by Beck, Paloma
“Layla love, you asked for an engagement and I will always give you everything you need. So while I cannot ask you to marry me for it isn’t our way, I do want to present you with a ring to symbolize our never-ending love.”
Layla looked from the diamond to her men and then focused on Madden. His eyes sparkled nearly as much as the diamond. “It is amazing. Nearly as amazing as you.”
“I am so happy you have acclimated to the Claiming. It is nothing but the future I now desire with you.” Madden placed the ring onto her finger as he spoke. “It was my grandmama’s ring. And now it is yours.”
“I love you, Madden.” The kiss they exchanged in that moment was both gentle and full of need. Anton joined them, stroking her back until Madden released her. Then he lifted her and took her to the shower. Anton lavished her with soft strokes as he cleansed her body, rubbed her achingly sore muscles with lotion and helped her prepare for her day as he had done every morning in her new home. Well loved, well pampered, Layla was ready to face the details of her Pronouncement.
* * * *
Layla sighed as she walked through the gardens back to her new home with Madden. Taken off guard by her mother being present at the meeting with Adelina and completely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the older women, Layla was relieved when the mothers excused her with the singular assignment of selecting her dress. Having given her preferences to Adelina and Chiara, all other plans were now out of her hands. Now she could visit with her sisters.
In just five days, she would officially be part of the Santucci family. Every day until then was filled with parties and other social obligations for both her and Madden. Today was for just her and her sisters and her only responsibility was to choose a dress. Adelina had set an appointment with a dressmaker, and if Layla worked fast enough, she could gather her sisters to meet her there.
“Madden. Anton,” Layla called from the foyer when she entered their home. Both men had been excused when the details of the event had caused a glaze to settle in their eyes. They had gladly bowed out, explaining that they would begin working on the security details for the event back at the office.
Using their absence at the meeting to her advantage, she sought answers from Adelina and her mother and found both most willing to ease her curiosity. For once, Layla soaked up every bit of information the women passed along to her. While she had understood the fundamentals of mating, the nuances were what she was missing.
“When you meet your mate, it is natural for the Claiming to take place immediately. Then it is expected that the couple will need time to acclimate, to accept, their mating. This is the period between the Claiming and the next full lunar cycle,” Adelina explained. “It is important to follow the timeline.”
“Because the Circle of Magdalena is most powerful during the full moon, we celebrate our Pronouncements only on this day. It will heighten your powers should they not have already been released through the Acclimation period,” her mother explained.
“My powers?” Layla asked.
“Yes, your powers are not fully realized yet but soon yours will be as powerful as ours, sweet child,” Adelina answered.
“Know this though, to forego the Pronouncement once a claiming has taken place challenges the very fate which casts two mates bound,” her mother warned.
“The powers of a Valendite Breed are magnificent, but they can only find eternal life with a mate from our circle. At maturity, their aging slows while they await a mate. But this process becomes permanent only when each receives the blood of his mate.”
“And they become in tune with one another,” Layla nodded, “This is why I can feel everything Madden feels.”
“Yes,” Adelina smiled and placed her hand on Layla’s arm, “My dear, you give Madden the greatest gift through your blood. While he has strength and other abilities one can only imagine, he sustains these through his bond with you now.”
“But also know,” Chiara interjected, “that you will come into your full powers because of your bond with Madden. He now sustains you as well. Together you are nearly indestructible.”
“But should something happen to one of us, it is both of us who suffer,” Layla finished her mother’s sentence. The silence that set in was heavy as Layla reflected on the past week since Madden claimed her. She felt more alive than ever—nearly able to feel her powers coursing through her blood. “And yet with him, I feel so powerful,” she spoke almost to herself.
“Do not misunderstand, Layla. The role of the Magdalena Circle woman in a Mating is often a challenging one. There are times your powers can easily overpower your mate but never can you let them feel inferior. You need one another equally.” Chiara covered Layla’s hand and squeezed.
Layla flushed remembering their earlier lovemaking and her use of powers to hold Madden down. She hoped her mother couldn’t read her mind as she tried to force away the image. “You literally feed each other life. But there will be other times when you’ll wish nothing else than to take that very life away.” Adelina laughed at her last statement.
Like a typical woman, her mother added, “Men. You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.” And like that, the solemn moment they’d shared was over. Chiara laughed along with Adelina until she sobered up, wished them well and excused herself to begin working on her guest list for the party. Then with a swirling puff, Chiara was gone.
Layla called for the men again, but not getting an answer, she hurried to their home office to use the phone and call her sisters. The phone had not even begun to ring when Eloise picked up. “Layla!”
“Eloise, it is so good to hear your voice.”
“Why has it been so long? It isn’t even a week until the full moon.”
“I know. I wanted time to know him.”
“And Anton as well,” Eloise wasn’t beyond calling her on any half-truths.
“Yes. He is our Tre Adoro. You knew?”
“When he came to help gather your books and things from the library, we all met him. He was fabulous.”
“Yes. He did tell me how most helpful you were to him,” Layla laughed and it was good to hear Eloise laugh as well.
“Let me put you on speaker phone. We’re all here except Gracie who is off doing whatever it is Gracie goes off to do.”
“Layla,” she heard her name being called out by each of her sisters and she fought back the tears that threatened to emerge.
“Sisters, I’ve missed you,” Layla nearly shouted into the phone in excitement to hear the voices again, “You have no idea what it’s like to be away. But we see one another today. I need help selecting my dress.”
“You tell us when and where and we’ll be there,” Sadie assured her.
“And I will be certain we are all on our best behavior,” Paige assured her.
Layla laughed as she spent a few more minutes on the phone with her sisters. She missed this bantering, the shear comfort in being near to them. She heard Madden come in the front door so she quickly gave them the address and agreed to meet in an hour.
“Layla love, where are you?” Madden called to her.
She walked from around the corner and into the solid wall of Madden’s chest. He caught her around the waist before she tumbled backwards. “I went to Mamma’s but you were already gone.”
“Yes. We were done and I needed to talk to my sisters. They’re meeting me at the dress shop in a bit. Who will come with me?”
“I’m afraid both Anton and I are tied up. I will send Stefan and Tomas with you.” Layla had met both men. They were part of the Santucci family security team and were usually assigned to go along with Adelina on her trips into town. They were both quiet men and she felt safe with them.
“That will be fine. It’s just a trip to the dress shop and maybe coffee with my sisters afterwards.”
“Did my mother set the appointment with the dressmaker?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’ll be a private showing. That’s perfect.” Mad
den smiled, stepping closer again and stroking his finger gently along her jaw. “Remember what I told you, Layla. My job is one of discretion but I have made enemies. And my enemies would not hesitate to use any weakness they see against me. You are that weakness now because I would kill countries to keep you safe.”
That probably shouldn’t have felt as romantic as it did, but his declaration warmed her heart. Then Madden spent the next half hour going over safety procedures he expected her to memorize and follow.
Stefan and Tomas arrived fifteen minutes later and escorted her to the car. By the time they arrived at the dress shop, her sisters were waiting. Just seeing them lined up in the window watching for her arrival made Layla want to jump from the car, but she waited and followed protocol as Madden had explained it before she left the compound.
Aside from her security guards, she also had a tracker in her purse should she be separated from Stefan and Tomas. She was beginning to think Madden had forgotten she was a member of the Magdalena Circle with some wickedly good powers of her own. She felt certain she could defend herself if she really needed to. Between her now stronger powers and her self-defense skills, she was pretty kick-ass when she needed to be. Perhaps she should mention the years of self-defense classes her father had insisted on or maybe she’d surprise him sometime and show off her skills.
Lost in thought, the door suddenly opened and Stefan told her it was clear for her exit. Tomas took her hand while Stefan dropped a half step behind, and together, they walked her into the small shop where her sisters immediately bombarded her with enthusiastic embraces.
“I’ve missed you all so much,” Layla was wiping at her tears when a clearing of the throat from a robust woman brought all of the Sinster sisters to attention.
“Let’s get down to business,” the woman clapped her hands and two slight little women came out with dresses in their arms. “You’ll need to give me some idea of what you like. Mrs. Santucci already instructed me to show only red gowns but there is much variety from which to choose.”
And so the dress shopping commenced. Layla chose her favorites and began trying them on. Dress on. Walk, turn, and walk again. Dress off. It felt endless until the moment the softest satin and lace graced her legs as she stepped into the perfect gown. The gown was a red so deep it was near burgundy and it hugged her curves and gave her more where she was lacking. The ivory lace overlaid the red satin skirting and, when draped with a matching lace veil, was stunning.
“This is the one,” Layla called as she exited the fitting room to stand before her sisters. A hush swept over the room as they took her in—even Gracie was smiling, and agreed it was perfect.
“It is beautiful, Layla,” Paige said.
“I can’t wait until I’m the one to be mated,” Eloise spoke as she smoothed the skirt on the gown.
With another hour taken up with measurements and fitting her sisters with matching ivory silk gowns, the sun was setting. Yet Layla was in no rush to leave her sisters.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Definitely,” her sisters answered in unison, as so often happened with them.
* * * *
Sitting in the coffee shop with Stefan and Tomas positioned outside the front door was awkward, but it was something Layla understood she’d need to get used to. Blushing at her sisters’ questions, Layla knew their interest was solely based on the unknown for each of them understood it was their fate to walk this path someday.
“You all might think Mating is the perfect life. But what if I don’t want to mate?” Gracie asked so innocently that Layla embraced her.
“It is nothing to worry about until it happens, Gracie,” Layla quietly assured her, “and then you will simply know what’s right.” She hoped her confidence comforted Gracie. She had a strong sense that Gracie was more discontent than she shared.
“Well, I cannot wait to find my mate. I just hope he’s as handsome as Layla’s Madden.” Raising her eyebrows, Eloise winked at Layla and laughed.
“And her Anton as well,” added Sadie.
Much to Layla’s relief, Gemma chimed in then. “I’ve been researching the Valendite Breed. I was just curious after we learned Anton was your Tre Adoro. I found this Breed history book on one of mother’s bookshelves in the den. Had you read it, Layla?” Gemma asked her.
“No, but I don’t recommend going into this as blind as I was. It was very disconcerting not understanding anything.” That got a round of laughter from her sisters.
“Anyway,” Gemma continued, “the Tre Adoro is actually translated directly as the third love. His talents are only unlocked when he meets the female in the mated couple he is meant to serve. He could be up to three hundred years old. Can you imagine? They wait in limbo, serving, until their destined female comes along.”
“That is absolutely beautiful,” Paige sighed and Layla rolled her eyes at her sister, the hopeless romantic.
“You unlocked his love, Layla,” Eloise said with a dreamy glaze to her words. Why was it everyone else was smitten with this idea of Claiming when she had never been? It had taken finding her mate to appreciate it. Perhaps that would happen for Gracie too.
“What else did the book say about the Tre Adoro?” Layla suddenly craved the knowledge Gemma had to share. She hoped to learn more about Anton. He talked so little about himself, Layla was infinitely curious about his life before her, or even how he hoped to fit with her and Madden.
“The book indicated that the Tre Adoro has special talents to soothe and comfort, the ability to alter emotional states and giving balance to an otherwise unbalanced mating.”
Layla smiled. It was everything she had learned first-hand with Anton. He truly was her comfort, her gentle partner while Madden was energy and power personified. The three of them together were a more solid unit than she and Madden could ever be alone.
“Did you also know that he was the one to sustain Madden prior to your mating?” Gemma continued.
“No. I’d never asked,” Layla answered as she saw the slightest twitch in Stefan’s jaw, suddenly aware he could likely hear everything they spoke with his extraordinary hearing. What must he think of her limited knowledge?
“It makes perfect sense. Certainly explains why they are close enough for it not to bother Madden when he touches you,” Sadie, the logical one, said.
“True enough. He growls at his brothers for looking at me, but with Anton, it is a completely different dynamic. Anton makes us whole.” Layla realized the truth as she spoke the words aloud and suddenly ached to get home to her men. “I need to get home.”
The sudden intake of breath and stricken look on her sisters’ faces had Layla replaying what she’d just said. “I called Madden’s house home. Goddess, that’s the first time I did that.”
“It’s what’s right, Layla. It just took us by surprise to hear it,” Paige reassured her as they all were up to put their coats on, grab their purses and head home. Her sisters would return to their home and Layla would return to her new home with Madden. Everything was as it should be.
Chapter Seven
“Layla, can we talk?” Gracie’s voice penetrated her thoughts.
“Yes. Would you like to ride with me? I can have Stefan and Tomas take you home after they drop me off?” Layla responded in Gracie’s mind, aware she was trying to keep it private by the walls she felt around their conversation.
“Please.” One simple word and Layla took her by the hand and led her to the waiting car where Tomas was holding the door open for her.
“Paige, Gracie is going to ride with me for a bit. She’ll meet you at home,” Layla called out to Paige before she turned her attention to Gracie.
Seated inside the car with the privacy window closed to the front, Layla continued to hold Gracie’s hand. It was just as she’d always done since they were children. It seemed she and Gracie were the sensitive ones, the ones needing more affection than the others.
“What is it?”
“I’m fearful
and I don’t know who to talk to.”
“Then talk to me, Gracie.”
Gracie wrung her fingers, stroked her nails and focused all of her energy inward. Layla felt her apprehension like a solid object in the room and waited silently, watching her sister struggle.
“Will it help to speak in our minds?” Layla encouraged Gracie to use their telepathy to spare her the words.
Grace shook her head and looked directly at Layla before taking a deep breath and speaking. “I don’t feel an attraction to men. I’m supposed to crave in abundance and yet I feel nothing.”
“Oh, Gracie,” Layla reassured her, “I didn’t feel lust until I set my eyes on Madden. It can work either way—our soul sins—and you could feel an incredible craving, insatiable even, once you meet your mate.”
“You don’t understand—” Gracie had begun but was cut off by a terribly high-pitched screeching noise and the shattering of glass. Layla remembered thinking it was impossible to break shatterproof glass.
A cloud of smoke fell over them and the shouts of Stefan and Tomas abruptly stopped. A heavy silence descended and she remained confined in the back of the car, stunned, and listening to her phone ring, ring, ring…but she couldn’t move to answer it. Nor could she seem to open her eyes to see Gracie. She heard footsteps slowly approaching and knew she should be running but she was just too tired. She only wanted to rest.
* * * *
“Fuck. Something is wrong,” Madden grabbed his cell as he ran for the compound’s communication room. Layla wasn’t answering and her feeling of panic he’d sensed just drained from him, as if it had been turned off suddenly. His knees nearly folded as he pushed the door open to the communications room.
“She’s not answering her phone. And something is wrong.” His attention turned to Caedon who was waving his hands across keyboards faster than Madden could follow. “Caedon, what do you have for me?”
