by Beck, Paloma
His eyes searched hers. “I hate so much that you are so confused. I want to make this easier, but I can just assure you that I will always cherish you. Together, we will have a beautiful life.”
“You and me and Anton?”
“Yes, it seems that way.” Madden couldn’t help the soft chuckle that reached his lips, “Did Anton explain?”
“He answered all of my questions.” Layla buried her head into Madden’s shoulder, obviously bashful on the topic. Madden chuckled again, amused at her sense of modesty and held her while she relaxed.
A long while passed before he lifted himself away from her and insisted they both get ready before his mother came for them herself. That he definitely did not need. It wasn’t long before they strolled hand-in-hand towards his parents’ house, enjoying the gardens on the way.
“Will Anton join us?”
“Of course. We’ll share the news together of the Tre Adoro Coupling. He explained how rare it is, right?”
“Yes,” Layla blushed thinking about sharing such a thing with Madden’s parents.
“Hey,” Madden stopped her, “it’s nothing to be bashful about. Legend says only the strongest women can serve as the center of a Tre Adoro Coupling. You, Layla love, are our strength,” Madden kissed her on the tip of her nose. Somehow that felt more intimate than any other kiss he’d given her.
She held onto that moment as an anchor as Madden took her hand and turned up the path, then moved across the patio and entered the dining room through an exterior door. The room was more like a ballroom than a dining room; Layla felt so small in comparison. With its arched doorways opened onto the elaborate patio they’d walked across, the room seemed nearly outdoors. Vines ran along the far wall. Flowers and greenery adorned enormous vases that sat upon pedestals every few feet around the room, but the grandest of all was the heavy wooden table centered under a sparkling chandelier.
Overwhelmed by the beauty of this room, Layla was thankful she had worn the dress Anton had set out for her. She owned no clothing suitable for such a room and she fidgeted with her thin straps as she suddenly felt out of place, an outsider intruding on a life in which she did not belong.
“Stop fidgeting. You look amazing,” Madden spoke softly into her ear as he watched her take in the room before guiding her forward again.
As Madden and Layla walked to the table adorned in the most beautiful golden dinnerware she’d ever seen, an older man bearing Madden’s same coloring and build stood. A smaller woman peeked around from his other side but quickly moved in front of him. These must be Madden’s parents. Layla’s heart ratcheted up and, feeling her reaction, Madden squeezed her hand reassuringly. She realized she had been holding her breath since entering the room so Layla let out it slowly and smiled.
The man she assumed to be Mr. Santucci returned her smile. Madden tugged on her hand. Layla hadn’t realized she’d also stopped walking but she needn’t have moved as the older man came to her. He knelt onto one knee in front of her and took her hand from Madden, holding it out between them.
“Che bella donna. Che bella donna,” the man spoke as he seemed to be searching her eyes for something. Not understanding but wanting to be polite, Layla smiled and nodded. She very much wanted to pull her hand back, to wrap her arms around herself and ease the discomfort she was feeling, but all the etiquette training her mother insisted on was forcing her to smile and wait.
Madden leaned into her, his hand reassuringly placed on her lower back and translated, “my father says you are beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Layla responded to his father who was still kneeling in front of her. His eyes were now looking past her as she heard footsteps coming towards them.
Mr. Santucci rose to his full height. After his gentle welcome, she became less intimidated by his formidable figure. Her nerves were beginning to calm. She watched him smile, and though he still held her hand in his own, he nodded in Madden’s direction just as she felt the warmth of another hand on her shoulder. She didn’t need to turn around for she was embraced by the familiar scent that she knew so well already. It was Anton.
And so it was with Anton’s hand on one shoulder and Madden’s hand on her back that she stood and accepted the soft kiss on the top of her hand. “Layla, this is my father, Valentino.”
“It is an honor to have you as part of our family, Layla,” Valentino Santucci spoke with a broken Italian accent.
Valentino allowed her hand to drop from his and stepped to the side to allow his wife to stand next to him. Her smile was infectious, her embrace even more so as she pulled Layla to her, kissing her cheeks and giving a shrill laugh. For every feeling of formality Layla got from Mr. Santucci, she received equal informality from this woman who had to be Madden’s mother.
“This is my mother, Adelina,” Madden gave the formal introduction but it seemed nearly unnecessary.
“It is good to finally have you here with us. I have waited so long for my son to find his soul mate. We are honored.”
Shaken, overwhelmed, and with tears forming in her eyes, Layla shook her head. “I am honored.”
“Oh, my child.” Mrs. Santucci took Layla from the men and hugged her tightly while Layla cried. As Adelina comforted her, she also reached out to hit her son on his arm. “You my son, you are an idiot sometimes. Why did you not reassure this beautiful creature?”
Madden had no chance to respond before the men were instructed to go. “Off with you. Go into your father’s study and have a drink. We will delay dinner a bit while I get to know Layla. Go.” There may have been some pleading, but even Layla knew who would win this argument. She loved Mrs. Santucci already.
“Sweet, sweet child, you are more beautiful a woman than I had imagined,” she walked them to two plush chairs set out on the patio.
Layla sank into its comfort and worked at drying her tears, “Mrs. Santucci, thank you so much. And please forgive me. I haven’t a clue why I am so emotional.”
“No more Mrs. Santucci. Someday you will call me Mamma. Today you will call me Adelina,” she paused to pour two glasses of clear liquid from the pitcher that sat on the table near them. Handing one to Layla, she instructed, “Drink this. I make it myself. It calms the soul. And I am guessing it may be something you need as you acclimate to the changes around you.”
“I feel so alone.” The words slipped out of Layla’s mouth before she had the chance to consider holding them in.
“Sweet child, of course your emotions will be all over this place.” Adelina waved in a typical Italian form and Layla smiled remembering her grandmother who would do the same when she couldn’t translate her thoughts to English words.
“I should be happy,” Layla explained, but the scowl on Adelina’s face instantly made her wish them back, but that was not part of her powers.
“I don’t mean to say that I do not have feelings for Madden. He’s treated me quite well. Anton as well. They have both been wonderful. But,” Layla paused.
“But what? What is it, Layla?”
“I miss my sisters. It sounds so childish but I have never been away. I can’t talk to Madden like I would one of my sisters.”
“I am but a poor substitute but I am happy to listen and offer advice,” Adelina assured Layla and whether it was that assurance or this most delicious water, Layla began feeling calmer. Adelina looked up and smiled widely, “but it seems I can give you another confidante.” She rose with her arms spread wide and called out, “Davina, darling child, come to Mamma.”
After a hug of gigantic proportions, the tiny-statured but large-spirited Adelina placed the other small woman on the floor again and turned back to Layla. “Meet my daughter, Davina. She is the baby in our family but she is wise and can be of good counsel to you.”
“Layla, it is nice to see you. The message from Madden was a wonderful surprise. Knowing my brother as I do, I’m not sure whether to congratulate you or offer my condolences,” Davina’s wide smile contradicted the words and assured Layla
she was teasing.
“Now, Davina,” Adelina’s voice was scolding, “we speak only truth of our family, yes?”
“Yes, Mamma. I believe Layla understood my jest,” Davina’s conspirator wink gave Layla a feeling of inclusion. Layla was going to like Davina.
Shooing away the conversation with her hand, Adelina focused back to their earlier conversation before Davina had arrived. “So you have questions that we can answer maybe?”
It took only a single question for Adelina to begin telling stories about Madden, his three siblings, their original homeland in Italy and the home here in the vineyards that their family owned. Adelina explained Valentino moved the family to America when he retired. She didn’t mention what his former profession was. That fact was oddly absent though she learned that after Valentino’s retirement, Madden entered the age of maturity and took over his father’s former position. Now Valentino spent his days running the vineyard. Adelina adored her husband. Layla could hear it in the singsong cheer of her voice as she spoke of the patriarch of their family.
Coming back to the present, Layla asked, “You mentioned the family business. I understand Madden’s work is dangerous. He’s not told me any more than that, and I don’t understand why this means I need security.”
“Now that is something my son should be explaining to you,” Adelina’s Italian accent grew stronger now, something that must happen when she becomes more emotional.
“And he will,” Madden walked up to the three women and spoke with authority. “But first we need to have dinner so that I can take my beautiful Layla back to our home. We haven’t had much time to talk, Mamma.”
All three men, with the addition of two others who looked very much like Madden, stood nearby. Adelina looked from father to son before nodding in agreement with the unspoken words.
“Shall we eat?” Though Adelina phrased her words as a question, it was clearly an expectation. Layla stood and took Madden’s hand as they walked to the table.
“Layla, let me introduce you to my brothers, Lucas and Gage.” Madden indicated each with a quick gesture. Those seated around the table exchanged pleasantries and all seemed so normal, so simple.
Buffered between Madden and Anton, Layla felt comforted. After the food was served, casual conversation once again resumed. Adelina ensured everyone had what he or she needed. Layla was relieved the atmosphere was so comfortable.
When Adelina asked about Layla’s family, Layla told a story she was sure was similar to others of their heritage. Having a Valendite Breed father and Magdalena Circle mother meant moving often enough for their slow aging systems to go unnoticed.
“And there are seven of you sisters, you said?” Davina asked for clarification.
“Yes, seven of us. Until just a few days ago, we lived together. They are my best friends.” Layla looked down, stemming the sad thoughts and willing the tears away. She failed to notice the meaningful look cast between Davina and Lucas.
“Now that you girls are grown, what do your parents do?” Adelina picked right up on the lull in the conversation.
“My mother and father have been traveling overseas again, so we don’t see them all that often. We still have a home in the Baltics that had been rented out for the past thirty-something years. They’re using that as their primary residence for a while.”
“Your father is the Dr. Sinster, past professor of anthropology at the university here?”
“Yes,” Layla nodded her head and smiled proudly. “He left after he would’ve been noticed for his slow aging. Now he and my mother have been working to gather information on the various family chains of Breeds.”
“In hopes to help connect mates?” Davina asked.
“Yes, the decline in mating worries my father. He believes at its current rate, our breed could become extinct in a type of genocide.”
“Just as those who left the Circle had hoped for,” Davina mused.
Before Layla could question her more, Adelina jumped in,
“We will begin right away planning for your Pronouncement. I know it is traditionally just family but with yours being so large, it will be quite the event.”
Layla’s eyebrows drew together so that it was obvious to Madden that she was confused. He reached for her, placing his hand on hers, while he spoke. “The Pronouncement is the formal name for our wedding.”
“But we aren’t even engaged.” Layla hardly completed her sentence before laughter erupted from the room. She felt endlessly inexperienced around his family and in his world, but frankly, none of this made any sense. Why hadn’t she listened more to her mother when she tried to teach them of their traditions?
The first to sober from her laughter was Davina when she noticed Layla wasn’t joining in on the laughter, “Layla, has your mother not taught you anything of the Mating?”
“Yes, but I never believed it would happen, so I hardly listened. My soul sin…” Layla stuttered, realizing she didn’t want to discuss this with his family. Embarrassed, her cheeks reddened and Layla brought her napkin up to dab the corners of her mouth.
Madden squeezed her hand again before he spoke for her. “Layla’s soul sin was lust.” All those around the table understood this to mean Layla had not experienced lust of any sort until she met her mate, Madden.
Murmurs of acknowledgement went around the table as Madden’s family understood exactly what he’d not said…that she was a virgin when they met and that she was no longer. Her cheeks flushed. She was most certain she was redder than ever.
Anton reached for her and stroked her hair in a soothing gesture. “It’s all right, sweetheart. It is all very natural. In fact, it might interest you to know that you share this soul sin with Adelina.”
Raising her head, Layla looked to Adelina for confirmation, saw the sign of it on her wrist and returned the sly smile she received. Each woman in the Circle of Magdalena bore a sign somewhere on her body that symbolized the soul sin she embodied. While their sin went away upon mating, the sign remained.
Dinner was uneventful after that. Perhaps they were having mercy on her after seeing just how uncomfortable she’d become after the conversation about how Madden and Layla had met. She took the time to observe Madden’s brothers unnoticed.
Lucas, the second eldest, looked nearly identical to Madden but for his narrower build. Their coloring was similar with the same silver eyes and voices eerily close in range. He was handsome, yet she felt nothing towards him despite the likeness to her mate. Gage, the third eldest, had the most remarkable midnight blue eyes and adorable dimples he flashed in her direction when he caught her looking.
A growl rose from beside her and she looked towards Madden. “He doesn’t like the looks Gage is sending you. He can’t help but be protective during this time of Acclimation,” Anton explained quietly so only she could hear. The feeling of his breath near her ear caused a stirring she didn’t want much to think about surrounded by these men with heightened abilities of smell.
To reassure Madden, she clasped his hand on the table and stroked with gentle fingers. His shoulders loosened with the tension easing. Layla allowed herself to enjoy the moment as she sat between her two men.
Just as dessert was served, the talk turned to Madden’s work and immediately Layla tuned in. She had a vague sense of the danger involved in his profession but was still unclear about what exactly he did. Layla planned to listen closely and learn what she could. That was her thought until Madden and his father began to speak in Italian, something she had never before wanted to learn despite her parents’ protests.
“Anton?” Layla leaned towards him.
“They tend to speak in Italian when their discussions get heated.” Anton shrugged, and then interrupted the other men also using his native tongue. They all paused just a moment to look at Layla.
“My apologies, Bella Donna. We did not intend to leave you out of the discussion,” Valentino smiled graciously at Layla and she couldn’t help by smile back. “Of course, if m
y son would agree with his father on occasion, our discussions may not become arguments quite so often. I am afraid he forgets that I once commanded the office for which he is now responsible.” As if to further his point, Valentino shifted his eyes towards his son and pinned him with his gaze.
“Papa, I make decisions at my discretion. I have never lost any men. It isn’t necessary to always charge into a situation that can be resolved without a fight.” Madden spoke with the charged voice she’d heard him use earlier on the phone with someone. Shivers ran down her arms at the strength rolling off him. Her own body radiated with the same power as it transferred from him to her.
Lucas set his wine goblet down and adjusted his body forward in his seat. “There has been evidence our identity has been discovered. Those who work around Abdul-Nassir may be circling as we wait. Still Madden is right, Papa, to use his patience in bringing this to an end.”
“Some of my men have been sent on recon. We’ll know something soon enough. I’ve instructed them to report back to Lucas with any movement they can confirm,” Madden explained to his father. Layla could see Madden did not like answering to his father on this matter.
“That is something,” Valentino responded, still appearing less than pleased with his son’s actions.
“That is all that will be done. I cannot be away and I will not send others charging into a situation with so many unknowns.” Madden’s anger was only escalating. Layla grew more uncomfortable, shifting in her seat and staring down at her hands.
A thud resounded through the room. Looking up, Layla realized Valentino had pounded the table. “It is as I always say, my son, better one day as a lion than a hundred as a sheep. You want to be a wooly sheep. That is no way for a Santucci to respond. We are lions. We protect our family.”
The lights flickered and a few bulbs burst. No one seemed alarmed. Adelina simply looked around and shook her head. “Porca l’oca! Not again. You must control yourself. We will not be uncivilized.”
Anton leaned in to Layla again to explain, “Adelina prefers their powers not be used unless necessary, but when Valentino’s temper flares, he tends to open up his powers.”
