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  “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me why I’m here, will you?” She gave him a sidelong glance. “No, of course not. Never mind.” The Acolyte probably considered fetching a half-breed mage below him. His face certainly indicated as much.

  The silence of the halls wrapped around them as they walked to the main chamber. Isobel was unsurprised to find James Sterling waiting for her when they arrived.

  The sight of her parents however, gave her pause. The expression on their faces was grim and resigned. They were in deep conversation with one of the members of the High Council. Whatever they were discussing was obviously causing them distress. Izzy guessed that she was the topic of conversation.

  She did not have to wait long to have her suspicion confirmed.

  “Isobel Marlin, you will present yourself to the High Council for testing. Immediately.” The councilor was grim. Obviously he was not impressed with the situation he found himself mediating.

  “I have been dosed with pixie dust, councilor. The only test I would be able to take is the balance stone.” Her voice was bland, as she met his implacable gaze.

  “Ah, yes. I was informed of that. Warlock Sterling was overzealous in his attempt to bring you in at the council’s command. The balance stone will be fine.” He made a smooth gesture with one hand and another acolyte appeared with a chest of a deep purple wood. He opened it to expose the small gray rock that had been polished by centuries of contact with palms.

  “Please take the stone in your right hand.” He waited for her to comply. “Now place your left over it. Holy Stars!”

  She had prudently averted her gaze in preparation for the flash of blinding light, flaring from between her hands. As such, she and her parents who had also looked away were the only ones who retained their vision.

  “Let it go! Drop it!” The councilor was covering his eyes after the initial shock of the stone’s violent response had worn off.

  “As you wish.” She let the stone clatter to the floor, and the instant that it left her hands it lost its luminescence.

  Izzy did not move from her assigned spot in the council chamber. She waited patiently for the vision of the others in the room to recover. As she met her parent’s mournful gaze, she mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

  They responded with a silent, “It’s ok.”

  A few minutes later when the persons in the chamber had successfully regained their vision, Izzy was once again on the spot.

  “Very impressive Ms. Marlin. How long have you known about your unusual power level?” A council officer was recording the whole interview for the archive. His eyes were blinking furiously to clear out the spots that were still swimming in his vision as his pen scribbled away.

  “Since I was about ten, or so. The signs were fairly obvious.” She settled onto the comfortable heels she had worn to work that morning. The council was not known for its’ hurry to resolve matters.

  “Why did your parents not bring you in for assessment and training?”

  “My father had been disowned by his family and my mother has no status with the High Council. Being a hedge witch and all. They thought it best if I learned at my own pace, away from the stresses of council politics.” Being braced for the inquisition by Hookey’s announcement had been a blessing. “I agreed to learn as much as I could from the grimoires I was able to lay hands on. As far as I knew, every mage could do the same.”

  “What led you to believe that?”

  “Since the council did not have any contact with me, my only barometer for power was my parents. My father is a talented magus, my mother a very competent hedge witch. I felt my power was within normal ranges for being born into this family.” Izzy was still calm, but being in her dress shoes and standing in one place was starting to pinch her toes.

  “The power level you just demonstrated has elevated your father’s clan by several levels. His family owes a debt of honor to another clan. Are you aware of it?”

  “Yeah, when my dad ran off to marry my mom he was engaged to marry a woman from another family. It was an arranged marriage and dad decided to follow his heart. That was when his family disowned him.”

  “Well, due to your obvious inheritance of his family’s magic, they have reconsidered. His status as a member of the magus clan of the Marlin family has been re-instated. Your mother has been granted the title of Lady of the family.”

  “Umm…that’s great. So, what does that have to do with me?”

  Several scowling faces swiveled to glare in her direction. Elders of many clans and representatives from all of the major councils were in attendance. The fey reps were amused, the dragons were stone faced, the werewolves were indifferent to the proceedings, and the magus and witch representatives were the ones who were less than amused by her attitude.

  “As the obligation was never met, you will now have to carry out the contract between your families.”

  “Which family?” She was immediately suspicious. Her head swiveled to locate the figure of James Sterling out of the corner of her eye.

  “The Sterling family of course.” This was the first hint of malice in the councilor’s voice as if he knew something unpleasant.

  “Is the Sterling family ready to fling one of their own on a half-breed?” Izzy’s true nature began to show itself. She was angry, embarrassed and her grand little plan had been nipped in the bud. She wanted to bring him to herself by choice, not by obligation.

  James walked calmly forward and eyed her form carefully.

  “Well, of course we will be willing to honor the contract. But I am afraid that marriage is out of the question for now. We will be hand fasted and see how things go.” His voice dripped with disdain and a certain unwholesome anticipation. His eyes however, were clear with amusement. He was putting on a show for the council.

  The smarmy councilor smirked at her. “The council accepts your offer. You will have one year to assess your compatibility. Your custody of her begins now.”

  Izzy was stunned. “Custody…what the hell?” James shot his hand out and wrapped it around hers. A scarlet ribbon was wrapped around their hands and the councilor who was co-coordinating the whole event began to chant a binding spell over them.

  Although she was temporarily powerless, Isobel recognized the spell. It locked her magic to James’ and barred her from doing harm to him with spells or hexes. She was about to shriek her denial as the flash of power washed over her and the ribbon absorbed into her hand.

  “You are mine for the next year, Isobel.” His eyes gave her promises that she could not decipher. This was definitely not the way he looked at her when she was giving him a progress report on his computer system.

  “Not if I can help it.” Izzy gave him her most defiant glare.

  “You won’t be able to do much until the pixie dust wears off.” He gave her a smirk that made her want to smack him right across the face. But that would wait until later.

  He turned to face the council, several members of whom were leering at her. “If there are no other questions she needs to answer, we will take our leave of you now.”

  A dragon councilor roared his objection. “One question!” A furious Rikard began to stride across the room. “Where the hell is she?”

  Rikard approached Izzy at a full run and flung her against the wall, then repeated his demand. “Where the hell is she?”

  “Do not dare to touch her again.” Light flared from James’ hand and it locked Rikard in place, rooting his feet to the floor. He had begun to lean over Isobel as he reached for her arm to haul her to her feet, he froze in place, fury darkening his eyes.

  James flicked his wrist, sending Rikard flying into the Dragon contingent of the council. They caught him handily and kept him from charging again.

  “Keep him under control. We’re leaving.” James was as furious as Rikard had been a few moments earlier. He gently lifted Isobel off her feet and transported them out of the council room.

  Chapter Three

  He took advantage
of her disorientation to put her to sleep with a small spell. Gently laying his new prize in his bed, James pondered what he had gotten himself into. Sure, he had to uphold the demands of his family obligation, but to take Izzy by force was never what he had planned. He had had dinner with her scheduled for the last three weeks. He was only waiting for her contract to be up.

  Dating an employee, even a contract employee, was not something he engaged in. He had been waiting impatiently for her to be available to him, and the discovery that she was a half-mage was astonishing. Her power level was surprising, but not unexpected. She was an extraordinary woman. He was not surprised that she would have extraordinary magical talents.

  Slowly and carefully, he drew off her clothing. Her pale skin was made paler by the angry marks from her impact with the wall. He folded the clothing and put it aside, then viewed his prize in all her naked glory.

  He let out a long, low whistle. Clothed, she had all the appeal of an angry school teacher, yet still he had not been able to keep her off his mind. Her feisty refusal to back down had caught his interest initially and her ability to foresee problems before they came up had kept her on his radar. The more they met for business, the more he had looked forward to the next meeting. He occasionally called meetings with her team, just to listen to her chew them out.

  Her body was understated, but fantastic. Silken ivory shoulders led to breasts that astonished him, even with her on her back. He leaned in and lightly cupped one in his hand, feeling the weight and the soft warmth of her skin. He absently stroked her nipple as his gaze trailed to her narrow waist and the curved flare of her hips.

  Izzy’s legs were fantastic. The skin of her lushly curved thighs was creamy and softer than the silken underwear he had put aside. Her calves and ankles were so delicately assembled that he was amazed she wasn’t a dancer instead of a technician, they should have been displayed at all times. He pictured them draped over his shoulders as he drove himself between her thighs and groaned as his cock began to swell in his trousers. Slowly, he released her breast, and he winced at the pressure at his zipper as he felt the swollen nipple against his fingers. Gods, she was soft.

  She stirred with a groan, her arms twisting in discomfort. The sounds that she was making brought him back to the incident of her being slammed against the wall. He looked more closely at her left arm and noted a swelling in the bruise. James carefully closed his fingers over her arm and winced when he felt the break.

  She needed medical help. Right away. He suddenly had an idea, renewed the sleep spell, and transported away from his home.

  * * * *

  Izzy woke to a pounding headache, she could feel magic all around her, but could not channel it. She tried to sit up and was stopped by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “Down, Junior. Just lie still while I finish what I started.” Her mother held her firmly as she finished pouring energy into her daughter. The bones that had been broken were knit, and the bruises that had formed under her skin faded to nothing.

  “Mom? What are you doing here? And where the hell is here by the way?” She kept still, but couldn’t keep her questions from spilling out.

  “You are in my home. I brought your mother in to heal you. You were a little battered after being tossed around like that.” James was supervising from the other side of the bed, not letting Izzy’s mom be alone with her.

  “Oh, right. Rikard. Has he found George yet?” Izzy was feeling exceptionally chatty, and knew that it was her mom’s magic. It had always had that effect on her. Her mom had always used her powers to heal and draw the truth out of her daughter.

  “No, Sweetie, not yet. But he’s really looking.” Her mom had this amused smile on her face that calmed Izzy immediately. “Alright. I’m done.” She withdrew her hands and looked expectantly at James.

  “May I have a word with my daughter in private?”

  “No.”

  Isobel Marlin sighed. This was about what she expected.

  “Alright, but I’m going to come back in a week to check on her,” her mom declared. “Call me if she needs anything.”

  With a final brush of soft fingers across her daughter’s forehead, Isobel Marlin Senior disappeared.

  “Wait, why did she have to go?” Izzy sat up and glared at James, completely unaware that she was nude.

  “Because, I don’t want her here right now.” He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled down at her. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine. But what was she doing? I don’t remember anything…” She trailed off and then, remembered the dragon and being launched into the wall. But that would not explain the sore pulse in her shoulder. “What happened to my shoulder? It didn’t hurt before.”

  “Ah, that.” He sat next to her on the bed and his large hand lightly drew an intricate design on her shoulder. She shivered under his touch. “You are now wearing a tattoo of the Sterling family. It is a glyph for protection and to keep you from harm.”

  She reached over her shoulder, trying to touch the sore and delicately throbbing skin that he had just been rubbing his fingers against. “You marked me? Like a brand? Like an animal?” She found the lightly raised flesh and winced at the soreness. She could also feel magic within, but still out of her reach, dammit.

  “No, no. Nothing like that. The marks are for your own protection. Some members of my clan were not exactly thrilled to have a half-breed join us. This will provide shielding for you and an alarm system should one of them attack.” His large, warm, hand was slowly caressing circles on her back. She shivered again, then looked down.

  “Hey! I’m naked, you jerk!” She immediately scrambled out of his reach, and was frantically tugging at the blanket on top of the bed. It wouldn’t budge. Well, at least not with his weight on it. She finally gave up and scrambled under the covers, tucking them up to her chin.

  He had been watching the motion of her breasts as she tugged on the bedding, and the pressure behind his zipper was threatening to burst it wide open.

  “Your clothing had to be removed to ascertain the seriousness of your injuries. And because we are now hand fasted for one year. According to Realm tradition, you have until the waning of the full moon to come to me to consummate the union. After that, I will come to you.”

  She had a suspicious look on her face, “How long until the waning of the moon?”

  His eyes lighting with anticipation and the smile on her face confirmed her suspicions. “About four hours. Then you’re mine.”

  “Like hell.” She scooted up in the bed, and kept the covers to her chin, “This isn’t your company, and you can’t just do something like that. It’s unethical.”

  The shadow of anger flew across his features as her words struck him. “It may be unethical, but for mages it is quite natural. Either you come to me, or I will come to you. And you will welcome me.”

  “I don’t think so.” She crossed her arms over her breasts and hugged herself.

  Suddenly, he leaned toward her and caught her mouth with his own. Without warning, his tongue swept inside to take possession. She moaned as heat flared within her, and her eyes widened as she felt the stirring of magic within her. His magic was pouring into her through his mouth and her body was coming alive.

  She moaned and was clutching at his shoulders when he pulled back, smiled again, and left the room.

  In stunned horror at the violent response of her body and the slick wetness she could feel at the top of her thighs, only one thing came to mind. “Oh, shit.”

  Chapter Four

  Izzy paced for hours, waiting for the simmering in her blood to stop. But with every passing minute, it seemed to grow worse. Her thighs slid against each other with every step, and the sheet that she had wrapped around her was chafing her breasts with every step. Every minute passed with her pulse pounding harder in her veins. She finally sat with her thighs pressed tightly together and her hands wound into her hair.

  This was ridiculous. She wanted him, and by the feel
of his erection against her thigh when they kissed, he wanted her.

  Taking a deep shuddering breath, she padded out of the room, on silent bare feet. The hall was dim, she could hear no noise in the house, but still, she could feel him.

  The only noise of her passage was the dragging of the sheets across the floor. It was a light whisper and one that he shouldn’t have been able to hear over the crackle of the fire. But, she saw his head tilt toward her as she walked into the den.

  The furnishings were black leather. Goosebumps raised on her skin at the thought of being taken on the smooth finish of the couch. She quickly blanked her mind and slowly entered his field of vision.

  Silence.

  Then he broke it with, “So, you decided to come to me. Wise choice. So what are you waiting for?”

  James was ensconced within the embrace of a black leather recliner and showed no interest in getting up to assist her.

  “So, you just want me to jump you? To get it over with?” She was nervous. Seduction was not her element. She had been willing to make her move on him earlier, but that was before he had found out that she was his equal. Now that the Half-blood club was out in the open, it was all too real. Seducing your boss was so much easier in theory.

  “Whatever you wish. But I will have my turn, later.” “Ok, how should I start?”

  “Dropping that sheet might be helpful.”

  “Oh, right.” She tugged at the smooth cotton fabric and in a moment, it had whispered into a puddle at her feet.

  “What now?” She was nervous, but starting to relax. He was not going to jump her and force her. But she would let him direct her.

  “Now, come closer.” The recliner was still upright, and his knees were apart. She had an idea where this was going.

  She stood between his spread knees and noted the swelling behind his zipper. “What next?”

  “Can’t you guess? I want you to take my cock out and put it in your mouth and suck on it until I’m ready to come. Then stop and wait for further directions.” His eyes closed and he leaned back in the chair.