Isis' Betrayal

by Brenda Trim

  Selfish? The male was crazy. She was the selfish one for allowing this to happen. She needed to make sure he had as much energy as possible for what was ahead of them, but her ability to think straight was lost to her as he spread her with his fingers and licked from her backside to her clit in one long, sensuous glide. His growl vibrated over her little bundle of flesh and the roughness of his tongue pressing on just the right spot had a volatile effect on her. He licked and sucked at her intimate flesh, driving her insane with need.

  Her heart galloped like wild horses in her chest. She was breathing so roughly she thought she may pass out from lack of oxygen. She palmed her own breasts and tugged at her erect nipples.

  “You are every male’s wet-dream, little flame, but you belong to me.” The vibration from his words had her close to climax and every time his tongue connected with her clit, her body was overcome with pleasure. She shuddered, feeling her balance falter from how badly she trembled.

  She reached down and steadied herself on his smooth, bald head and pressed harder against his mouth. He played her body like an expert and the moment he inserted a finger into her pussy, she exploded and came hard against his mouth. She screamed out and her legs gave way. Strong, sure limbs caught her and lowered her gently to the bed.

  He hovered above her, caging her with his body. He lowered his pelvis and settled his thick, jutting cock against her sensitive, feminine flesh. “I love you, Isis,” he murmured and kissed her deeply. She tasted herself on his lips and it inflamed her further.

  “I love you, too, Braeden,” she whispered as she cupped his face, loving the way his shadow beard scraped her palm. His answering smile was like a match to a wick that set off explosions of desire throughout her body. She had just had the most intense orgasm of her life and she was already aching for more of her male.

  Her legs spread further in invitation, a silent plea. His cock slid further into her slit and he chuckled. “What is it you want, mate?” The amusement and affection in his eyes was infectious. She smiled back, secure in the fact that he was holding nothing back and charging into this mating headlong. Her heart swelled with her soul right beside it. This was what she was made for.

  “You know what I want,” she breathed. His shaft was poised at her wet folds and she arched her back, trying to join them.

  “I will give you what we both want if you agree to mate me.” The doubt and fear in his blue eyes had her wanting to erase every shadow.

  “I will mate you, as soon as we get your son back,” she gasped as his cock parted her outer lips. Her responding flood of arousal eased the way for the nerve-laden head to breach her opening. The pleasure-pain as his thick member speared slowly into her was unlike anything she had ever imagined.

  He moved inside her, withdrew then thrust back in so forcefully that she slid up on the bed. She wrapped her legs around his waist and met his vigorous thrusts. He kissed and sucked her nipples into his mouth.

  “Goddess, you are so wet and tight. Feel what you do to me?” he asked, never leaving her breast. She was beyond words and her eyes closed as her muscles squeezed his cock. She was close, and when his finger reached between their bodies and teased her engorged clit, that was all it took. She came hard and bit into his shoulder to keep from screaming.

  He gathered her up and pulled her tightly against his chest as he meshed his lips with hers and kissed her deeply. He pounded into her, making her orgasm go on and on until he finally stiffened and thrust one last time, emptying his seed into her womb. She felt the heat of his release like a brand. He released her mouth and gazed down into her eyes, the golden glow of their bond surrounding them like a cocoon.

  She didn’t want this moment to end, but she knew they needed to act fast or Cele may break through their seal on the diamond.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “How can you be so sure Donovan is still here? If Cele is smart, she would have moved him to another location so I can’t get to him,” Braeden voiced his concerns. He had been relieved when they had left the guest room to discover that there was a larger group involved than he’d expected, and they had been arming themselves to leave. He had accepted a weapon from Dante, and within minutes, they had been ensconced in SUVs. Now, fifteen minutes later, they were outside Cele’s house. Despite the fact that they had been so quick to leave, he was chomping at the bit to get into the basement and make sure his son was safe.

  Braeden glanced around the grounds where their group was huddled. The warriors and various council members had developed a good plan in their absence and their trust in his mate and her sisters was as strong as his. They were the only ones capable of breaking the sphere without harming Donovan, so he would go with Ronan and a few select others to protect them while they worked their magic.

  He shifted from foot to foot, anxiously. The energy from making love to his mate bubbled through his veins, amplifying him to an all-new level of superb strength.

  Dante, the Cambion Lord, clapped him on the shoulder. “He’s in there. You know that I have a connection to every living cambion, and his presence in this home is an indicator she could not duplicate. I promise you, this is not a decoy.” Braeden nearly sagged in relief. He hadn’t realized how worried he had been about her moving his son, until that very moment.

  Zander, the Vampire King, joined the conversation as he leaned against a large evergreen with one boot braced on the bark. “Cele is overconfident. She assumes that these witches willna report her wrong doing because they committed a crime by breaking into her house. Besides that, she has no idea the diamond was a set-up.”

  Suvi turned her head to the Vampire King and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re right. And, since she fell for our trap, hopefully she is inside right now trying to break through our seal.”

  “As badly as she has wanted our power, you can guarantee that she’s in that basement working on it. But, don’t you think she will realize that she has more to lose given that we know she went dark and can bring the elders against her?” Pema asked as she shifted her stance.

  Zander, Dante and Evzen all shook their heads in response, but Evzen, the Guild Master, spoke first. “I have seen many sorcerers who have gone dark. She will see nothing wrong with what she has done. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken the stripling and used Braeden to do her bidding. Zander is right. She thinks she can control you three, unimaginable as that is. Now, cast your circle and invite the sorcerers in.” Braeden appreciated that the head of the sorcerers was as ready as he was to proceed with the mission.

  Isis began wringing her hands and chewed on her lower lip, clearly nervous. Braeden wrapped her in his arms and briefly kissed the top of her head before stepping back. “You got this. Easy as pie. Peach pie,” he husked with a knowing smile. The tension left her body as she and her sisters quickly and efficiently cast their circles.

  “Are you doing this skyclad? Please tell me you guys are doing this skyclad,” Rhys called from where he stood next to Zander.

  “Fucking Rhys,” Braeden shook his head. The warrior smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

  “He hasna been around verra long, but he already has your number, Rhys,” Zander teased.

  Low chanting caught Braeden’s attention and he turned and saw that the spell was underway. Each of the sorcerers had large wooden staffs in their hands and were surrounded by green light. When he attempted to take a couple steps back, Isis grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to her side. Not only were the sorcerers in the circle with the witches, but he and Ronan were also.

  The witches continued to chant and the white light from their magic joined the green of the sorcerers. Electricity and pressure built in the circle. Braeden had never been a part of a casting before, and found it disconcerting as energy surrounded him. After several minutes, he sensed the strain as the group worked, but noted the dark magic protecting the perimeter of the home was still intact.

  Braeden could see sweat beading on Isis’ temple, and through their bond, kn
ew that her heart was racing in her chest. He felt when they sent out another spell and the moment that magic rebounded against them. Worried for her, he clung tighter and sent his strength to her through their connection.

  A white fog built and began to spread across the iron fence. He saw when it seemed to come up against a black, glassy wall. When the two met, a shock reverberated through the group. They pushed back against it, and after several attempts, Cele’s barrier shattered.

  “Cele will have felt that, we need to move fast. Rhys and Orlando are with me,” Zander said, immediately taking charge. “Hayden, you and Evzen go with Jace and Gerrick. Our job is to deal with the guards while Dante takes the witches and their mates to find the stripling.”

  One by one the supernaturals vaulted the fence and stalked toward the residence. Braeden followed behind the warriors and watched as they took out the guards by the back door without making a sound. Half of their group waited outside while the others entered the house through the back door into an innocuous-looking kitchen.

  “She keeps him in the basement which is through the first door down that hall,” Braeden whispered. Dante nodded and looked at the witches, then pointed to himself, indicating he would go first.

  “Put a dampening spell on your shoes, Suvi, or she will be onto us the minute we hit those stone stairs,” Isis hissed under her breath.

  “I told you to wear different shoes,” Pema added just as quietly. Braeden got the feeling this was a familiar argument between the three.

  “I’ve told you a hundred times that these are my ass-kicking shoes,” she replied before she muttered a spell and looked at Dante, saying, “Ready.”

  Dante led the way and Braeden and Ronan descended in front of the females. He wanted to trip any traps Cele may have set. No way would he willingly allow his mate to be hurt. He squinted in the darkness and took the steps with caution.

  Between one step and the next, both he and Ronan were thrown back as a cutting force hit them. It took his breath and had him breathing heavily. He shook his head and stood back up. Isis laid a hand on his arm and looked him over.

  “Are you okay?” she mouthed to him. He nodded in response and looked over to see that Ronan was fine. Cautiously, they resumed and Braeden found he could force his way past the barrier. He had to concentrate, but there was minimal pain on the second attempt.

  He hadn’t been paying attention to Dante before, as he had been too concerned with Isis behind him. This time, he watched Dante closely and was prepared for the next layer of magic two stairs later. He watched as invisible razors sliced through Dante’s skin and watched blood trickle down his arms, causing him to bleed immediately. He braced himself for the pain he was expecting to happen to him, as well. His cuts were minor in comparison and he noticed that he was bleeding less than Dante, and hoped that meant the spell was spent. Looking back, he was glad to see the females were unharmed.

  He thought they were in the clear, until a couple steps later, he saw the last hurdle coiled at the base of the stairs. A twenty-foot cobra sat with its hood flared, ready to attack. He cursed to himself and prayed to the Goddess they could get past it to reach his son.

  Braeden felt Ronan call on his birthright. The feel of shifter magic was warm and of the earth. In a flash of light, a bear roared next to him and charged for the snake. Braeden and Dante leapt from the next to last stair, grabbing the sgian dubhs they had been given earlier. Ronan reached the serpent first and had his jaws clamped around its neck. Braeden plunged the blade through the creature’s skull. A thick, black blood oozed from where the blade was lodged and dripped to the stone floor, sizzling and popping in a small puddle.

  The snake snapped its jaws and caught the bear in the back of the neck. The bear roared and released the serpent. Dante charged in and swung his blade, missing the beast altogether. Braeden danced around one side as Dante taunted from the other. The tail whipped out and knocked Braeden off his feet, forcing the breath from his lungs when he landed roughly on the stone floor.

  He lifted his head in time to see Ronan rush back into the fray. The reptile straightened from its coil and hissed at the two males. Dante threw the knife in his hand at the creature and it bounced off its thick scales. Dante had another blade in hand and plunged it deep into the serpent’s side when it was distracted by the others. The snake’s tail came around and the lower half of its body coiled around Dante before any of them could react. Braeden could hear Isis and her sisters muttering spell words, but they were ineffectual against the creature.

  Braeden scooped up his knife and jumped back to his feet and charged the reptile, giving Ronan the time he needed to go in for another attack. This time, when the snake snapped at the bear, it hit a force field and bounced off. Enraged, the serpent kept attacking the shield while Ronan went for its throat.

  Braeden stabbed the side of the snake repeatedly as Ronan’s teeth tightened on its throat. A piercing sound emanated from the reptile, shaking the brick walls, before Ronan removed the head. Instantly, Ronan shifted back, spitting the foul substance from his mouth. Pema rushed to her mate’s side while Isis hurried to him. He enfolded Isis in his arms while Suvi helped Dante to his feet.

  “You okay?” he asked the Cambion Lord.

  “Yeah,” Dante coughed, rubbing his side. “I’m good.”

  He nodded. “Let’s go. I can hear Donovan crying. She’s in there…” He took off running and stopped in his tracks when he entered the room, causing Isis and the others to bump into his back. The sight that met him stole his breath.

  He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Donovan was in the crystal prison and Cele had the same familiar, jewel-encrusted knife clutched in her hand.

  “Stop right where you are, or he will die,” Cele threatened as she poised the knife over his son’s jugular. He cursed aloud and frantically tried to think of a way to save his son. One slice would end Donovan’s life. Proceeding with caution, he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, while at the same time, he heard noise above him. He prayed it was the Dark Warriors and that they knew what they were doing.

  He looked around the room for the first time and was shocked by what he saw. On the far wall, a female was laid out on a stone table. Her eyes were open, but glazed, and she was drooling on herself. She made a hideous picture with her hands distorted against her chest. This had to be Cele’s daughter, Claire. He reached out when he felt Isis step up beside him. “This is over. Give me my son,” he said, glaring at the High Priestess.

  Cele tucked her free hand into a pocket and withdrew a large diamond. His heart was racing faster than a car in the Indy 500 at the sight of what she was holding. It was the stone Isis and her sisters had infused with their magic. Fingers tightened on his and he looked over to see that the sisters were joined and Pema was holding onto Ronan. Immediately, Braeden felt a connection to all of them course through his body, followed by the power of their magic.

  When he looked back at Cele, he saw her fury as she chanted under her breath. Her eyes were black with rage and her brown hair had come loose from its bun. She was a crazed lunatic and unpredictable, and suddenly, he was overcome with fear for his son. At that moment, his mate and her sisters wasted no time and began a chant of their own. White light flared far brighter than he had ever seen and pulsed out from their group.

  Several things happened at once. He and Ronan staggered under the onslaught of unfamiliar power, Cele looked to the side of the room and her eyes bulged before she screamed, and, she dropped the diamond before she plunged the blade into Donovan’s throat. Braeden’s world came to a complete stop; his heart, his breathing…everything. He surged into action as the large, crystal sphere shattered. He caught his son’s limp form before it hit the floor, and Cele rushed to her daughter’s side.

  Cele bent over the table and the prone figure, crying out in despair. She turned, her eyes blazing with the flames of hell. “You’ve killed her! You’ve killed my Claire! You will pay for this with your power,
and then, your lives. I know your weaknesses now. This isn’t over,” she vowed, before disappearing in a plume of black smoke that smelled of brimstone.

  Shaking, he cradled Donovan, brushing his brown hair from his eyes. The knife was still lodged in his son’s neck, but blood spurted from around the blade. “Papa,” he gurgled. Braeden went numb from head to toe, and wanted to rage against fate. He felt helpless. His innocent son couldn’t die. He did nothing to deserve this.

  Beside him, Isis yelled for Jace as he cradled Donovan’s body to his own. “I’ve got you. I’m right here. I’m sorry,” he whispered to his son.

  Suddenly, a muscular arm reached past him and settled a large palm on Donovan’s neck. Before he knew what was happening, the knife was being pulled from his son’s flesh.

  “Don’t, you’ll kill him,” he protested and swung out with his free arm. Jace dodged his blow and was crouched next to him with his palm still over the knife wound. Jace met Braeden’s eyes.

  “He isn’t gone. I can save him, but I need to act fast.” Braeden let the tears flow that he’d been holding back and nodded. He held his son close as Jace closed his eyes in concentration. Braeden held his breath for several long seconds while the warrior called on his healing ability. He felt Isis lean her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his back.

  Relief swamped him when his son took several ragged breaths and he could feel his little heart settle into a regular rhythm. Braeden grabbed Donovan up into his arms and held him close. It had been too long since they’d been together and could touch one another and he didn’t want to ever let go again. “I owe you my life, Jace. Thank you is inadequate for what you have done. Call on me anytime for anything,” Braeden declared as his son’s familiar scent washed over him.