand on either side of her. “We’ll begin with massages
before we get everyone dolled up for your celebration tonight. The spa is all
yours this morning so feel free to move about.”

She smiled widely at each of them before moving toward the large door
off to the side of the room. “Follow me this way and we’ll show you to your
lockers. You each have a robe to wear today,” she continued rattling off information
as the sisters began their day.

* * * *

“Donovan,” Seamus called out as he walked into the game room.

“Muskrat,” Donovan shouted back as he stopped what he was doing and
grabbed Seamus’ arm in a man hug.

“I hardly recognized this place. Looks like Paige officially moved in,
that’s for sure.” Seamus was looking around at the new accent pieces, as Paige
called them.

“That she has. This room is the only thing I insisted we keep. I think
she only agreed because she knew if I spent time in here, I’d be out of her
hair every once in a while.” Donovan laughed and shook his head.

“Still the man in charge, yea bro?” Seamus joked. It felt good to fall
back into their easy banter.

“Of course,” Donovan said, not even believing it as the truth himself. “And
you? How are you doing?” He sat on one of the leather sofas and Seamus took a
seat across from him.

“It’s all good; great actually. It just isn’t at all how we pictured
it.” Seamus looked happy and Donovan was glad to see him like this. He’d never
pictured Seamus not being in his life. For their entire lives, they’d done
everything together. Now separated by an ocean, this chance to reconnect was
not going to happen very often.

“I laugh now thinking we ever imagined we could share a mate. I look at
Paige and I know I’d kill any man who put his hands on her. Even her damn
pastry assistant at the café, the little elf that he is, puts me on edge.”
Donovan grinned as he thought about that little nerd.

“Right with you, bro. I think sometimes I get jealous of Gemma’s dog,”
Seamus joked. It took nothing more than sitting here together again to be right
back to where they’d left off.

* * * *

They were getting ready to head out to lunch when the call came from Madden.
He had some intel and had called the full TEU team in. Damn, Donovan hoped
nothing big was hitting right on the day of his Pronouncement. He could handle
anything once he and Paige completed their bond tonight. His parents and
brother were scheduled to arrive later this afternoon, be present at the Pronouncement
and then fly to Paris with them in the morning. Everything was set and he was
stuck waiting. He hated waiting. Waiting was when shit happened that wasn’t
supposed to.

Seamus and Donovan were up to the TEU offices within only a few minutes
and could hear Madden cursing from outside the door of the compound’s
communication room. Despite how quickly they got there, the rest of the team
was already seated around the table. It was nice to have everyone in one place
again, regardless that it appeared to be less than good circumstances. He took
a minute to look around at his brothers-in-arms before taking his seat between
Seamus and Gage. The only one absent was Lucas.

“Now that everyone is here, let me explain what’s happening,” Madden
began without preamble. “About twenty-four hours ago, I got intel on movement
by Nassir’s group. Two of his head commanders with groups of soldiers have left
their compound where we believe Nassir to be. Additional satellite shots
indicate Nassir himself may have left as well but that’s still not conclusive.”

He nodded to Caedon who continued, “As you know, we were trying to
gather intel before we took Nassir out. Once we established he was targeting
the Valendite Breed, that he had knowledge of its existence, we wanted more
information. If we took him out once we knew where he was, we risked losing
information and circling around this same trouble again.”