Vanished Pride (The Seven Sin Sisters 4) (11 page)

Madden interjected, “We hoped he’d be regrouping after we infiltrated
that lab. He knows we took information about what he’s up to. Our guess was
he’d lay low but he’s not; now the CIA wants him taken out.”

“But don’t they…” Seamus began to argue.

“No need to argue with us, Seam, we all agree. That’s why we’re here.
Our only option is to capture Nassir himself. If we do this, we gain an upper
hand. It would be likely one of his commanders would exchange information if
they believed we’d return Nassir unharmed.”

“So we make them believe this how?” Gage asked.

“Wait. Can we go backwards? Do we know where those who left the compound
are heading off to?” Donovan asked. His head was spinning with all this new
information.

“Right. We confirmed last week that all prior sites used in Italy are
now clear. Though one of the commanders with three additional men are headed
there, another commander, along with his three men and perhaps even Nassir
himself, booked a flight into Paris. It also appears the others have flown into
Seattle,” Caedon explained.

“When we combine the intel on Nassir’s men flying into the US with a
report from Lucas, we suspect they’re after Ella.”

“Ella, the woman I rescued from Nassir when I was captured?” Donovan
asked.

“Yes. Most of you might not be aware that Ella is Lucas’ mate. She’s had
a rough time, to say the least, so they’ve been secluded for months now,”
Madden explained to the group while Caedon flashed a picture of Ella onto the
screen.

“And Lucas called in last night to let us know he found a tracking
device embedded in Ella. She didn’t know about it and was pretty upset. Nico,
anything to add?” Caedon added the final piece of the puzzle and Donovan
understood now that they were tracking Ella all along.

“Yes. I flew up to the cabin as soon as we got his call and performed
the procedure to remove it. The bastard who placed it had embedded it deep.
She’ll take a while to heal though I suspect Lucas is feeding her. His blood
will help. She was upset—Lucas says she’s still pretty sensitive—but otherwise
fine,” Nicolaus reported.

“And when Nico got back with the device, I looked it over. We decided,”
Caedon looked at Madden before continuing, “not to disconnect it. These
bastards are smarter than we gave them credit for. The device was implanted
because they knew how Donovan would react to a woman from the
Magdalena Circle
. They knew we’d care
for her regardless of the cost.”

“Shit. So they knew I was a Valendite Breed the whole time?” Donovan
asked.

“That’s our assumption,” Caedon nodded. “And they banked on the fact
that we would bring her back to our compound. They plan to follow that signal.”

“And we plan to let them,” Madden stated with an air of finality. It was
silent while each man around the table considered all they’d heard.

“What’s the plan?” Gage was the first to break. “Where, when and how?”

Madden fastened his gaze onto Donovan and said, “We’re waiting until
tomorrow to make our move. If they’re following the tracker, they’ll assume she
made a trip and then returned to where she’s been. Lucas is bringing Ella here
while some of us set up camp at the cabin. Tomorrow,” he paused and Donovan
nodded.

Clearing his throat, Donovan told the others, “Let’s keep this low for
now. I don’t want the women upset before the Pronouncement. There’s no
immediate threat today so let’s give Paige tonight.”

Caedon cleared his throat and everyone’s attention shifted to where he
now stood. He clicked a button on his computer and a screen shot flashed on the
wall above him. “There’s more. Looks like someone has been investigating the
Sinster sisters. I don’t know how their identity was verified,” he shook his
head, “though they aren’t exactly low profile.”

Madden interjected, “I’ve had Caedon watching for any media on the
sisters since I first mated with Layla six months ago. Nothing but the basics
popped up until last week when the same IP address was used to access locations
for all their workplaces.”

“So you’re saying he knows where they live? Now? Or their original
home?” Seamus jumped in, his heightened anxiety palpable in the room.

“We’ve maintained their home address as their original house they all
shared, but the work addresses for Eloise’s factory and Paige’s cafe are public
record. We couldn’t shield them without jeopardizing their work. We also know
someone tried to hack into Gemma’s research facility in Italy. I suspect that
location is compromised as well, which explains the men traveling to Italy.”

“And the men to Paris?” Gage asked.

“Paige’s baking competition. They know she’s a contestant, don’t they?”
Donovan spoke up as realization dawned on him.

Caedon nodded. “We think so. I’ve blocked their IP address from
searching any of the sisters by name but they’re smart enough to get around
that.”

“This means it isn’t safe for her to go,” Madden added. “You’ll need to
let her know. She’ll stay behind while a team heads over to attempt a capture
on Nassir.”

Donovan shook his head, “I can’t do that to her. There has to be a way
for her to go under heavy guard.” He ran his hands over his head in
exasperation. “This has been her life’s dream and I promised mating with me
wouldn’t mean she’d have to give it up.”

Madden looked at Donovan. He seemed to be considering something. Then he
looked to Caedon who gave a simple shrug and then to Seamus who spoke. “We got
you, Van. Looks like the four of us are going on your honeymoon to Paris
together.” They each patted their chests once with their fists in their signal
of agreement.

“Never thought you’d willingly bring your mate to a mission, Van,”
Madden said, “Shit, Caedon’s first plan involved Paige as bait but I thought
you’d never go for it.”

“Let’s just not refer to her as bait. And not a single word of this to
the women until tomorrow. Let Paige have her day first.” Donovan spoke his
final words before stomping out of the TEU comm center without a backwards
glance.

It was the others’ turn to nod with stoic faces as they watched Donovan leave.

* * * *

Paige’s sisters stood in a circle around Donovan. Their mates and
Donovan’s family stood just behind them as if they were forming a second circle
enclosing her sisters. Paige drank in the sight before her. It was so much more
than her dreams of her Pronouncement. Twinkle lights added lighting for the traditional
twilight wedding. Despite all her imaginings, this moment couldn’t have been
more perfect as Paige cast her eyes around the terrace. Celebrating their
Pronouncement at their first home was Donovan’s suggestion and Paige couldn’t
think of a better location.

Paige took a few deep breaths, memorizing this moment and feeling more
at peace than she had in all her life. She smiled at her parents who stood on
either side of her and waited for her signal she was ready.

“It’s like a whole new you, Paige,” her mother beamed at her, “Your
father and I are proud of you.” Her mother slipped her hand into Paige’s hand
and squeezed reassuringly.

“We can feel your pride but it is no more than is appropriate. We’re so
happy for you. Finally, you can feel satisfied with who you are,” her father’s
voice hitched at the end and nearly caused the tears to fall from Paige’s eyes.

“No crying,” her mother chastised, “let us walk.”

Paige put her hand through her father’s waiting arm so that as three,
they walked toward the circle. Her father’s powers wrapped around her in a warm
embrace. Now having a mate of her own, she was in awe of this man who loved her
mother beyond reason. So often, she and her sisters went to their mother for
advice, never much seeking out their father. Now, she understood how his
strength buffered them all.

She looked up into the eyes of her mate, finally close enough to see
their silvery steel color. Paige knew his demeanor and looks intimidated her
sisters, but she’d never felt that. She knew what he could deliver and it was
exactly what she needed. Donovan was her perfect match. He would forever
astound her.

Following tradition, he changed from his everyday dark clothing to a
pair of tan trousers and a white shirt left unbuttoned. The unbuttoned shirt
exposed his neck to her as a sign of his acceptance to be her nourishment. The
leather strips that adorned his biceps drew attention to the bulk of his
muscles. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he shifted from foot to foot in
old-style sandals. Paige gave him a smile and hoped for one in exchange. She
wasn’t disappointed.

Donovan’s stoic expression broke into a full smile. His stunning silver
eyes sparkled in the lights hanging from the trees. All of these simple things
combined to make her dominating mate appear softer, almost sweet. Paige laughed
at the description until she heard a voice in her head.

“
Sweet is not a word I’ve ever
heard to describe myself
,” Donovan spoke in her mind.

 
Paige stopped suddenly and placed
a hand to her heart as it fluttered furiously in her chest. “
Did you just speak to me in my mind? We can
do this now?”

“
The final link must’ve fallen
into place
.” Donovan shrugged just enough for her to see but she didn’t
think others could tell they were communicating.

“Paige, is everything all right?” Chiara sounded concerned next to her.
Paige nodded once and began walking again. “You have been blessed this day,” Chiara’s
words were a whisper in her ear just as they broke the inner circle.

Her parents moved to stand on the perimeter with the others as Paige
took her place with Donovan inside the circle. She’s watched three of her
sisters before her do this, but her Pronouncement was truly more breathtaking
than the other ceremonies she’d attended. She was alone with Donovan—a cloud of
pale lavender smoke surrounding them—as everyone faded into the background. Donovan
walked to her until he could securely hold her in his grasp.

Donovan nodded before raising his voice to those gathered. He spoke the ancient
words—the only words spoken until the ceremony was complete—as passed down from
their ancestors. “I am honored to make this Pronouncement. For Paige and myself.
It is as it should be.”

Paige took a breath and lowered herself down onto her knees to kneel
before her mate. She captured his eyes with her own to show him every emotion
she held inside her heart. It was a single moment of time before Donovan kneeled
in front of her. They touched palm to palm, forging an unbreakable link.

A quiet murmured chanting rose from the women gathered. The subtle cloud
of smoke from earlier swirled around the couple and embraced them. Donovan drew
his wrist to his sharp teeth and cut open his vein so Paige could drink from
him. Then he took her wrist and drank from her vein. The women of the Magdalena
Circle present chanted the ancient prayers as both swallowed down the life
essence of the other. As they reluctantly pulled away, the chanting grew progressively
louder and the smoke became more colorful.

Sparks of light burst from them even as Paige felt a lifting of her
burdens. Could it be she was completely free of her soul sin? No, it hadn’t
been a totally miraculous moment as it had been with her other sisters. She
still felt the remnants of her pride, but something inside her suddenly felt
lighter. Paige smiled at Donovan as she allowed herself to simply relish in the
warmth of his love. Everything really was as it should be.

Chapter Seven

Placing Paige ever so
gently onto their bed, Donovan lay beside her and drank from her lips. He used
a gentle touch, working her mouth in a tender and reassuring kiss. He needed
simply to join with her in every way possible and he wanted to savor every
moment along the way. He felt their connection reach out and bind them together
as her body melted against him. She eagerly took everything he offered.

Donovan pulled away to
look at her. She was still in her gown, a magnificent traditional red gown that
had the shimmering hue of purple, her favorite color. Her breast peaked from
the top, the corset style design pushing them further up so they spilled out
slightly. He ran his hand along her leg and felt the sheer fabric hanging lower
than the shorter silk skirting underneath. The fabric was soft to touch, but he
was seeking her skin.

“I want to make love to
you in your gown.” Donovan spoke as he moved down slowly to lift her layers of
skirting up, bringing it to her waist and exposing the tiniest scrap of purple
lace. A soft growl emanated from his chest. He simply couldn’t hold it back as
his eyes feasted on her ivory skin decorated with this sexy piece of lace. “What
you do to me, Paige.”

“You affect me the
same,” Paige responded as she watched him through her lowered lashes. He could
see the lust in her eyes and hoped his own desire was reflected back at her.

Donovan massaged
Paige’s thighs, slowly circling his thumb closer to her panties. Her muscles
grew relaxed just as he knew they would. He worked her legs farther and farther
apart, then placed his palms on either side of her panties, gently running his
thumbs under the elastic. Paige sighed at the sensation and Donovan moved
progressively closer to where she needed him most. Her sighs turned to moans as
sensations turned hotter and Donovan leaned down to kiss directly over her
clit. Only her panties were between them.