The Hybrid Mate

Chapter 10

Sebastian crept into the bedroom, closing the door behind him without a sound. He knelt beside the bed and gazed at Izzy, whose face was at peace in her sleep. Sebastian reached out and caressed her cheek with his fingers. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

He noticed the untouched soup and water in a tray that Ezekiel had brought up for Izzy. Sebastian sighed, realizing his mate had not eaten dinner and slept and shut off the world that caused her pain. I had caused her pain.

Sebastian guessed the probable reactions from his mate brought about by Jaden’s presence. But what he did not expect was the emotional and physical pain he endured as she suffered, watching him with Jaden.

The jealousy and possessiveness that he showed when Ezekiel hugged Izzy was only a fraction of Izzy’s internal turmoil at seeing another woman flirt with her mate.

It took a long time to persuade Jaden to go back to the council base where she lived. Sebastian even had Ezekiel drive Jaden, so there were no excuses made about being alone on the road back. Sebastian smirked at the thought, remembering how he convinced Jaden that there were a ton of reports to complete, and that was the reason he chose not to drive Jaden back to the council base. Jaden Thorne need not know that he had no more reports to finish. Sebastian was never behind on his reports to the council.

He stood up and moved to get into the bed behind Izzy, who was lying on her side. Sebastian lay down as close as he could to his mate and wrapped an arm around her waist. He buried his face in Izzy’s thick blue-black hair and kissed her neck. Her scent overwhelmed him with desire and love.

Sebastian whispered, “I love you so much, Izadora. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

Sebastian felt her stir as she shifted onto her back. Izzy remained asleep, and Sebastian moved one arm under her, pulling Izzy close to him until her head lay on his shoulder and kept his other arm wrapped across her waist. He noticed the gold-amber pendant around her neck. Must be her talisman Freya made for her, he concluded. Sebastian recalled the mind-link message the witch sent him after Izzy and Ezekiel left the novelty store. Freya advised him that although his mate’s bloodlines were cloaked from others, Sebastian could still recognize each one because of the mate bond.

Sebastian leaned in and kissed his mate’s forehead. He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep and deciding to be more conscientious of his mate’s feelings. He needed to keep Jaden Thorne away from Izzy. Sebastian must hide his mate from that woman, or else Izzy would have to pretend to be Ezekiel’s mate for a long time. A scowl settled on Sebastian’s face as he thought this. An irritated low growl escaped from the depths. Izadora is mine. That half-demon has spent more time with Izzy than he had since she arrived.

Sebastian sighed and tried to fall asleep, but several minutes passed before slumber finally took over.

Izzy grimaced as her stomach spasmed, waking her from sleep because of hunger. She lazily opened her eyes and realized she was in Sebastian’s arms. Izzy had a small smile, enjoying the affection and warmth of her mate’s embrace. But that feeling did not last long as she remembered the flirtatious Jaden Thorne all over him.

Izzy knew it was all pretense to keep Jaden off her scent, so to speak. But it still hurt to see your mate with another woman.

She stared at Sebastian’s sleeping countenance. His handsome features were undeniable, and she understood why Jaden would not let go of Sebastian since they were teens, just as Ezekiel mentioned to her. But Izzy recalled what Madame Freya revealed, how she and Sebastian were a perfect match as bondmates, down to the individual bloodlines. Izzy recognized her instinctual attraction toward Sebastian because of the mate bond, but she also wanted to make sure that what she was feeling was genuine love and not because of that silly pull of the mate bond.

Her stomach growled once again, and the pain wanted her to satisfy the hunger. So, Izzy tried to move away from Sebastian’s hold, but as soon as she shifted even the slightest, his embrace tightened around her. She chuckled, appreciating that this possessive move by Sebastian even in his sleep was making her stomach flutter, and it was not her hunger reacting.

Izzy waited another minute before trying again, and this time, she successfully removed his arm from wrapping around her. She slowly got out of bed and noticed the untouched tray of soup and water she was sure Ezekiel brought in for her. Izzy grabbed the tray and tiptoed out the bedroom, trying not to wake her sleeping mate.

The wall clock in the kitchen read 2 AM. That meant she slept for at least 7 hours. Izzy took the soup bowl and heated it in the microwave. As Izzy waited, she checked the refrigerator for whatever else she could eat other than soup. Her stomach was famished.

Suddenly, Izzy sensed arms wrapping around her waist and weight on her left shoulder. The warmth and scent were familiar, and as much as she did not want to admit it, Izzy welcomed both without reservations.

“You snuck away from me, My Love. I’m sorry about… you know. Will you forgive me?” Sebastian’s voice was deep, warm, and soft against her ear.

Izzy instinctively held the arms embracing her but bit her lower lip as she remembered the hurt endured seeing her mate with another woman, a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed warrior-looking half-fairy. Her heart ached, jealousy creeping up again.

Izzy refused to answer because she feared a sob was about to betray her.

“Izadora?” Sebastian spun her around and cupped her face in his hands, gently forcing Izzy to gaze up at him. “Please speak to me,” he pleaded as he searched her amber eyes, small tears welling up at the corners.

It was clear to Sebastian that Izzy was not ready to forget what happened. But what about forgiving him? Sebastian could sense the pain that still brewed in her chest, even if she had her hands on his hips.

“I’m so sorry, Izadora. I never meant to hurt you. We must hide your true identity from the council. If I admitted to her you are my bondmate, she will instantly take you to the council because she and one other council member are the only ones who know about my hybrid bloodline. They recognize one fact and expectation, and that is my mate was always going to be a hybrid. Jaden…” Sebastian trailed off and stopped talking when he saw Izzy flinch at the mention of Jaden’s name.

Sebastian pulled Izzy close to him and hugged her tightly. “OK. I won’t mention her name. But you must know…” He pulled away and held her face in his hands again as he said, “I love you, Izadora, no one else. Understand?”

Izzy blinked and tears rolled down her cheeks, but she nodded. She could not deny her feelings for Sebastian. Izzy just was uncertain if it was true love or the pull of the mate bond.

Sebastian wiped the tears off Izzy’s cheeks with his thumbs and asked, “Will you forgive me? I don’t expect you to forget, but please forgive me…”

Izzy leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mate’s waist and pressed her head against his hard chest, and nodded.

Sebastian breathed a sigh of relief and held Izzy with an arm around her and a hand gently grasping her head. He kissed the top of her head and said, “You’re mine. And I will try my best not to hurt you ever again.”

Upon hearing Sebastian’s promise, Izzy poured quiet sobs into his chest. Sebastian held her tight for several minutes until the refrigerator warning beeps reminded them that the doors had been open too long.

Sebastian reached out and closed the refrigerator doors, then said, “Come eat your soup, My Love, before it gets cold in the microwave. Do you want me to cook you something else?”

Izzy still could not find her voice without a sob escaping, so she nodded her reply again.

Sebastian furrowed his brows and did not like this quiet version of his mate. He whispered, “My Izadora, always remember I love you.” Then he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.

Izzy already recognized all the shocks of electricity when Sebastian held her, but his kiss was equivalent to fireworks exploding in the dark sky. Izzy could not help but respond to it as her knees weakened, and her lips returned the kiss with equal fervor.

Sebastian was the one who pulled away first and breathed, “I think I must feed you first before I’m tempted to take you right here in the kitchen, My Love.”

Izzy blushed and smiled, which made Sebastian chuckle and declare, “There is the beautiful smile I’ve been waiting for.”

Izzy finally found her voice and said, “I’m sorry for reacting the way I did. Zeke reminded me it was all pretense. I just had a hard time… Anyway, I’ll do what’s necessary and also to keep from getting any of you guys in trouble with the council. I’m sure hiding my identity from them will cost you a lot if they found out.”

Sebastian guided Izzy to sit at the breakfast nook table in the kitchen and brought her soup for her to eat. He started preparing the chicken by breading each piece and set the air fryer. He wanted to cook her something healthier, but this was the quickest.

Because he still had a sense of guilt for what she had to go through when Jaden Thorne was here, Sebastian propositioned, “How can I make it up to you, My Love? I’ll do anything you ask. What can I do for you?”

Izzy knew what Sebastian was trying to do. Her heart swelled, knowing her mate cared for her feelings despite the ruse he had to do in front of that half-fairy woman.

Izzy quietly slurped her soup and thought of Sebastian’s proposition. She thought of one thing but was not sure if he were to agree.

Izzy bit her lip then answered, “I would like to see my parents again.” After she saw Sebastian look up from the chicken he was breading, she quickly added, “Please? I don’t want them thinking you took me away and I’m incarcerated or dead.”

“I don’t know about that, Izadora…” Sebastian trailed off, imagining all the consequences if he were to allow their meeting.

“You guys said it yourselves that here in the blank zone, most beings are untraceable. That’s why it’s a haven. Can my parents come here? If not, I can meet them outside of this zone. I have my talisman now, and I can wear the cloak for extra concealment of my bloodlines. Madame Freya said the hood adds to helping me with blocking the mind link.”

Sebastian placed the breaded chicken in the fryer as he countered, “You still need to work on mastering the mind link, Izadora. I trust Freya’s cloaking spell, but I will feel better if you knew how to control it. Also reigniting your powers is important so you can defend yourself when necessary.”

“I know all that. But you said you’ll do anything to make it up to me.” Izzy muttered, pouting as she played with what’s left of her soup.

Sebastian let out a deep sigh as he noticed his mate’s disappointment in her face and her voice. He walked over to the sink and washed his hands. Then, in a few quick strides, reached out and embraced Izzy. Sebastian kissed the temple of her forehead and said, “OK, My Love. I will arrange it. But you need to continue practicing how to control your mind link and whatever powers you can reignite or relearn. You have more bloodlines to master than anyone.”

Upon hearing Sebastian’s approval of her request, Izzy tightened her arms around his waist and uttered against his chest, “I will… I promise. Thank you, Sebastian.”

“It’s freaking 2:30 in the morning! You’re cooking fried chicken?” Ezekiel said as he and Joshua waltzed into the kitchen with both noses up in the air, sniffing the delectable aroma of what Sebastian placed in the air fryer.

“Why am I not surprised that the two of you get roused from your sleep by the scent of food?!” Sebastian shook his head, sarcasm in his tone.

Ezekiel smiled when he glanced over and found Sebastian and Izzy in a tight embrace. “I’m glad the two of you made up.”

Sebastian smiled while Izzy blushed and hid her face in Sebastian’s chest. This prompted Sebastian to kiss the crown of her head and kept his lips there, enjoying the jasmine scent of his mate.

“When will the chicken be done?” Joshua’s robust voice filled the room.

Joshua’s insatiable desire for food caused all of them to laugh, which a sleepy Gabriel walked into as he joined the group in the kitchen.

“What’s going on? Why is everybody up?” Gabriel paused and sniffed, then a grin formed, “Fried chicken! Is this Sebastian’s famous fried chicken?”

“I’m feeding Izadora, so you guys better not eat it all,” Sebastian warned but sported a smirk.

“No worries,” Ezekiel chirped, “the Queen gets first dibs.” He pulled a chair and sat, waiting patiently for the chicken to be cooked.

“Queen?” Gabriel and Joshua asked in unison, turning to look at Izzy.

Izzy felt herself stiffen upon hearing how Ezekiel addressed her. She also noticed Sebastian tighten his hug around her and assumed he understood the connotation behind that royal title. And that title came from Madame Freya.

Ezekiel smiled and casually replied, “Yeah! Queen because Izzy is Seb’s mate, and he is our leader. And she is part dragon. That’s what Freya said.” Ezekiel said this so as a matter of fact that it sounded like part of common knowledge.

“Well, I don’t mind Miss Izzy being my queen. Not at all.” Joshua grinned and winked at Izzy.

Sebastian let out a low growl after seeing Joshua wink at his mate, but figured the big guy would not take it personally.

Gabriel hummed, “Hmm. It has a nice ring to it. Queen Izadora. Just like in the history books. I’m down with that!” He gave his thumbs-up approval.

Izzy and Sebastian looked at each other and he mind-linked her,

‘Did Freya tell you about your name and past life?’

Izzy heard Sebastian and glimpsed the other men seated at the table and big Joshua standing close to the air fryer.

She was unsure if she was mind-linking him, so she responded via thought instead, ‘Yes, she did. I’m still processing what she said. It scares me, My Love—’ She stopped herself, bit her lower lip, realizing she just called Sebastian the same pet name he calls her in her thoughts.

Izzy glanced up and saw the most charming smile from her handsome mate. A spark flashed in his dark emerald eyes. She watched him lean forward and capture her lips in his, not caring that the other reapers were in the same room. While the kiss slowly burned between them, Izzy caught another mind link comment from Sebastian.

‘My Izadora… You have made my heart surge in happiness when you called me My Love just as I call you. I love you so much, My Love!’

Izzy instantaneously thought her response, ‘I love you, too, My Love!’ She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips harder on his hungry ones. Izzy knew she had deep feelings for her mate; she hoped it was genuine love.

“Oh, for crying out loud! Not in here! Get a room!” Gabriel frowned while shaking his head after glimpsing the intimate couple.

Izzy and Sebastian chuckled against each other’s lips and admitted they almost forgot there were other people in the kitchen. So, they pulled away after Izzy received one more peck on the lips from Sebastian.

“If you guys do that again when the fried chicken is cooked, I might hurl.” Gabriel declared, which caused laughter amongst them.

Another few minutes and the chicken was ready. It was 3:15 AM and everyone in the house enjoyed Sebastian’s famous fried chicken.

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TO BE CONTINUED. THANK YOU FOR READING!