The Hybrid Mate

Chapter 11

“Here are the files you asked for, Miss Jaden, and also Miss Izzy Barlowe’s ID card is in the envelope.” Jaden Thorne’s assistant placed a short stack of file folders on her desk along with the envelope as mentioned on top of it.

“Thanks, Drew.” Jaden nodded without offering a smile. She never smiled at her subordinates. As the First Officer of the Reapers Battalion, she did not believe it was necessary.

Jaden pulled out the ID card with the name Izzy Barlowe typed in large letters. She glanced at the description under ‘Bloodline’ and whispered, “Human-demon.” 

Jaden furrowed her brows, suspicion still looming within her. 

She smelled human, but Ezekiel insisted she is part demon. He even claimed it surprised him that his mate is near all human and whose demon side was a mere fraction.

Jaden recalled Ezekiel’s answers to her probing questions about Sebastian’s new housekeeper, during the drive back to the council base last night. Of course, Sebastian would give her a chance to live amongst the hybrids in the blank zone. He would do anything for his team members - even offering a place to stay for an unregistered mate.

 Jaden tapped her finger at the ID card that did not have a picture on it as required and thought she would have to tell Ezekiel to bring his mate in for that ID picture.

Maybe the scanners will pick up more of her bloodline. She needed to learn more about this mysterious woman.

 Jaden played it cool when she heard Sebastian’s growl yesterday, watching Ezekiel hug his mate. I wonder if he is attracted to her. 

She shook her head, waving that thought away, denying that Sebastian would even try to steal one of his squad member’s mate from them. 

Poor Sebastian, he will never have a mate, being a hybrid and all, she sighed. Jaden then imagined being Sebastian’s mate and wife.

 “Hello, my wicked vixen.” A hoarse voice, filled with desire, whispered in Jaden’s ear as she felt hands groping her breasts from behind.

 Jaden looked up from her desk chair and watched Brandon Sheath materialize behind her. She welcomed his hungry lips on hers and covered his hands with hers, encouraging him to squeeze her breasts more.

 Brandon Sheath, the youngest demon council member, slid one hand from her breast down to her navel and in between her legs, causing Jaden to gasp and writhe.

 But before things got more heated, her assistant Drew’s voice flitted from the intercom, “New arrivals in the detention center are causing trouble, Miss Jaden.”

 Jaden pulled away from the kiss and reached for the intercom, “Be right there.”

 Brandon smiled and said, continuing to slide his hands up and down her front, “Shall we finish this first?”

 Jaden smiled, “Hmm. Maybe later, I have abominations to deal with. And I’m planning to visit Sebastian again.”

 This revelation caused Brandon to stop and let go of Jaden. He spun her chair around and leaned forward, glaring at her with eyes turning a dark shade of red.

 “Why are you seeing that filthy hybrid? Aren’t you done pining for him? I’m right here, my wicked half-fairy vixen! I can provide you with more pleasure than that abomination.” Brandon’s eyes did not just turn an even darker red and almost black, but his teeth sharpened into fangs.

 Jaden merely rolled her eyes, not showing any fear whatsoever to the demon trapping her with his arms on her chair.

“Why of course, Brandon,” Jaden’s voice overflowed with seduction as she traced the demon’s jawline and lips with her fingers.

“You will always be my f*ck partner, but seeing as I don’t have a mate, I can choose whomever I want to be with.” She leaned forward and licked his sharp teeth, then his lips.

 Brandon roared as he pushed away from Jaden and walked toward the office windows.

“How dare you use me like this, Jaden? I have wanted you my entire life, but you still have your eyes set on Sebastian Stroud. Give it up! He doesn’t want you!” 

 Jaden could tell, looking at this demon’s back and shoulders, he was trying to control his anger. As a council member, it was not wise to lash out violently under the council’s roof.

Jaden reached for the intercom again and ordered her assistant,

“Drew, tell them to get more guards to handle the situation. I have something to finish here first.”

 “Yes, Miss Jaden.”

 Brandon grunted, still not turning to face Jaden, “Changed your mind? You want to discuss our issue now?”

 “No, Brandon,” Jaden said in a low voice, “I want to ease the situation. Turn around.”

 Brandon frowned as he turned, “Ease the situa—”

He stopped as he caught his breath. Standing before him was Jaden, sitting on her desk, naked. It only took two seconds for Brandon to stride toward Jaden, spreading her legs and crashing his mouth onto hers and mowed sucking kisses down her neck and landing on her breast, while he pinched and squeezed her other breast.

Drew, Jaden’s assistant, realized he had another document that needed the First Officer’s signature. So, he did not hesitate to leave his desk with the said document in hand and opened Jaden’s office door without knocking. As soon as he stepped in, Drew bit his lip, preventing him from reacting to what he witnessed... a council member shagging the First Officer. As far as he knew, this activity was not allowed under the council roof, but more significantly, fraternizing with council members was prohibited, and if they did, he thought discretion was key.

 However, Drew also knew he was only a mere assistant, so he quietly snapped a picture and slowly walked backwards, leaving the office and closed the door. Once safely outside, Drew noted the date and time he witnessed the illegal act inside Jaden’s office. He planned to keep this secret until he needed to reveal this clandestine affair. Drew knew his boss well, Jaden was not a forgiving boss and also relished in holding grudges and acting on revenge. If Jaden ever set her sights on her mere assistant, Drew had evidence against her to save his hide from the council elders.

A malicious smile formed across Drew’s face and thought, ‘This half-demon can’t be outwitted.’

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“Why is it so hard?” Izzy whined as she attempted to communicate with the other reapers, hanging out on the grass in front of her.

 She looked out in front of her and saw Gabriel lying on his back, staring at the blue sky above, while Ezekiel sat grinning at her with his most charming smile, and Joshua busy nibbling on left-over fried chicken.

Sebastian stood beside her, patient and understanding her difficulties mastering the mind link. 

 “I told you, Seb, she’s a tough student.” Ezekiel continued to grin, satisfied that he was not the only one who struggled to teach Izzy using the mind link.

 “Shut up,” Izzy scolded Ezekiel, throwing a severe glare his way.

 “Izzy, you can’t leave the house until you master the mind link,” Gabriel called out, still lying on the grass and staring at the sky. “I’m only a demon and yes, I trust in Freya’s cloaking spell. But there is still no guarantee that there are other hybrid witches or warlocks out there that may recognize that cloaking and possibly suspect you of being an unscrupulous person. You know, just in case.”

 Izzy frowned and tried to concentrate on sending either reaper a message via mind link again, specifically “the demon channel” as Gabriel and Ezekiel called it. But none of them reacted, meaning neither received her ‘thought’ message.

She breathed out a deep sigh and turned to glance up at Sebastian, looking patiently at her. Izzy furrowed her brows and had a grim look.

 Sebastian smiled and said, “You need to relax, Izadora. You are stressing too much. Here, I have an idea.”

Sebastian moved behind Izzy and wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear.

 That light touch sent electrical sparks down her spine and into her toes, and Izzy doubted how this could help her concentrate. It was becoming more of a distraction. Because now, her desire for Sebastian increased, and she felt the need to snatch him back to their room and enjoy a make-out session.

 Izzy caught him chuckle beside her ear as he whispered, “If you pass this test, I’ll be happy to make-out with you, My Izadora. I’ll take you to heights you have not even reached yet.”

 Izzy shuddered as a shiver of desire ran down the length of her spine. She turned her head, glaring at Sebastian, realizing he listened to her thoughts. She chided, “How the hell is this supposed to help me? And I still can’t understand how our mind link works fine, but not the rest.”

 “I think Freya already told you why. It’s because we are bondmates.” Sebastian smiled and brushed his lips against her ear once again.

 After another shudder coursed through Izzy, Sebastian whispered, “Close your eyes, My Love.”

As Izzy closed her eyes, Sebastian gently instructed, “Now take a deep breath and relax. Just feel my hands and listen to my voice.”

He tightened his embrace around Izzy’s waist. Sebastian ducked his head, not being able to avoid enjoying the scent of his mate in his arms.

 “Now imagine you are in a hallway with rooms on either side. Each room has its owner, Ezekiel, Gabriel, Joshua, and even me. Can you see it in your mind?”

 Izzy nodded slowly, picturing every single detail as Sebastian described to her. She reached up and placed her hands over Sebastian’s arms wrapped around her, and relaxed more, feeling the warmth of her mate.

 “Now, imagine closing every single door in that hallway, except for the one whose owner you want to talk to. When you reach that open door, say your message to the person who owns that room, but without speaking out loud... just in your mind. Ready?” Sebastian’s voice was deep, gentle, and soothing.

 Izzy nodded and followed Sebastian’s instructions...

Her mind’s hallway was dark, and the doors on either side were ancient metal and wood. She pictured herself methodically going to each room and closing it, except for one... then she spoke, ‘Is there any fried chicken left, Joshua?’

 Joshua, who finished eating the chicken drumstick in his hand, sat up straight. He glanced over at Izzy, who clearly had her eyes closed and not directing any conversation his way. But he overheard her speak to him, so he answered back through his mind link and said, ‘I think there are still a few left in the fridge, Miss Izzy.’

 Izzy opened her eyes wide with a grin plastered on her face as she glanced over at Joshua, who also smiled back at her.

“I did it!” Izzy beamed, seeing Joshua giving her a thumbs up.

 “Yup, Miss Izzy. I understood you clear as a bell.” Joshua’s robust voice boomed.

 Izzy turned to Sebastian and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for an unexpected kiss.

Sebastian happily obliged and kissed her gently, which turned deep when Izzy pulled him in more. He realized his mate was becoming more assertive in demonstrating her affection, and he did not mind it at all.

 Ezekiel and Joshua chuckled, watching the couple’s public display of their love, while Gabriel grunted.

 “Hooray! You mind linked Joshua, the half-centaur. You still need to learn how to mind link a demon and block them.” Gabriel said with obvious sarcasm in his tone.

 Sebastian and Izzy broke their kiss and lightly rested on each other’s forehead. With Izzy’s arms around his neck and Sebastian’s arms around her waist, Izzy closed her eyes and imagined the dark hallway in her mind again.

She pictured all the doors open while she stood in the middle of the hallway and spoke, 

‘This is my first time communicating through the mind link and I’m happy how you all are patient with me, except for Gabriel, who doesn’t seem to trust me and my learning abilities.’

 As she was ‘speaking’ in her mind, Ezekiel, Gabriel, and Joshua all turned to gaze at Izzy. They all heard her speak without even seeing her physically move her mouth. Izzy just stood there, arms wrapped around her mate.

 Sebastian also heard Izzy, but he always heard her thoughts. So, noticing his squad members’ reactions made him recognize that his mate successfully communicated through the mind link. His lovely and beautiful mate!

 Then suddenly, Izzy opened her eyes and looked at each one of them. Her gaze rested on each one briefly with her last and longer gaze toward her mate as she smiled.

 “What did you just tell me?” Gabriel stood up with a scowl on his face.

 “She said something to you?” Ezekiel turned to Gabriel in disbelief. “She told me I was cute and kind and my mate would be lucky to have me.”

 “I didn’t hear that.” Gabriel frowned even more. “She said I have to be nicer if I wanted my mate to like me. And learning to cook would be an added trait.”

 Ezekiel chuckled and said, “Sorry, Gabriel, but I agree with Izzy.”

 Joshua suddenly stood up and walked over to Izzy and Sebastian and gave them both a big hug.

 “Joshua, let go. We’re not food.” Sebastian deadpanned.

 “Did Izzy tell you something, too, Joshua?” Gabriel asked with curiosity.

 Joshua released his tight hug and stepped back from Izzy and Sebastian and said, smiling, “Miss Izzy said she will cook me delicious meals every single night as a ‘Thank you’ for saving her from the other reapers that might have taken her away that first day.”

 “Dang!” Ezekiel exclaimed. “How did you do it, Seb? How did you get our Izzy to learn the mind link so fast?”

 “Probably because you suck at teaching her, Ezekiel.” Gabriel now stood up with his arms crossed in front of him.

 “Sorry for what I said, Gabriel, no hard feelings?” Izzy smiled at the frowning demon a few feet away from her.

 “Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. I’m sorry, too, for being grouchy.” Gabriel nodded and smirked.

 “Well, Seb?” Ezekiel insisted, “How did you do it? How did you get Izzy to communicate through her mind link and block us?”

 Sebastian gazed down at Izzy and said, “Let’s just say it helps that I’m her mate.”

 “It’s true.” Joshua chimed in. “They always said having a mate helps you be stronger and more powerful.”

 “Now, I really want to meet my mate.” Ezekiel declared.

 Gabriel reached out and smacked the back of Ezekiel’s head.

 “Ow! What the... What did I say now?” Ezekiel complained, rubbing the back of his head.

 Izzy laughed at her reaper friends and then announced, “As a celebration for my bit of success today, I’m cooking you guys a feast!”

 “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Gabriel clapped his hands together and grinned.

 Joshua beamed and offered, “I can help you with chopping, Miss Izzy.”

 “I’ll get the dishes.” Ezekiel joined in and followed behind the two other guys, sauntering back inside the house.

 Izzy was about to follow, but Sebastian held her back with his arms still embracing her.

 “What is it?” Izzy gazed up lovingly at her mate.

 “Do you mean what you said to me? I mean through the mind link?” Sebastian questioned with a soft and caressing tone.

 Izzy bit her lower lip and averted her gaze, and answered, “Yes.”

 Sebastian snaked his fingers through her hair and cradled her head as he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Izzy held on to Sebastian’s neck tighter while her knees weakened from his gentle kiss.

 After slightly pulling away, Sebastian uttered against her lips, “My Love, you know I love you and I will love you always. It is my honor and duty to help you with whatever you need. Thanking me in the most physical way you suggested, I will not refuse. But I think I should remain gentle, just so I don’t accidentally hurt you in bed.”

 Izzy gave him her sweetest smile and responded with equal passion as she received Sebastian’s hungry kiss once more.

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