9781618857835FrozenFuryBeckNC (14 page)

Amelia
raced down the stairs. “What is it? Have they got her?”

Madden
nodded, but Gage flashed her a look reminding her she’d just disobeyed and put
herself in potential danger. He’d address that later but first, he wanted to
know the answer to her question as well.

“We’ve
got her. She’s with Granger. They’ll be debriefing for a long while yet but
then I’ve put him in charge of making sure she has everything she needs to
prepare for the wedding. Your father is also with her.”

“Was
she hurt?”

Madden’s
eyes softened and his voice lowered. “She was mishandled. There’s no permanent
damage. Her spirits are high though there’s concern she is suppressing
something. Your father has called in a specialist to talk with her.”

“No
permanent damage?
Oh, Goddess.”
Tears spilled over
Amelia’s cheeks. She turned her head into Gage and cried as he whispered
nonsense and held her. The door closed and they were alone.

“Sweetheart,
if she’s anything like the rest of you, she’ll survive this. She’ll be okay,”
Gage reassured her.

They
walked to the family room and sat in loud silence until it was time to prepare
for their Pronouncement and Amelia was pulled away to get ready. He knew he’d
see her soon, but letting her go for any reason was not an easy task. The world
felt right when she was in his arms. Nothing felt right when she was away from
him.

Standing in the middle of the circle formed by women
of the
Magdalena Circle
an hour later
was an empowering experience. Their power was nearly visible in its strength. Behind
those women were their mates and other TEU agents with members of the Santucci
compound and family. It was a celebration during a time when they needed to
remember to celebrate the good things. He was sure things were going to get
worse before they got better.

The compound—his family’s home and TEU’s primary
offices—was now locked down. Nico watched from the roof of the main house with
a long-range weapon at the ready should anything happen. They knew Abdul-Nassir’s
group was working on recreating the Breed virus. Their latest breakthrough
using his mate’s serum meant they were close. Their connection with Dr. Whitner
meant they knew the Breed was also close in fulfilling the Seventh Prophecy. That
knowledge put each of the Sinster sisters in danger. Gage wouldn’t rest until
Nassir was brought down.

Gage needed to let all that go, for today. They’d
done everything they could to prepare for all possibilities and today he’d put
all that aside to enjoy this moment with Amelia. He’d found his mate and he
wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Amelia was his perfect fit, his other
half, his life.

He’d always been the little brother, the carefree
tag-along with too much bravado and not enough self-preservation. Now, he felt
like a man and an equal to his brothers.
As if his axis
shifted when he mated.
Amelia trusted him to protect her. She relied on
him for her pleasure, her happiness,
her
health. He
had no plans to let her down. In giving him her trust, she transformed him into
the man he was this day.

Gage was happy. A peace settled in on him. It
wasn’t about guns and blowing things up. It was a real peace that he’d found
his place in the world. Looking up and trying to wrap up these emotions and put
them away, his eyes caught on the tiny sparkling white lights in the trees. They
lent a glow to the early evening sky. It was nearing twilight, the traditional
time for a Valendite Pronouncement. Any moment now Amelia would appear. The
chanting had already begun. He prayed to the Goddess that Amelia would be as
charmed as he was by this moment.

* * * *

With
hours to go before their Pronouncement, Amelia had sought comfort in her mate’s
arms. She knew their world was likely to get worse before it got better and her
only solace was in the arms of Gage. With more of her sisters finding mates,
they were closer than ever to fulfilling the prophecy.

Now Amelia took a single deep breath as she took in
Gage surrounded by the circle of their families. She was more than certain she’d
found the perfect mate. Even after their beginning and the potential for
disaster that had, Gage won her. He owned her. He knew exactly what she needed
and he didn’t shy away from providing for her. Her powers coursed through her
body like sparks of electricity as she thought about what was to come. The
Pronouncement meant they would transfer their powers and share the very essence
of who they were.

“You are magnificent, my beautiful daughter.”
Chiara looked her usual regal self, sheathed in a deep blue dress with encrusted
jewels around the neckline. She held her head high and proud, but her hands
shook slightly. It gave away the hint of worry she held for her daughters and
the prophecy to come, a worry her mother would never speak aloud.

“Thank you, Mother.” Amelia smiled at her mother. Then
she looked at her father who stood on her other side. Tony was equally as regal
in his traditional celebratory clothing. The leather strips that adorned his
body to show the bonds he was held by through his own Pronouncement made Amelia
think about the bonds Gage would soon wear for her.

Her father took her hand and rested it in the fold
of his arm. They would walk into the circle as three. Her parents would present
her to Gage, as was tradition.
Goddess, how she’d dreamt of
this day.
Whatever came next would be faced together. She couldn’t help
believe that everything would be all right.

As they began to walk forward, Amelia turned her
gaze to where Gage stood. She wanted to watch him as she approached. His rigid
yet sweet features held her captive. He watched her and their eyes locked,
neither wanting to look away. He felt oddly like a stranger in the traditional
clothing of the Valendite Pronouncement. She’s never seen him in anything but
jeans and t-shirts. Today, his body was transformed in tan trousers and an off-white
linen shirt. He left the collar of his shirt purposefully unbuttoned to expose
his neck as a sign of his willingness to give himself to her.

Gage’s deep blue eyes blazed yellow for the
briefest moment. “
Wow. You look
delectable. Good enough to eat.
” He spoke to her through their bond.

“
Hungry, are
you?”
She
gave him a look she
knew showed her own desire.

Then she heard her sisters’ giggles and voices join
her own thoughts. Embarrassed at first as she realized they could hear Gage
speak to her, Amelia then simply breathed and drew strength from their
connection. “
Hungry for what?
” asked Eloise.
“
I’m so proud of you
,” shared Layla
in her quiet voice. She must be holding baby Julianna. “
Feed him well, big sister
,” said Gemma in a teasing voice before
her own mate poked at her. “
I want
details later,
” added Paige. “
Another
one down
,” Gracie sighed, a sad twinge to her voice. Then the voice she’d
been waiting to hear. “
I’m here. I swear
I’m in this with you now
,” Sadie pledged. A shared exhalation from all the
sisters rang through Amelia’s mind.

Then they reached the spot where Gage stood waiting. Her parents placed
Amelia’s hands in his before they moved to the circle’s perimeter with the
others. She stood alone with Gage inside the circle for the most important
moment of their long lives. She soaked in the significance of this moment and
allowed it to take her to a place where there was no one but the two of them. For
the rest of their time, this is exactly how it would be—the two of them
surrounded by the people who loved them.

The women of the
Magdalena Circle
called up their powers and summoned a swirling mist to surround them. She’d
been a part of this circle so
often,
Amelia knew the
ritual by nature. She heard the quiet chanting around them as Gage smiled at
her and then raised his voice loud for all those gathered to hear, “I am honored
to make this Pronouncement on behalf of Amelia and myself, in front of our
families and friends.”

Then Gage kneeled in front of her and bowed his head as a sign of respect.
After a moment’s pause to acknowledge this gift, Amelia gathered her dress and carefully
followed him down onto her knees. She fluffed her dress out and around her so
as not to damage the heirloom fabric. Once all was settled, she placed her
hands in Gage’s larger ones as the symbol of an unbreakable link between them.

The soft chanting from the
Magdalena
Circle
women grew increasingly louder now. The colorful smoke became denser
until they were alone inside the haven created for them. Gage’s expression grew
serious and a shiver rippled down her spine. Amelia was choked with emotion.

Nodding, Gage used his teeth to lightly score both of their wrists. Each
sipped from the other as they remained kneeling, their knees touching between
the
fabric
of their clothes. In unison, they both silently
licked along the puncture points to close them, and then remained staring at
one another. A snapping sound from inside widened their eyes. It was the
sealing of their souls. Amelia knew this without question. Then the chanting
grew even louder and the smoke more vibrant with flames of electric light bursting
from the circle. Above them, fireworks burst into the evening sky and sighs
from the circle could be heard.
Softer still, a baby’s cry
and murmurs of consolation.

Amelia felt a rush inside her body as she was lifted from her knees. Her
gown dropped and flowed around her. She spun with her arms out to the sides and
swirls of light danced around her. It was enchanting and left her feeling
elated and breathless.

Gage’s arms held her steady and they took in the view around them.
“Ti
amo
, mi Amelia.
I love you,”
Gage’s words washed over her.

Her eyes widened as Gage then reached towards her face, his hands on
either side of her head, and kissed her with soft reverence. Amelia smiled as he
pulled away and looked into her eyes. Dear Goddess, they were meant to be.
Everything was truly as it should be.

*THE END*

About the
Author

Paloma
Beck is an erotic romance writer in both the Contemporary and Paranormal
realms. Happily married and living a life of total contradiction, Paloma runs
carpool service for her three sons, volunteers in PTA and teaches religious
education. Then in the moments when her characters talk to her, she journals
their stories and they are anything but PG.

Connect
with Paloma on her website at
http://PalomaBeck.weebly.com
or on her
facebook
page at
http://www.facebook.com/SevenSinSistersSeries
.

Other Books by Paloma

Lustful
Cravings (The Seven Sin Sisters 1)

Eternal
Envy (The Seven Sin Sisters 2)

Holiday
Gem (The Seven Sin Sisters 3)

Vanished
Pride (The Seven Sin Sisters 4)

Holding
Hope (The Seven Sin Sisters 4.5)

Coming
Home (Porter Brothers 1
)

www.secretcravingspublishing.com