9781618854704HolidayGemBeckNC (15 page)

The sisters eyed each other suspiciously wondering if there was a story
behind her statement. Their parents had wed more than one hundred years ago.
This woman would’ve had to be…

“Come, girls, let’s get you inside.” The woman introduced herself, “My
name is Edmonda. Most people call me Donda.”

“Thank you for seeing us for a private showing, Donda,” Gemma offered in
greeting.

“Nonsense.
Anything for your mother,” Donda waved off the thanks, again in her
broken English.

“Okay then. Let’s get focused,” Eloise spoke up. “I’ve brought a shoe I
designed for Gemma to wear. She can use them while trying on the dresses.”
Eloise handed the most spectacular pair of shoes to Gemma.

“Eloise, I don’t know if I can walk in these.” Gemma shook her head even
as she wanted to hug the shoes to her.

“You’ll practice.” Eloise lowered her voice, “and
trust
me when I say that Seamus will not want you to take these off.”

Donda clapped her hands to get their attention and unzipped two large
bags to show the first two dresses. Both were in deep red, nearly purple and
Gemma knew immediately that this was the exact color. And with that, the dress
shopping commenced. Gemma tried on at least a dozen and felt like a fairy in
each of them. Dress on. Walk, pivot, and walk again. Dress off. The process
felt endless until Gemma looked at herself in a frothy skirted satin gown. It
was the perfect gown for her. Never had she dressed in something so feminine. The
gown hugged the curves of her breasts but then skirted out with soft ruffles
and dark lace. When Donda laid a veil on her head to match, Gemma began to cry.

“This is the one,” Gemma called to her sisters as she exited the fitting
room to stand before her sisters and get their opinion. Her normally loud
sisters were completely silent as they took her in—even Gracie who had been
distracted earlier was now smiling.

“It’s stunning, Gem,” Paige said.

Donda spent another few hours on Gemma’s measurements and then fitted
her sisters with matching dresses. As they waited, Gemma saw Layla and Gracie
sitting in the large picture window looking out and wandered over. The others
were still deciding which dress style they preferred.

“You might think Mating is the perfect life, Layla, but it terrifies me.
I’m not certain I can do it. What if I don’t want to mate? What if we are the
prophecy and I am forced to live a life I’ll despise?” Gracie sounded so afraid
that Gemma couldn’t help but reach out and touch her as Layla embraced her.

“The Goddess doesn’t give us a mate who isn’t perfect for us in her
eyes, Gracie,” Gemma quietly assured her.

“When it happens, you’ll simply know what’s right,” Layla added.

“I can truly tell you that until it happens to you, there is no way to
know how it will be. Even after all my research, it took me by surprise.” Gemma
could sense Gracie’s discontentment and sought to ease her.

“That’s not so reassuring, Gem,” Gracie shook her head. “Look, I don’t
want to talk about it. You’re both right. Whatever is intended to be will
be.
Isn’t that what mother taught us to believe?”

“Yes but something tells me you still don’t believe it.”

“Just know we love you, Gracie, and we’ll always look out for you,”
Gemma gave her a final squeeze and then stood to return to her sisters. By now,
they had to be ready to return home. Gemma was certainly ready to see Seamus
again.

Chapter Nine

Seamus stood in the middle of a small circle formed by hedges and a
dormant herb garden. He and Gemma had chosen a small Pronouncement held here at
her parent’s ancestral home since Gemma was still becoming familiar with being
around so many people so often. His little mate was most definitely a quiet
person who preferred solitude but they would learn together to make their life
together perfect for both of them. Seamus’ family, including Donovan, and Gemma’s
sisters, along with their mates, surrounded him.

Nico watched from the third floor terrace with a long-range weapon at
the ready should anything happen. Seamus had learned that Abdul-Nassir had
discovered their existence and had been working on recreating the virus that
originally changed the Valendite Breed. They needed a breed male to complete
their work. They also needed a woman from the
Magdalena Circle
. That put each of the Sinster sisters in danger
since it would be easy to find them now that three had mated TEU agents. Madden
had increased security on each of them.

They’d done everything they could to prepare for all possibilities and
today Seamus planned to put all that aside to enjoy this moment. He had found
his mate and he wanted to shout it from the mountaintops. Gemma was his perfect
fit, his other half, his life.

Everyone most important to Seamus and Gemma was here with them today and
it made it that much more important that they be protected during the ceremony.
First thing in the morning, Madden would return to the US with Layla and the
unmated Sinster sisters where Gage was already working on securing their home. Seamus
and Gemma would join Eloise and Caedon, along with his parents, at the newest
TEU compound. They would be moving to Pianosa. Her parents, as well as his,
would be returning home. Spread out, they were safer until the risk passed. So
for now, Seamus would treasure this time that they were joined together to
celebrate his Mating.

The grounds were scented with lavender and other herbs. It reminded him
of their arrival here and his need to care for Gemma. He was happy and at
peace. Tiny white lights sparkled from the hedges and brightened the area while
the early evening glow of twilight, the traditional time for a Valendite Pronouncement,
brought out songs of the night creatures. He hoped Gemma would see everything
as charming as he did.

* * * *

Gemma took deep breaths as she looked around at all of Seamus and her
families. She knew she’d found the perfect mate-or that the Goddess had-when
she thought about how Seamus’ ability to be so laidback was beginning to rub
off on her. Now if only her neatness could rub off on him. Gemma smiled because
even that thought didn’t dampen her love for him. Her powers tingled like
electricity as she thought about what was to come. The Pronouncement meant they
would transfer their powers and truly share the essence of who they were.

Truffle pushed against her leg as if trying to nudge her along. Gemma walked
slowly in the gorgeous-but deadly-heels Eloise had designed for her.

“Are you doing okay, my beautiful daughter?” Chiara looked her usual
stately self, sheathed in a green dress with sparkling jewels around her neck. Nevertheless,
she couldn’t hide the look of concern she held for Gemma. Chiara took Gemma’s
hand and squeezed gently.

“I truly am, Mother.” Gemma allowed a single tear to escape before
fighting them back. Then she looked to her father who stood on her other side.
Tony took her hand and rested it in the fold of his arm so that they could walk
into the circle as three. Her parents would present her to Seamus, as was
tradition.

Gemma turned her gaze straight ahead to where Seamus stood. She knew it
would be easiest if she concentrated on him. Seamus’ handsome features would
always amaze her no matter what he wore but it struck a special chord to see
him in the traditional clothing of the Valendite Pronouncement. She knew he
wouldn’t wear clothing like this normally and wondered if he too felt a bit out
of place. His pleated sand-colored trousers and off-white shirt draped from his
body. Still Gemma could see his rugged form underneath. Seamus left the collar
of his shirt purposefully unbuttoned to expose his neck to her as a sign of his
willingness to give himself to her.

Seamus’s glassy green eyes captured hers. “
Are you all right?
” He spoke to her through their bond.

At first, his voice startled Gemma but then she took comfort in it. “
Definitely,”
she
smiled.

She heard her sisters’ voices join her own thoughts. Her palms were
sweating and she was thoughtfully keeping her breathing steady. When Gemma
heard her sisters, she drew strength from their connection. “
Well done, Gem, you did it
,” encouraged
Sadie. “
I am so proud of you
,” shared
Layla. “
I promise he’s going to love
those shoes
,” said Eloise before her own mate poked her. “
I want details later,
” added Paige. “
One more down
,” Gracie sighed. Seamus’
grin grew wider and Gemma heard his voice enter the chorus in her head too, “
I heard all of that, ladies. And I
catalogued some of that information for later
.” The shocked looks her
sisters shot at him were priceless. Gemma fought back a laugh.

Finally, they reached the place where Seamus stood. Her parents placed
her hands in Seamus’ before they moved to the circle’s perimeter with the
others. Gemma stood alone with Seamus inside the circle in the most serious
moment they’d had together and she soaked in the significance of this moment.
For the rest of their time, this is how it would be: the two of them surrounded
by the people who loved them.

The women of the
Magdalena Circle
called up their powers and summoned a swirling mist to surround Seamus and
Gemma. Gemma heard the quiet chanting around them as Seamus raised his voice
loud enough for all those gathered to hear, “I am honored to make this
Pronouncement on behalf of Gemma and myself.”

Then Seamus kneeled before her. He bowed his head as a sign of his
respect for her. After a moment’s pause, Gemma carefully followed him down onto
her knees, taking special care not to catch her heels in her dress now gathered
beneath her. Once settled, she placed her hands in Seamus’ to form the symbol
of an unbreakable link between them.

The soft chanting from the
Magdalena
Circle
women rose louder now. The colorful smoke became denser. It swirled
in shades of purples around Gemma and Seamus until they were alone inside the
haven created for them.

Seamus used his teeth to score both of their wrists. Each drank from the
other as they remained kneeling a fingertip apart from one another. They both
sipped softly and then silently licked the puncture points closed with their
tongues. As they remained staring at one another, it was a true communion of
their souls. The chanting grew even louder now and the smoke ever more vibrant
with sparks of electric light bursting from the circle.

Gemma felt a twinge as an active current rushed through her. Her eyes
widened and Seamus reached towards her, his hands on either side of her face,
and kissed her with great reverence. Gemma smiled as Seamus pulled away and
looked into her eyes. She was cocooned by love and safe. She didn’t need
control, she was free from greed, and she was complete. Everything was truly as
it should be.

*THE END*

About
the Author

Paloma
Beck is an erotic romance writer in both the Contemporary and Paranormal
realms. Happily married and living a life of total contradiction, Paloma runs
carpool service for her three sons, volunteers in PTA and teaches religious
education. Then in the moments when her characters talk to her, she journals
their stories and they are anything but PG.

Connect
with Paloma on her website at http://PalomaBeck.weebly.com or on her
facebook
page at http://www.facebook.com/SevenSinSistersSeries.

Other Books by Paloma

Lustful Cravings (The
Seven Sin Sisters 1)

Eternal Envy (The Seven
Sin Sisters 2)

Secret
Cravings Publishing