Eternal Envy (The Seven Sin Sisters 2)

by Paloma Beck

  “I didn’t get into anything. I took a walk after the Pronouncement ceremony and tripped on something. Luckily,” Eloise rolled her eyes, “Caedon came along to bring me back.”

  “How badly is it hurt?” Gracie asked, moving in to gently lift and inspect Eloise’s ankle.

  Eloise lowered her voice, “I definitely can’t walk on it, but I don’t want Conan the Barbarian over there to know.”

  “Well, whispering isn’t going to help you. The Valendite Breed has an extraordinary sense of hearing. You know that, El,” Layla reminded her sister.

  “Argh,” Eloise growled in frustration, “I know. I can’t think straight.”

  “Because of your ankle? Does it hurt that badly?” Gemma leaned in for a closer look.

  “No, not my ankle,” Eloise gestured for her sisters to move in closer still, “I—I think he’s my mate.”

  “Your mate?” Paige exclaimed before Eloise could quiet her.

  “Be quiet, Paige. He went all caveman on me with “you can’t wear heels like that” and “you are getting that checked out”,” Eloise emphasized her point by deepening her voice before lightening it again, “He’s very bossy. And I don’t plan on letting him know just how frazzled he’s made me.”

  “So what’s your plan, then?”

  “To surround myself with my sisters so he’s too afraid to come over here.” Eloise was smug, certain her idea would work. “Now put up a shield so at least we can keep him out for a while more.”

  “I cannot even believe this. First Layla and now Eloise. This is absolutely ridiculous. We aren’t love-sick school girls. You need to pull yourself together, Eloise,” Amelia raised her voice as she chastised Eloise who sank under the harsh words.

  “Well, I suggest doing it fast because he’s on his way over here with another one of Madden’s men,” Sadie warned as she watched over Eloise’s shoulder as the men approached.

  “That would be Donovan. He’s the team’s medic,” Layla explained.

  “I don’t need a medic,” Eloise sighed, “I just need to get out of here and breathe for a bit.”

  “El, it’s so not going to happen. No matter what else is between you, Caedon will be compelled to claim you and you will be physically incapable of stopping it,” Layla rested her hand on Eloise’s arm for comfort, “You’ve wanted this for so long. Embrace it.”

  Eloise smiled. “You are so right. I have exactly what I’ve always wanted. I think it’s just the shock.”

  “You’ll be fine. Suck up every bit of excitement and happiness this brings you, El.” Gemma patted Eloise’s leg and moved away from the group, followed by Sadie, Amelia and Gracie.

  Eloise worked to shake herself out of the fog. The pain radiating from her ankle was throbbing but bearable. Setting it aside, she looked at Caedon and let herself soak him in. The smile that spread across his face when he noticed her staring nearly stopped her heart.

  Eloise noticed Layla watching the exchange and blushed.

  “Yes, they can do that to you. I think you are in capable hands,” Layla gave her sister’s hand a squeeze and then headed off her mate before he got to where Eloise sat. Layla and Madden walked away hand-in-hand and were soon joined by Anton who kissed Layla on the cheek. Layla had been doubly blessed by receiving a Tre Adoro coupling. How sweet, Eloise thought, and then realized she wasn’t envious in the least. She was completely content–for the first time in her life–as she focused on this darkly handsome man walking towards her.

  Caedon was beyond striking. He was nearly terrifying because she couldn’t help but feel as if she was unworthy. His intensity wrapped around Eloise, promising to keep her safe. She allowed herself to relish in it for a minute and took him in; her eyes moved bottom to top leisurely before she met his gaze. His eyes were a light cocoa brown. They were at once disarming and sensual and caused a shiver to race up her spine. The sun cast a shine against his deep Italian tan which only made his eyes that much more appealing. And then he grinned.

  “I’m glad you’re still sitting.” He said it as if he thought she would’ve immediately gone against his order. Well, perhaps she would’ve, but her ankle really did hurt. Eloise rolled her eyes at this incredibly decadent man.

  “Donovan, this is Eloise,” Caedon made the introduction.

  “Good to meet you, Eloise. You escaped right after the Pronouncement, so we weren’t able to officially meet.” Donovan was charming, smooth as silk, but Eloise focused on the dark, brooding man just beyond his shoulder now.

  “This is my other sister, Paige,” Eloise remembered her manners after an awkward pause when both men stared towards Paige who still sat holding Eloise’s foot in her lap.

  Caedon gave Paige a cursory nod but then focused immediately back on Eloise. Eloise felt her sister shift as if Paige were uncomfortable and heard her say something curt, but by the time Eloise turned, Paige was looking down at Eloise’s swollen ankle. Clearing his throat to get the attention of Eloise and Caedon, Donovan kneeled down by her foot and rubbed his hands together. “Just warming them up before I touch you,” he assured her. The small growl emanating from Caedon was a bit disconcerting.

  Caedon ran his hands through his hair—a nervous habit perhaps—and drew one hand over his squared jaw. Caedon was definitely agitated, but he didn’t move away from where he’d firmly planted his feet.

  Eloise had forgotten Paige still seated on the other chair until Donovan stopped talking to Eloise and stared at Paige. It was awkward. Eloise wondered for a minute about the exchange but quickly reverted to her own troubles as Paige lifted her sister’s foot and moved from beneath her. “I’ll check back later, El,” Paige said as she left them.

  Donovan was applying light pressure to her ankle and it hurt but not terribly so. She winced when he drew closer towards her inner ankle.

  “Van?” Caedon’s voice was strained as if he were holding himself back.

  “It feels like a sprain. There doesn’t appear to be any fracture. I’d be able to feel the energy from the bone split if it were broken,” Donovan paused to look up at Caedon, “I’d say she twisted her ankle pretty good.”

  “That’s good. It will heal up quickly then.”

  “Yes. She’s lucky though. No wonder she twisted her ankle with heels like these…” Donovan was saying when Eloise cut him off.

  “Are you suggesting it’s my own fault I got hurt? Would you be so insensitive as to say such a thing?” Eloise was angry, but even more, she was embarrassed.

  “I didn’t mean anything but to say I would consider wearing a more sensible shoe while strolling in a vineyard,” Donovan defended his statement. He looked up at Caedon and grinned. Then he gathered his things and patted Caedon on the back, “Good luck, my brother. Good luck.” Donovan laughed as he walked away. Dammit, he was laughing at her.

  Caedon squatted down next to Eloise then and looked into her eyes. “We need to talk, but I also need to give Madden some information. Can you wait here and I’ll come right back?” He smoothed his hand over her knee and watched her for a reaction.

  “Yes. I’ll wait for you.”

  * * * *

  “Oh, Mother,” Eloise whispered in a tone laced with both excitement and trepidation as Eloise felt her mother’s presence behind her. She needed her mother, needed to hear her approval. Her mother’s powers were extraordinary. Layla’s powers were near as strong already and Eloise knew she too would soon change. Now more than ever, Eloise needed her mother’s advice, approval, and wisdom.

  Chiara cast her eyes down on Eloise, over towards Caedon and back again, and she seemed to understand the dynamic right away. Eloise had most certainly found her mate.

  “Oh, my dearling, I knew it would happen quickly now, but this I wasn’t expecting,” Chiara held her daughter’s head between her hands; her voice shook with emotion. “Your poor father,” Eloise’s mother added.

  “I feel as if it’s too good to be true. I’m all confused. Everything feels foreign,” Eloise fought t
o keep her voice steady as she talked. Her mother continued to stroke her cheeks, the motion soothing.

  “Ssh, dearling, it’s because all your emotions will be different now that they aren’t tinged with envy. You are free to just be Eloise.” Chiara smiled down at her daughter as her aura glowed around her and she pushed her calming essence towards Eloise.

  A silent tear slipped out. “Oh, Mother…” Eloise’s voice dried in her throat as such raw, unfamiliar emotion rolled through her.

  “You are going to be magnificent. I have longed for the day for your sin to be released. You have always been the most hopeful for the prophecy, desiring a mate. Held back by belonging to the Circle of Magdalena, finding your destiny means your sin is no more.”

  Eloise completely understood the prophecy, and she knew she held one of the deadly sins—a curse put upon them for the indiscretions of their ancestors so many hundreds of years ago—and that being claimed now by a Valendite Breed would render the sin gone. Fulfilling their obligation to sustain this breed of men would provide the women in the Magdalena Circle a long, illness-free life.

  Chiara spoke again, this time through their bond, “You are worrying far too much, dearling. Allow the Acclimation to pull you along. This is the same advice I gave to Layla and I promise you will do just as well.”

  With the ease of her mother’s blessing, Eloise allowed her happiness forward.

  “I feel a pull towards him,” Eloise admitted softly, “and I can’t resist it.”

  “Then go with him. You will need time to yourselves. We’ll talk again in a few days. Father and I are staying in the house for as long as you girls need us.” Her mother rose to leave. Chiara’s hand softly fell on Eloise’s head to stroke her hair before she turned her attention to Caedon.

  “Ma’am,” Caedon bowed his head slightly in deference. How could she be so lucky to get this magnificent man? She’d always envied those lucky women, but now she was one of them.

  “Thank you for your daughter,” he continued with reverence. “I will offer her the world. She will want for nothing.” Though Eloise thought she should be angry for him speaking about her as if she weren’t there, she couldn’t hold back the thrill his words brought to her.

  When Eloise tried to pull herself up, Caedon slipped his arms beneath her legs. “Donovan says no pressure on your ankle for at least a day. That means I carry you.” Eloise’s skin prickled under his touch and the heat in her lower stomach returned; her body was alert and ready for this man. She was ready for her mate.

  Chapter Two

  Caedon carried Eloise up the stairs to his loft wondering what she might think about living above the Terrorist Elimination Unit communications center. He knew his mate would want more. While her sisters fussed over Eloise, Caedon had taken the time to ask Madden’s mother, Adelina, about Eloise. Despite Adelina knowing so much of their history, Anton seemed to know the most—man, he could listen to those women talk and they took him right in—and he seemed to think Eloise had stars in her eyes when it came to the mating. He’d never live up to her dreams, of that he was certain.

  “Would you like to sit on the sofa or maybe out on the patio?” Caedon would start by talking to her. He’d get to know her and put her at ease. Madden cautioned him to ease her slowly into the claiming so even though all he wanted was to tear her clothes from her and feast on her body until she begged for his bite, he would go slowly. Painstakingly, dick-throbbing slowly.

  She’d been a quiet observer as he’d carried her from the vineyard, mostly keeping her eyes on him as if memorizing his features. But now her eyes perused his home and he felt like a bug under a microscope. What was she thinking? If only she would talk to him.

  “Oh. My. Goddess. The view, it’s absolutely breathtaking,” she exclaimed as she squirmed out of his hold and plastered herself against the full wall of windows overlooking the south vineyard. It was a beautiful view, he would admit, but she was stealing all of his attention at the moment. “Can we sit out here? I’ll put my foot up, I promise.”

  Good. The cooler air from the outdoors might help the heat growing inside of him. Caedon’s heart was nearly beating out of his chest and he had to fist his hands to control his desire to grab her. “Definitely.” Caedon pulled the glass panels back until the room was opened to the patio as if it were one large outdoor room.

  He guided Eloise to the cushioned love seat so he took most of her weight, which was slight. He considered that should he not be careful, he could harm this fragile woman and the thought reminded him just how slowly he needed to make their claiming. He wouldn’t risk hurting his mate.

  “How about something to drink? You should stay hydrated. Water?” Caedon fussed over getting Eloise’s foot onto the bench he’d placed in front of her and then stood, wiping his hands over his denim thighs.

  “Yes, please. Water would be perfect. Maybe with lemon?”

  “I’ll be right back. You sit.” Caedon was relieved to have a mission. Missions he was good at. He liked having a task kept him focused. Damn, he felt so out of his element with Eloise. He wished he could read her mind. Crap, she couldn’t read his, could she? He needed to text Madden and ask. He’d never considered it until now. This had been much more fun when he watched Madden deal with mating.

  Once he brought the water to her, Eloise drank in deep gulps while he watched. He should look away. Watching her head tilted slightly, her throat working to swallow the water was giving him ideas he needn’t have while trying to remain calm.

  “I need to check in with the Comm Center downstairs. I’ll be back soon,” his voice squeaked out as he held back the rush of desire running through his veins.

  “Couldn’t you just sit with me a while?” Eloise reached down to remove her shoes and stretched out her perfect toes. Caedon couldn’t breathe. He sucked air in through his nose which raised her scent and filled his senses.

  “I just need to check in. Then I’ll take some time off. But first I have to make sure they’ve got it covered. An hour tops…” Caedon’s words were cut off when he realized Eloise was reaching behind her and unzipping her dress. The sound of the zipper slowly coming down was all he could hear. “W-what are you doing?”

  “I’m getting comfortable. If I’m to relax, I need to be comfortable. Wouldn’t you agree?” Eloise fluttered her lashes just enough for Caedon to wonder if she knew what effect she was having on him. He swallowed.

  “You can’t be out here without your dress on,” Caedon’s senses were heightened enough to know the security cameras might pick up this movement. He couldn’t be certain and he wasn’t letting anyone else see his mate unclothed.

  “Maybe you could bring me a robe?” Eloise asked him as she began to work the tiny straps over her shoulders—her now bare shoulders—and the dress dropped low enough to expose a lacy bra. It was no more than an adornment ever so slightly covering her softly rounded breasts.

  Eloise looked up at him and he heard her gasp. He knew immediately that his eyes must have been blazing. He needed to get out of there. “I’ll get you my robe. Be right back. Don’t take another thing off. For Goddess sake, I don’t know if the security cameras will swing this far over.” He only had time to see her quirk an eyebrow before he headed to his bedroom.

  Using his preternatural speed, he returned within moments with his robe. It would be ridiculously large on her, but it would keep his mind off of what she would be hiding beneath it. Maybe. Shit, Eloise now had her dress off, draped over the arm of the sofa. She sat against the deep plaid, her alabaster skin nearly glowing. Her bra, a scrap of lace panties, and her stockings were the only things hiding her body from full sight. Trying not to look—ok, trying to look without seeming to look—he laid the robe over her.

  “Why are you trying to cover me up? Don’t you want me, Caedon” Eloise’s voice dripped sensuality.

  “O-of course I do. But I’m trying to be a gentleman, to allow you time to ease into this.”

  “Why?” Eloise looke
d confused. The emotion washed the eagerness away for a moment.

  “I don’t want you to be afraid.”

  “I’m not afraid. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember.”

  “What about taking some time to get to know each other? I thought you’d want that,” Caedon hopelessly tried to clear up his own confusion.

  “I’m starting to get the idea you think too much.” Eloise’s mouth quirked up in a grin. He was fairly certain she was toying with him.

  Caedon made a choice then to set aside Madden’s advice. On missions and in his work, he’d always relied on his intuition–his gut feeling- and he was going to do that now. With this thing that mattered most, his mate. “I could stop if you want.”

  “Stop thinking? Yes. Definitely,” Eloise smiled up at him and ran her hands along the contours of her stomach. His eyes caught the motion of her stroking up and down. His tongue darted out to lick his lips and he swallowed back the urge to trace the pattern with his own touch.

  “Let’s go inside,” Caedon offered Eloise his hand to help her stand but she pulled away.

  “I want to stay out here. It’s private. I haven’t heard or seen a single person since I’ve been sitting here. And I don’t want to move,” Eloise stuck out her bottom lip and pouted. Goddess, she was irresistible like that, nearly naked and so obviously asking him to claim her. This was something he wasn’t sure he’d ever find.

  “Shit. This goes against my better judgment, but I get the sense I might do that a lot with you,” Caedon grinned as he gripped the edges of his shirt and pulled it off over his head. Then he moved to kneel beside her legs.

  Caedon laid his head on her stomach and breathed in her scent, a natural emollient of herbs and flowers. He could smell her desire and skimmed his hands down to gently touch her lacy panties. He licked his bottom lip and bit down on it, considering all that was now his. This woman would forever belong to him.