The Hybrid Mate

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Geez, Izzy!" Ezekiel grinned. "Sebastian is so lucky to have you because that's one hell of a meal!" He reached out to scrape the serving dish of its juices with his finger.

"Hey! That's gross! Use a spoon or something, not your finger!" Gabriel admonished as he slapped Ezekiel's hand away.

"If my finger is so bad, what do you call that?" Ezekiel pointed toward Joshua.

Everyone turned and saw Joshua had picked up the serving dish and was now licking it clean with his mouth and tongue.

"Ayayay!" Gabriel slapped his forehead lightly. "You might not have the body and legs of a horse, Joshua, but you eat like one!" He shook his head in disapproval.

This brought laughter across the table.

As Izzy looked around the table, she smiled gently. Even though Izzy's life turned upside down in one day, she knew her captors had now become friends. They were actually her saviors from the no-conscience reapers that most likely would have surrendered her straight to the council.

"So, since everyone is satisfied," Sebastian started, "let Izzy retire to bed, and you guys can clean up the dishes." He stood and held his hand out for Izzy to take, which she took naturally, and got up.

"Yes, Boss." Joshua was the first one up and collected the empty dishes.

Ezekiel leaned back against his chair, rubbing his stomach and said, "Seb, is it OK if Izzy gets to cook every night? That grilled steak she made was awesome!"

"No," Sebastian replied curtly.

"Why not? She's a superb cook. Even those side dishes... ooh, I could have some more." Gabriel supported Ezekiel's suggestion.

Sebastian turned and glared at the two men. Izzy could tell Ezekiel and Gabriel feared him somewhat as they both looked pale when Sebastian gazed at them. As much joking around happened among them, it was clear to see that Sebastian was the leader of this reaper team and his word was the law.

"OK... OK. Cool your jets." Ezekiel waved in surrender. "Gabriel, you still owe us your night to cook." He glanced over at the scowling demon.

Izzy didn't know or hear what happened next as Sebastian held her hand and led her up the stairs. She liked the warmth of Sebastian's hand, enveloping her small one with fingers intertwined. Sebastian brought her to a room at the end of the hallway and opened the door and waved for her to go in first.

It was a large room with a king-sized bed in the middle. The pulled drapes blocked the outside from seeing in, especially with all the lights on.

"Your backpack and two suitcases of clothes and shoes are in that wardrobe over there," Sebastian said, pointing to an open door to the right.

"I have suitcases of my clothes? How?" Izzy only had her backpack with her when she was taken. If her parents were made to think she was taken into custody, who gathered her clothes?

"Joshua and I came back to your room without your parents knowing and got some clothes for you," Sebastian answered and smiled slightly, recalling how he enjoyed seeing Izadora's life as a human in her bedroom.

"Where does that lead to?" Izzy pointed to a closed-door to the left.

Sebastian smirked and answered, "That's my wardrobe."

"Oh." Izzy blinked, suddenly feeling anxious. Is he sleeping in here? Are we sleeping together already? I get it I'm his mate but...

"Don't worry, Izadora," Sebastian chuckled, "I'm not sleeping in here tonight. But this is your room now, too, so make yourself comfortable. Get some rest, so you are ready for training tomorrow." He turned to leave, but Izzy stopped him short by calling out.

"What training?" She didn't realize, even as a fugitive, she still had school.

Sebastian walked back in and stood in front of Izzy, towering over her.

"Besides learning how to manage the mind link, you need to relearn or reignite your powers. This is for your safety if trouble seeks you out." His voice was deep and warm.

"You are so tall," Izzy blurted out as she strained to look up at Sebastian.

Sebastian chuckled and shook his head, thinking she was too adorable. Not only was Izadora a beauty with her amber eyes and blue-black long hair, but she was also irritatingly cute when she gazed at him with either a curious expression or a pout like earlier. He didn't know if it was the demon or dragon in him that got provoked, but Izadora's eyes on him now just set him ablaze. Forget sleeping in another room then...

And without warning, Sebastian wrapped his arms around her and leaned forward, crashing his lips into hers. One hand held her tight around her waist, and the other grasped her head, keeping her from pulling away.

Izzy was in total shock when she felt this man's lips on hers, but she could feel the passion and the need as his lips pressed on hers. Then she felt his tongue, forcing her lips to part, which she yielded. Feeling Sebastian's hunger ignited the unfamiliar stirring within her, and she instinctively reached up and ran her fingers through his thick jet-black hair. Izzy didn't think she should do what she's doing now, but something inside her... it emitted a low growl... a growl filled with hunger... hunger for her mate.

Sensing Izzy's hands grasping his hair and her body responding with equal fervor, Sebastian reached with both hands and cupped Izzy's buttocks, lifting her up as she straddled his waist. He carried her toward the bed, not breaking their kiss. Sebastian laid Izzy down gently while continuing to lock lips. When he pressed his weight into her in the bed, a moan escaped Izzy's lips against his hungry mouth. This inflamed Sebastian's passionate need for her that he released her lips and started kissing her jaw and down her neck, while his hands gripped her buttock on one and slid up and down her side in the other.

Izzy was losing all sense of rational thought as she craved Sebastian's fiery kisses. She knew heat marks burned every part where his lips kissed her and where his hands explored her body. Then she noticed Sebastian's probing hand reach underneath her T-shirt and crept up to her breast. The heat all over her body was becoming unbearable, and it roared hotter when she felt Sebastian's hand sneak under her bra and grasp her breast. Izzy could not stifle the pleasurable moan as the warmth of this man's hand caressed her skin. Sebastian pressing his lips on hers again only somewhat stifled Izzy’s moan, while their tongues fought to fuse into one.

Suddenly, the unbearable heat she felt had increased almost a thousand-fold and her eyes burned. Izzy whimpered at first against Sebastian's hungry lips, but the blaze was burning her inside... She had subconsciously pushed Sebastian away, breaking their kiss, and she fought to catch her breath.

"Izadora?" Izzy could hear Sebastian's voice, but she could not see him.

She panicked, "Sebastian? Sebastian! I can't see! Help me!"

"Izadora... listen to me," Sebastian's deep voice was calming and soothing, "Breathe, Izadora... slow deep breaths... yes, just like that. Breathe slowly."

As Izzy followed Sebastian's directions, she cooled down and also could see clearly again. And as soon as she gazed upon Sebastian's handsome face, Izzy ducked her head and hugged him, pressing her head against his hard chest.

Sebastian held her tightly and kissed the crown of her head as he heard her cry.

"Why are you crying?" Sebastian forced Izzy to look at him, then he wiped her tears with his thumbs.

"Because I screwed up and ruined everything." Izzy ducked her head again, preferring to rest against this man's chest.

Sebastian chuckled and whispered, "You screwed nothing up. We didn't get to that part yet..."

"Hey!" Izzy slapped Sebastian on his chest, which didn't hurt him, of course, as he didn't even flinch. She knew what he meant, and she blushed at the thought.

Sebastian continued to chuckle and loved teasing his beautiful mate. But then said in a more serious tone, "What you just experienced is normal for a hybrid dragon-demon-human, Izadora. You are still a virgin and..." He trailed off as he noticed Izzy shift to gaze up at him.

As he watched her blink at him, waiting for him to continue, Sebastian caressed her cheek, wiping the tracks of her tears and said, "You have suppressed your powers for so long, Izadora. You don't know how to control them. And making love, in your case, will ignite and wake your dragon... and as a virgin, it takes more energy to control the fire within you. It won't harm you when intensified, but as you have experienced, it can temporarily incapacitate you."

"Blind," Izzy said under her breath.

"Yes." Sebastian kissed her forehead and pulled her in for a tighter embrace. And then added, "Let's just sleep now, OK. Tomorrow, you will practice honing your powers." He then closed his eyes.

"Sebastian?" Izzy whispered.

"Hmm?" Sebastian sounded calm, but he was actually working on cooling himself down as their love-making got interrupted. It didn't help that he still felt rigid because Izadora was in his arms.

"You don't think I'm easy, do you?" Izzy felt him shift beside her, and as she looked up, she saw the confused expression on his face. So, she explained, "I mean, do you think I'm easy because we just met and I did those things... with you..." She blushed, recalling their passionate embrace and kisses.

Sebastian roared in laughter, which Izzy loved hearing, but also felt hurt by it. She didn't like being laughed at. "Don't laugh at me." She pouted.

"Oh, no, Izadora." Sebastian eased his laughter and grabbed her chin, lifting it up as he leaned in to kiss her gently. Then upon release, he said, "I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing because I love how adorable you are. And no, I do not think you are easy by any means. It is my fault I started it... maybe I just didn't want sleeping by myself, knowing my mate is right next door. And your actions are in response to mine, and probably because you know instinctively that you are my mate, and I am yours. We are each other's half and both of us together make a whole."

"Sebastian, you promised me you'd tell me what kind of hybrid are you. Will you tell me now?" Izzy asked cautiously.

"We just talked about being each other's mate. Couldn't you guess?" Sebastian smiled at his hybrid woman.

"You're like me?" Izzy looked stunned.

"Why do you think we are mates, Izadora? And yes, I'm human, dragon, demon, just like you... but I am also part warlock..." Sebastian watched Izzy for her reaction to his heritage.

Izzy nodded as Sebastian recited the species combination that sounded exactly like hers. But then... she heard the last part...

"Warlock?" Izzy echoed with eyes wide in awe. "Is that why the other guys fear you?"

Sebastian raised his eyebrows at Izzy's question. This was the first time he had heard his team members fearing him.

"What makes you say that? I don't think they fear me. They just respect me as their leader in the Alpha Team." He furrowed his brows at the thought.

Izzy shrugged. "It just seemed that way when you didn't say a word and just looked at them after you said 'no' to me cooking every night as they suggested. I'm OK cooking for you guys every night, by the way, if you want me to."

Sebastian shifted to turn and face Izzy directly. "Let's get something clear. I'm the leader of the Alpha Reapers, so I expect and deserve respect from my team members. If it included fear, then so be it. I'm just me, Sebastian Stroud, doing my duty. And regarding you," He paused, then caressed Izzy's cheek and kissed her tenderly, "As your mate, I am sworn to love you and protect you for eternity. And I don't want them pushing you around. You don't know it yet, Izadora, but you are powerful. And the power of a hybrid scares a half-breed and even the purebred."

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