Isis' Betrayal (2 page)

Having spent time with the Dark Warriors and members of the Dark Alliance council, Isis better understood the importance of this decline in population, especially considering the war they had been waging against the archdemons for centuries.

Isis shuddered at the thought of the archdemons and their skirm and the destruction they were capable of causing. She and her sisters owned a shop where they sold magical accoutrements, potions, and did tarot reading for both supernaturals and humans. Black Moon had seen its share of devastated individuals in their store searching for ways to help their loved ones heal from injuries or ones looking for ways to ease the grieving process.

S
uvi’s voice intruded into Isis’ musings. “How many calories would they have burned if they’d been fucking for three days straight?” Isis wanted to smack her sister upside the head for encouraging Paula. They’d never get rid of her at this rate.

P
lain Paula cocked her head to the side and considered for a fraction of a second, oblivious to the fact that Suvi was poking fun at her. “Approximately twenty-one thousand, six hundred calories. Now, that’s a serious workout. You need to come down to my gym and let me put you through the paces. You’ll feel like new witches.”

“
Och, female. Are you really a nymph? I canna understand how you think of nothing but your exercise,” Bhric harangued as he approached the table.

They turned their heads and ogled the six-foot-three, drop-dead gorgeous, Vampire Prince. His amber eyes gleamed with humor as he ran a hand through his buzzed hair. She heard Suvi inhale sharply and understood the feeling. He was a fine specimen with his bulging muscles, black leather pants, and tight blue t-shirt. Not to mention, Isis loved his thick, Scottish bur.

Isis was certain Plain Paula was about to begin another diatribe about the benefits of being a personal trainer, but Bhric saved them. “Come, my lovely lasses, let’s dance.”

I
sis eagerly jumped up and grabbed her sister’s hand, following the big, burly warrior onto the dance floor while Plain Paula called out to their retreating backs, “You know dancing is another great way to burn calories.”

“
That female is a wee bit obsessive aboot the exercise, is she no’? ‘Tis disturbing and most definitely no’ natural. Her da must have been human,” Bhric observed as he turned to them when they reached the middle of the floor.

A
smile spread across Isis’ face, thinking obsessive was too mild a description. “Thanks for saving us. I almost grabbed the gun from my purse and shot her between the eyes.”

B
hric shimmied his hips and sauntered closer to them. The male really was a sexy beast and was built like a brick house. “Ah, lass, my motives are no’ entirely selfless. I plan to have you both pay me back.” He waggled his eyebrows, making Isis laugh.

“I’m happy to pay you anything you want,” Suvi replied, gyrating against the prince. Her little sister had a thing for vampires and Isis was certain she would be happy to take one, or ten, for the team.

Isis shook her head and threw her hands up, quickly losing herself in the music. She jumped and wiggled and moved her hips, having a blast. She and Suvi danced close to Bhric, arousing the Prince, if his erection was any indication. She stepped back into Bhric and rubbed her backside against his groin while her sister stood behind him caressing him. Suvi maneuvered her way in front of Bhric and they continued their movements. The dancing ended when her sister cupped Bhric through his pants.

When the growling and nipping started, Isis left the dance floor, heading to a table far away from Plain Paula. She was hot and sweaty, needing a drink, and rethinking her stubborn choice to wear jeans given they were sticking to her skin.

She lifted her long hair off her neck and scanned the room for any of the other Dark Warriors, especially Rhys. Her body had been amped up since she entered the club, and Rhys, a cambion, would be just the ticket to sate her need.

While Suvi had a thing for vampires, Isis enjoyed a cambion. They were the offspring of a human and a sex demon and had many sensual powers. Given that they needed sex frequently to keep their strength, they were always searching for someone, and all that experience made them incredible lovers. They were notorious creatures of heat, fun and passion, all three of which she needed at the moment.

She didn’t see the Dark Warriors, so she headed for the far bar and ordered a vodka tonic. Isis turned her back to the bar and leaned against it with her foot propped on the stool next to her. She contemplated re-buttoning her shirt as it pulled tight across her breasts when she rested her elbows behind her. A surreptitious check told her that her breasts were spilling out of her black bra. Given the sheen of sweat on her skin, she decided to unbutton a couple more instead. When she looked up, a particularly sexy male caught her attention. They locked eyes, staring at one another for several moments, before he began walking toward her.

Isis enjoyed watching the tall male saunter her way. He had to be over six feet tall and had searing blue eyes. She had a weakness for bald males, and there was nothing sexier than his sexy, black shadow beard. He had swagger in his skin-tight black jeans and black t-shirt. It was a wonder the fabric didn’t rip as it struggled to cover his muscular chest. She was instantly aroused and a broad smile broke over her face as she fluffed her red hair. No reason to play coy when she was hoping to get a piece of his fine ass.

“Hi, handsome. Buy me a drink?” she asked, getting right to the matter.

“Looks like you already have a drink.” He smiled at her and she questioned if he was going to move on until he sat down next to her.

She picked up the drink and downed it. “Not anymore,” she replied, licking her lips. His musky male scent reached her and made her abdomen clench with need. Her mind immediately ran through the various scenarios she wanted to act out with this male. After several moments, she nearly climaxed from the images alone. Her body was out of control, and it didn’t have anything to do with the liquor.

He raised one eyebrow at her and motioned to the bartender. “What are you drinking?”

“Hmmm, I’m thinking tall, bald and handsome for this round. I’m Isis, by the way.” She almost laughed aloud at the spark that lit his eyes.

“I’m Braeden Hall. And you, Isis, are a sassy little bit and I love it. I can sense your magic, are you a witch, or sorceress?” He oozed a sensuality that only cambions possessed, and she would bet her store that he was one. He leaned toward her and she could smell his arousal.

“I’m a witch, armed with lust spells. Interested?” If she wasn’t mistaken, that wasn’t a bat in his pants.

He smirked and the look he gave her made her cream in her panties. “I can tell that you are the type of female that if I go back to one of these rooms with you, I’d be there all night. Unfortunately, I need to get home to my son.”

His statement should have frightened her off, and she wondered why he would share this information with her. It wasn’t the best pickup line, but it did nothing to deter her. Quite the opposite, she found herself not only wildly attracted to him, but also intrigued, wanting to know more about him. A sudden unpleasant thought crossed her mind. He likely belonged to someone else.

“Oh, you have a son. That must mean you have a mate. I would apologize for my forward behavior, but I can’t lie. You are sexy as hell, and I’m incredibly drawn to you.” The idea that he had another female in his bed didn’t sit well with her and it made absolutely no sense as to why. And, when she found herself holding her breath waiting for his answer, her confusion grew.

“No, I have no one in my life. My son, Donovan, is six years old. Since his mother left me, it takes all my time and energy to care for him. He is a very active stripling.” She noticed the sadness when he talked about his son and his son’s mother.

She was shocked that a female left him with their child. She’d never heard of a Fated Mate being able to separate like that, and even more, she couldn’t imagine a mother leaving their child behind. She wondered if his child was an Adorned. Given her own experience with her mother leaving her father, she could understand this female leaving if they weren’t mated.

“Was she your mate? My mother recently found her Fated Mate, and my sister did as well, and I can’t imagine either one of them getting two feet from their mates.”

“No, she wasn’t my mate. We had dated for a few decades before we had Donovan.”

“So, your son is an Adorned. My sisters and I are, too,” she replied, surprised to find it easy to shift into casual conversation with Braeden.

He cocked his head to the side and studied her. “How many sisters do you have?”

“I have two, we’re triplets,” she said, sipping her drink and watching his reaction. She could scarcely make that comment and not have someone ask if she was one of the prophesied triplets.

“Triplets are unheard of. Let alone Adorned triplets. I’ve only heard of one set in my three hundred fifty years. You must be one of the famed Rowan triplets.”

“We have been told that we are the prophesied ones, but none of us buy into it. We’re simple business owners.” At his raised eyebrow, she continued. “My sisters and I own the Black Moon Sabbat. What do you do?”

He had inched closer to her as they spoke. He was so close that she felt his heat radiating off his body. He reached out and ran his finger along her collarbone. She shuddered at his light touch, her nipples hardening with her arousal. Surprisingly, she found she wanted to get to know him as much as she wanted to throw him down and have her way.

“I am an artist. I create metal sculptures that I sell to both humans and the realm.”

“Wow, you don’t hear of realm members interacting with humans much. I’d love to see your work sometime. I’m always looking to add pieces to our house.” She had to see this male again and any excuse would do.

“I’d love to show you my…sculpture,” he winked at her, making her ache to be alone with him. They fell into an easy conversation about nothing and everything, all the while, keeping their flirty banter.

Braeden broke off mid-sentence and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “I have thoroughly enjoyed talking with you, Isis. But, I have to go,” he said, glancing at his phone. “I would like to see you again, can I call you?”

“Don’t make me wait too long. Hand me your phone,” she told him. She programmed her number into his phone under the name, Sassy Little Bit and smiled as she handed it back to him. He laughed when he looked at the screen. She lost her breath when he looked up and she saw the mirth on his face. He was good-looking, but laughter had lifted gravity from his features that she hadn’t realized had been there.

*****

“
I expected you hours ago,” the raspy, female voice barked the moment Braeden entered the dark dungeon, his boots echoing on the stone floor. He wanted to strangle the life out of the heinous female with her mousy, brown hair.

Braeden felt the impotent rage course through his veins, but was unable to do anything to Cele given that she held his son hostage. She had kidnapped Donovan days ago, and the only reason she had given him was that she wanted to make the Rowan triplets pay. He had no idea what she was talking about. He didn’t know the Rowan triplets, and his son certainly had nothing to do with them. Harming Donovan wasn’t going to make these witches pay at all, but no matter how hard he had tried to convince Cele of this, she wasn’t listening. It didn’t matter to her that his son was innocent and didn’t deserve this.

Ready to do what Cele had asked, he hadn’t been prepared for meeting Isis. The moment he saw Isis, his anger quickly bled away to be replaced by an instant attraction and unadulterated lust. His was a cambion, and no stranger to lust and sex, but what he felt toward her was beyond any experience.

She was a beautiful, feisty female, and he’d enjoyed their conversation. Her red hair matched her fiery personality. It hadn’t taken long for Braeden to suspect that she and her sisters were innocent, too. He wanted nothing more than to take his son and return to Isis. He wanted to take her home and talk to her some more before making love to her. Cambions had a high sex drive, but he had never been as strung up as he was after meeting the redhead.

His soul, which had been restless since his son was kidnapped, settled in her presence. He craved to feel that again, like a drug addict seeking his next fix. He wanted to find a small measure of peace again, and she seemed to hold the key.

“You instructed me to get to know the Rowan sisters and learn their weaknesses. That takes time,” he retorted with all the vehemence he felt toward her. He rounded the corner and tears welled in his eyes when he saw his son.

His clenched his fists at his sides, preventing him from doing something stupid, like rip the witch’s head from her shoulders. He’d dreamt of it countless time, but that would leave his son in her mystical prison, so he swallowed his fury as much as possible and took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. He gazed around the dungeon in Cele’s home that had been carved out of the earth. The walls were red brick, and there was a dirt floor. The damp, musty smell of the area was stamped in his memory.