The Hybrid Mate

Chapter 12

Izzy had visited Madame Freya twice since that first time at the novelty shop. And each time, she brought home her notepad filled with instructions on various spells or magic incantations that she could practice. Only Sebastian knew that under the guise of helping Izzy reignite or relearn her bloodlines, Madame Freya was actually teaching Izzy to hone her witch skills. She still kept her witch and wolf bloodlines secret from the rest of the reaper team.

The witch bloodline within her confused Madame Freya. Izzy seemed to radiate both white and dark magic, and although not uncommon, it was rare in a hybrid being.

They found out her demoness still refused to surface, as Ezekiel always described it. Gabriel thought this was a blessing because the less demon Izzy was, the less likely her mind link could get “hacked” by any other demon, especially the council.

Unfortunately, Izzy also failed in teleportation. This made it inconvenient for the reapers because they had to drive physically to their destinations when Izzy was with them, rather than teleporting quickly. Not that any of them couldn’t easily take Izzy with them as they teleported. Most demons were experts at teleportation. The issue was Izzy suffering from severe side effects when they held on to her through the teleportation process. Izzy suffered from vomiting or a severe headache that lasted for at least two days.

Gabriel and Joshua were the ones who decided not to attempt teleporting Izzy with them more for a selfish motive... they wanted Izzy healthy to cook their meals. She was the best cook they had amongst themselves, except for Sebastian. He rarely cooked, but when he did, they wondered why did he not become a chef.

Sebastian was instrumental in slowly reigniting the dragon and wolf bloodlines within Izzy, as predicted by Madame Freya. Somehow, every time they mated, the dragon and wolf erupted to the surface, almost to the brink of taking over Izzy’s human side. However, Sebastian was always there to calm her beasts.

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 Izzy walked down the stairs with her cloak and gold-amber pendant on. She prepared herself for this special day when she would finally meet her adoptive parents again.

As promised, Sebastian arranged for her parents to come and meet her in a remote area within the blank zone. Even though Izzy showed increased ability to control the mind link, Sebastian deemed it safer to have the family reunion within this haven, rather than the suburb or city where the council closely watched each individual’s movements.

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 A week before, Sebastian and Joshua returned to Izzy’s home in the dark of night. Unbeknownst to Joshua, Sebastian had cloaked the house to prevent other reapers and the council from finding out their presence.

Sabrina’s defensive magic nearly blasted them when they turned up in the Family Barrett’s kitchen. But Sebastian blocked her powers effortlessly, which confused and amazed Joshua and Izzy’s mother.

Sabrina immediately recognized only a warlock could have blocked what she threw at them. But with only one look from the tall man named Stroud, she understood that the half-human, half-centaur named Joshua need not know that his companion was part-warlock.

Sabrina knew the dangers faced by witches and warlocks more so than other supernatural beings.

After learning that their daughter was alive, Sabrina and Samuel Barrett were ecstatic and grateful that Sebastian’s team saved and protected her, rather than doing what their duties dictated.

“So, what made you guys change your mind and saved my daughter instead of taking her to the council?” Samuel asked, curiosity written in his eyes.

Joshua glanced over at Sebastian, who calmly answered, “We did not really change our minds. The plan was always to extract her before the other reapers found her.”

“And why is that? Is she something special to the council they made the Alpha Reaper team focus on Izzy?” It was Sabrina’s turn to ask a question.

Joshua looked at Sebastian again, and this time Sebastian cleared his throat before he admitted, “She’s my mate.”

Sabrina leaned back in her chair, looking shocked, while Samuel looked confused. He was human and did not quite fully understand the ways of the supernatural.

“Mate?” Samuel asked. “What do you mean, mate?”

“It means that this man here is Izzy’s destiny and fated one, Sam,” Sabrina answered her husband’s question. “Depending on what supernatural are you, a mate is your destined partner for eternity unless you reject them. And one learns who their mate is at age 16 or 18?”

Sabrina stared at the man seated across from her on the dining table. He had jet-black hair, dark green eyes, and the facial features and physique any female supernatural would die for or dared to mate with.

She thought, ‘How lucky or unlucky my daughter is to have this handsome gentleman as her mate.’ Lucky because he had looks that could kill and seemed mature, but unlucky for the exact same reasons.

“Have you mated yet?” Sabrina was direct.

Sebastian cleared his throat again, then replied, “Yes, Madame.”

“Mated? Like, have s*x? You had s*x with my daughter?” Samuel looked outraged.

Sebastian did not break their gaze and said, “Yes, Sir.”

“Did you mark her yet?” Sabrina leaned on the table with her forearms folded, a scrutinizing stare directed at Sebastian.

“No, Madame.”

“Mark? What do you mean, mark?” Samuel needed to understand what his wife and this man, who claimed to be his daughter’s mate, were talking about.

“Samuel,” Sabrina started, “mating is to claim one another, recognizing that they are bondmates. Marking is to seal that bond. Think of the ‘I do’ said during a wedding ceremony.”

That explanation left Samuel Barrett dumbfounded as he sat back in his chair. He understood his daughter was 18 years old and considered an adult, but to be “married” already at that age? He had a hard time accepting this fact.

“So, why didn’t you mark her yet?” Sabrina’s curiosity increased.

“It is best Izadora awaken all her bloodlines fully before I do. Marking is painful, I’m told, for the female. And having the strength of all her bloodlines will make it easier on her.” Sebastian was honest and as a matter of fact.

“Such a gentleman,” Sabrina muttered thoughtfully. She noticed how mature this man was and realized the probable age gap between him and her daughter.

“You call my baby girl Izadora? Not Izzy?” Samuel smiled at this revelation. He always loved that name for his daughter. But Izzy always insisted they call her by her nickname. So, to hear her husband or mate call her by her beautiful given name, Samuel had a soft spot for this stranger, now son-in-law.

“Yes, Sir. She is my beautiful Izadora.” Sebastian smiled and said in his deep voice. “She wanted me to call her Izzy, but I can’t seem to make myself do so.”

“Yes, yes... I’m glad she doesn’t pelt you for it.” Samuel chuckled.

“No, Sir. She has not.” Sebastian smiled back.

“How old are you, Mr. Stroud?” Sabrina now asked.

“I’m 28, Madame.”

“Ten-year gap, huh?” Sabrina rested her chin on her palm.

Silence hung over the dining table for several minutes before Joshua decided it was his turn to speak up and divert the conversation back to the real reason they were there.

“Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, we are here to tell you that Miss Izzy wants to meet with you. But it can’t be here. Too many spies in the area.”

Sabrina looked at the big man named Joshua and said, “Is that even possible? I thought telling us she is alive was your purpose here.”

“I promised Izadora that I would arrange this reunion. But I must warn you. You will need to conjure some kind of spell to mask your knowledge of her existence.” Sebastian directed this order to Izzy’s mother, who he knew was a gifted witch.

He continued, “The council still wants to find her. But her trail has disappeared from their signal captures. Since the accidental incident in her school, the council has crowded her school with reapers each day. They do not know who she is, what she looks like, and who her parents are. In fact, they do not know if who they are looking for is she or he. Just that the person is part-dragon.”

Samuel listened in shock. He learned more about the supernatural world living among humans after he married Sabrina. But he never considered his daughter could ever be in danger.

After learning that this Alpha Reaper team altered the memories of their human neighbors and friends, erasing their history and knowledge of Izzy’s existence, Sabrina expressed her surprise at how thorough they were in protecting their daughter. She guessed that the mate bond between her daughter and this man must be strong.

She did not have to stray far in her understanding because since she knew that Izzy was a hybrid being, then her destined mate was always going to be a hybrid as well. And yet here he was, a tall and handsome man, curiously a reaper but also a hybrid. How did the council allow a hybrid to be a reaper? She decided to ask at a later time. Sabrina just wanted to see her daughter again and agreed to Sebastian’s orders about keeping her existence a secret.

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 Izzy was aching to start the journey to the middle of the forest, where she was to reunite with her parents. But she had to wait for Ezekiel, who was still on his phone, arguing with someone.

Sebastian told her he would meet her at the edge of the river before walking with her to the spot where she would see her parents. He and Joshua were to wait for the right time to teleport her parents to the forest. Gabriel and Ezekiel were to drive her to the river. And while she reunited with her parents, the reapers were to surround them to ensure their safety and security.

“What is taking Ezekiel too long?” Gabriel walked back into the house after having sat in the SUV for several minutes, waiting for Izzy and the half-demon.

“He’s still on the phone.” Izzy pouted.

“Didn’t you eavesdrop what the conversation was about?” Gabriel asked Izzy with raised eyebrows.

“Why would I? That’s not nice.” Izzy frowned, looking up at the tall, wavy blonde-haired, hazel-eyed demon.

“Because you can, Izzy.” Gabriel rolled his eyes at her.

Right after what Gabriel said, Ezekiel came up to them and huffed in annoyance.

“Damn council. I wish the Supreme Body abolishes them.” Ezekiel never scowled so much, but he did now.

“Hush, Ezekiel. You don’t want anyone to hear you.” Gabriel pointed to his head, warning him about the mind link “demon channel.”

“Pfft!” Ezekiel shook his head. “No worries. My mind is like a lockbox right now. No one can hear any of my thoughts. Why do you think I’m complaining out loud? And besides, we’re in the blank zone.”

“What’s the matter, Zeke? Who was on the phone?” Izzy wanted to leave for the forest, but she figured calming this half-demon was more important before he sat behind the wheel and drove like a maniac through the streets again.

“The council wants me to bring my mate to get a picture taken before they release her ID card.” Ezekiel pinched the space between his brows.

“Your mate? You don’t have one.” Gabriel chuckled.

“I have a pretend mate, remember? When Jaden was here?” Ezekiel reminded his demon buddy.

Izzy flinched every time someone mentioned that half-fairy’s name. And this was not any different.

“Oh! You mean Izzy.” Gabriel glanced over at Izzy, who was frowning at both of them.

“When do I need to go with you?” Izzy asked out of curiosity.

“As soon as possible, they say. I argued with them just now about postponing it to next week. I figured it will give you more time, Izzy, to get your demoness to show up, so your cover of being part-demon was legit. But they only gave me until tomorrow afternoon, saying the ID procurement line was backed up as it is.” Ezekiel sounded exasperated.

“I smell something fishy. We need to tell Sebastian about this.” Gabriel rubbed his chin as he pressed his lips together.

“That’s for sure,” Ezekiel agreed.

“Shall we go?” Gabriel smiled at Izzy.

For a demon, Gabriel felt happy for Izzy. She would get to reunite with her parents, possibly because Gabriel also missed his parents, who had an untimely death when they visited the netherworld. He was told that the devil’s son went on a rampage during a party and Gabriel’s parents were caught in the line of fire. The devil had incarcerated his son for a long while since... he was not happy he lost a lot of his demon minions during his son’s drunken rampage.

Izzy’s heart raced in anticipation of seeing her parents again. They might be her adoptive parents, but this was her family since she was born. If only she could see her friends, too, but that would be too risky. And besides, Gabriel and Ezekiel mentioned that their memories of her had to be erased. Protecting Izzy’s identity was the number one priority. Her dragon bloodline made her a direct target.

Izzy sighed, hoping that these reaper friends of hers would not fear her or Sebastian once they found out they carried the bloodline of a luna wolf and a witch for her, and an alpha wolf and a warlock for Sebastian.

The river was far west and north from the inhabitant proper in the blank zone. And all Izzy could see out the windows were trees, shrubs, and more trees.

She absent-mindedly touched her gold-amber pendant, which helped calm her anxiety instantly.

“We’re here,” Ezekiel announced from the driver’s seat.

Izzy looked out and smiled, as her heart fluttered upon seeing her tall and handsome mate standing by the river edge.

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