Xander (A Dark Assassins Novel Book Three)

by Valerie Ullmer

  “Do you want me naked?” Ax asked her. “I’m willing to do this, for you.”

  Frost wiggled her eyebrows and Ax smiled, a knowing smile that relayed hope that she would say yes. “No, I’m good, big man. I’ve seen it before.”

  Silas laughed aloud and everyone turned to him. Then laughter filled the room as they fell in love with Silas’s light sound.

  But when Ghost came back in, they all sobered. “The contract didn’t come through normal channels, so I guess that Anzû wanted to test us and see how prepared we were. He faked the location and target. From now on, the contracts will be scrutinized and rechecked by me. Anzû and Nightfall have been put on a watchlist and he’ll never work as a contractor again.”

  There wasn’t anything really left to do, not until they could fill Kai and the rest of the vampires in on their plan.

  Hungry.

  “Can I feed him and then take him for a walk around outside? It’s a nice day and I want to spend time with my favorite little man.”

  Xander glanced at his mate and smiled at Jade, nodding his thanks. Then he turned his gaze to his mate. He had been missing her over the past month. Although he agreed with Liv when she had recommended that Frost take a break before they made love again, it had driven him crazy now that he abided by her suggestion. He had kissed her and touched her, but refrained from making love to her.

  But it had been worse for Frost during the time they abstained. Her hormones went haywire after the birth, and more than once, she had almost talked him into making love to her. When that didn’t work, she had gone for the all-out seduction. That had been the hardest experience of his life, resisting his mate, the one who called to him in every way. She hadn’t tried again when she realized how serious he was as he conveyed his worry about her health, but he would pull her close every night and tell her how much he loved her. That seemed to satisfy her, for a bit. But today she was given the all clear.

  Frost caught his eye and tilted her head up the stairs. Xander gasped when an image flashed of him pinning her to the door with his body as he drove into her, a pure look of ecstasy of her face.

  Xander reached for Frost’s hand and they darted upstairs, closing and locking the bedroom door behind them. He blew out a breath when they hadn’t run into anyone in the hallway. There was always someone roaming about.

  “It’s been too long.”

  “I know, sweetheart, and I’m sorry.”

  She jumped in his arms and their lips met in a scorching kiss. Her hands ripped his shirt so that she could get to his skin. “I’ve missed this.”

  His hands traveled over her as they made their way to the bed. “Are you truly ready to make love?”

  When she growled and pressed her lips to his neck and sucked, he tilted his head back and moaned at the sensations she drew from him.

  “Fuck, sweetheart, I need you.”

  “Finally.”

  As he went to lay her on the bed, she managed to flip them until his back was pressed against the mattress. Without missing a beat, she latched onto his nipple and sucked, darting her tongue against the sensitive flesh and he growled at the sensations that went straight to his cock. She reached for his belt and loosened it, before snapping open the button of his jeans, and then placed her mouth on his stomach and pressed down, her tongue tracing around his navel. She drew his jeans and boxer briefs down, and licked and nipped at his hipbones, not leaving any inch of his skin untouched.

  Soon, she reached for the base of his pulsing, swollen cock and swirled her tongue around the head, drawing curses and moans buried deep in his chest. He moaned her name in such a ragged and torn way that he scented her rush of arousal immediately. Instead of climbing on top of him and taking her pleasure, she swallowed his cock and listened to his breathing stutter out of his chest. His spine tingled with unspeakable pleasure, and he knew that he needed to be inside her or all of this would be over before it began.

  Before he could speak or move, she reached up to cup his balls and he wasn’t prepared for the stroke of pleasure that licked up his spine.

  “Fuck, sweetheart, I need to be inside you.”

  He flipped her onto her back with the utmost care, before he kissed his way down her breasts, savoring the taste of her swollen nipples. He kissed down her stomach, nipping at her hipbones, before he finished with kissing the top of her mound. He listened to her heavy breathing and without hesitation, licked a swath from her entrance to her clit, wrapping his tongue around her sensitized bundle of nerves. He sucked it into his mouth as he inserted one finger inside her. Both of the overwhelming sensations had her coming over his finger and down his hand.

  He surged back onto the bed and kissed her, both losing themselves in the sensations.

  Please, Xander. Fuck me. I can’t wait any longer.

  Xander, with more care than necessary, going by Frost’s warning growl, slid inside her and once their hips were pressed together, they both let out a sigh of pleasure. Xander pulled back and thrust in, losing himself in her scent and the sensation of loving her, his mate. He drove hard as she encouraged him with her moans and pleas, both through their mind link and aloud. Soon, they both released and for a moment, everything fell away until it was just them, loving in the most elemental way.

  When he caught his breath, he rolled to his side and pulled her close, and when he glanced at her, he noticed that her eyes had changed, again.

  “Your eyes…they’re aqua.”

  Frost laughed. “Each time we make love, it seems as though we discover something new. I couldn’t be happier.”

  Xander relaxed back and reached to open his bedside drawer, pulling out a black box.

  “I know this isn’t traditional, and that’s something that suits us to a T, but will you marry me?”

  He opened the box, revealing a band. The smaller diamonds circling both edges were accentuated by the brilliant blue-green stones that wrapped around the entire band.

  “Yes, Xander. I would love to marry you. But let’s have a quick, small ceremony. I only care that I’m your wife.”

  Xander kissed her. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

  Over the next few hours, they made love and talked about their future. Even though they had never been so happy, there was a small niggle, knowing who was coming for them and their family. Whatever happened, Xander knew that they would get through it, together.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Frost

  Over the past few weeks, Silas had been working on turning off other’s thoughts whenever he wanted to. At just three months, Silas had explained that voices seemed to push their way into his brain without having a filter or a way to block them. They could have been miles away and all he could hear were voices and thoughts, and he needed to control what he let filter through. Xander had been helping him, and this morning Silas announced that he was able to successfully stop the thoughts and voices completely. Unless someone spoke to him through their mind link specifically.

  Because they learned that Silas could hear thoughts over a great distance, and now block them, he wondered whether Silas could drop the shield he learned to use to block other’s thoughts and voices and project those voices into someone’s head. Xander explained it as an overwhelming force of thought that would paralyze another’s mind because they wouldn’t be able to block the thoughts from their own mind. Silas had just finished learning how to shield himself and Frost wanted him to take a break, but he insisted that he could do it. He’d been partly successful and told them that he didn’t like it, forcing thoughts into another’s head, and she had put a stop to any training.

  Silas was a happy baby, laughing and loving everyone in his family. He sensed emotions, and after a mission, he would push happiness and contentment into which ever assassin had come back from assignment. It would be subtle and non-evasive, but soon, happiness spread throughout the house and Silas would smile at everyone as he joined in.

  A week after Xander had proposed, they were marrie
d in a small ceremony in their living room. They had been married by the same ordained minister who had married Kai and Liv and Seth and Aubrey. He had a warm, friendly face and although she had been nervous during the ceremony, hearing the minister’s soothing voice and holding Silas close calmed her a great deal. Xander held his arm around her waist during the ceremony and smiled at her, but she had blanked most of it out when she met Xander’s gaze. She allowed herself to be lost in his light-blue eyes.

  After, they had a celebration and Silas loved it when Xander danced with both of them most of the night, happiness radiating off him in waves. The day had been perfect.

  Silas had woken a few minutes before and she fed him, but soon he asked her if he could sit with Jade, Ax, and Hunter. Before long, the three assassins had shifted and were rolling around the carpet, nuzzling Silas and loving it when he laughed aloud.

  Xander wrapped her in his arms, setting his head on her shoulder as they watched their son. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Nothing much. I’m happy with my family and my mate. Enjoying the fact that Silas will grow up like a somewhat normal baby and we’ll get to have a lot of time with him.”

  “You’re not worried anymore?”

  She shrugged. “We can prepare and train as much as we want, but we don’t know when that asshole will strike, and I’d rather not worry about what might happen and just deal with it when it does.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of. Him taking Silas.”

  She turned around and pinned Xander with her gaze. “If he comes anywhere near Silas, I will rip him limb from limb until there is nothing identifiable left.”

  Xander cursed under his breath as his eyes widened. “I wouldn’t fuck with you. But sweetheart, your eyes are glowing, flashing between blue and green.”

  Silas fussed as he sat near the other shifters. Frost scooped him up and made herself calm down as she hugged her son.

  Why are you mad, Mommy?

  “Daddy and I will never let anyone hurt you. I was just thinking about what we would have to do to keep you safe.”

  I know. But Mommy, I can protect myself.

  “What do you mean, baby?”

  Silas closed his eyes and scrunched up his face, and within seconds, she held a little snow leopard cub in her arms. He was pure white and when he looked up at her, his unique eyes twinkling at her, she pressed her forehead to his and smiled. “My little man is brilliant.”

  He rubbed his head underneath her chin and she laughed.

  “Oh, come on. It’s only me who takes a half a decade to shift?” Ara growled and Silas chuffed.

  Frost sensed that Silas wanted a chance to roam around the house now that he wasn’t restricted by his human baby body, and set him down. With sure movements, he joined the others. Xander shifted without a thought and tickled Silas with his nose. When Xander dropped onto his back, Silas climbed all over him, happy that he was able to play. And Frost was ecstatic for her son. She wasn’t really surprised Silas could do it; he was a determined little immortal.

  Liv sat down beside Frost, and soon Jade, still in her red fox form, crawled onto Frost’s lap and settled down. Frost smiled when she realized how far they came since the first time she growled and threatened Jade. They all had, and just like Xander, she thought of everyone as her family.

  “What’s it like, being a mom?” Liv asked.

  “It’s exactly how you feel about everyone in this room. You feel proud that they are capable and strong, that they are happy and know that they can come to you anytime, just to talk or ask for advice. But you worry about them and pray for them to be safe, healthy, and happy. You don’t want them to grow up and not need you anymore, but know that it’s a part of life.”

  I wouldn’t mind finding a mate, but I’m not holding my breath. Jade sounded a little sad, not that she would ever admit it.

  “You, my favorite redhead, will find someone when you least expect it.”

  They watched Silas lope around, easily finding his balance as if it were second nature, as he rounded Xander before he leapt on him. Frost smiled at Silas whenever he glanced over at her, but before long, Silas slowly walked over to her and she picked him up. Jade got up and said that she was going to change.

  Mommy, I’m tired.

  Frost nuzzled him close. As his eyes finally closed, he shifted back and she rushed him upstairs to dress before he became too cold. Once dressed, she put him to bed and waited for Xander to lock up the house, knowing that their little man would be out for the rest of the night. He didn’t dream or send out random thoughts as he slept.

  When Xander entered the room, she pulled him close and kissed him deeply. They didn’t need to speak. Xander understood exactly what she needed whenever she needed it, and she loved him for it. She navigated him toward the bed and pushed him onto his back. Over the next few minutes, she proceeded to worship his body, uncovering every inch before pressing her lips or running her hands over him, loving the sounds she drew from him.

  Every time they made love, it felt new and exciting. Still awed that she got to touch and love this man made her movements desperate as she kissed down his naked chest. She sucked on his nipples and licked the ridges of his stomach, smiling into his skin when he moaned, which sent shafts of pleasure straight to her core.

  When she reached his hard, leaking cock, she swallowed all of him. Well, as much as she could take. She savored the salty taste and something she always identified as purely Xander.

  Bringing him to the brink of an orgasm, she pulled her mouth from him and squeezed the base of his cock to stave off his orgasm. She threw her leg over his thighs and crawled up a few inches before she sank down on his cock without hesitation. She threw back her head and moaned as he filled her.

  “Frost.” The way he said her name sent ripples of pleasure throughout her body.

  He gripped her hips and when she rose and lowered herself to take him deeper, he thrust his hips up, driving even deeper inside her. The feeling left her panting and begging for more.

  “I love you. You are my everything, Xander.”

  “Fuck…I love you, too, sweetheart. So much more than I’ll ever be able to express.”

  At his words, she threw back her head as she clamped down on his cock, feeling his hands tighten on her hips a split second before his cock flooded her with his hot release. She shivered from the sensations she would never grow tired of, and before long, she came down from her high and dropped onto Xander’s chest.

  “Too…tired…to move.”

  Xander reached for the comforter and pulled it over both of them, before he banded his arms around her and pulled her face into his neck. She fell asleep with the warmth and love coming from her mate and husband.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Xander

  Xander and Frost were out on their daily trek around the woods with Silas. Jade and Ax had decided to join them. Because their little man had been shifting, he needed to expend the energy that came along with shifting and growing stronger every day. So at night, after dinner, they had taken to exploring the mountain. He and his son were in their snow leopard forms.

  The summer had passed fairly quickly and their little cub was five months old. His shifts had become easier and it didn’t tire him out as much as the first one had. They worried when Silas slept through the night and most of the next day. But shifting took a lot of energy and they monitored him throughout the next day, and he soon recovered.

  Since the weather had settled from warm to cool evenings, they enjoyed their walks more and more. They couldn’t wait for him to see snow for the first time.

  Anzû had been silent since the call Ghost had received and as far as they could tell, stopped his push to take over Dark Company. Xander had hoped that he’d given up, but he knew better. The reason that their friends had joined them on their nightly ritual was because Ghost knew better as well.

  And the sick part, despite the looming threat, was Xander had never been happier in
his life.

  He walked closer to Frost and he loved how she ran her fingers through his fur as they both kept an eye on Silas. He understood why he had lived so many years alone. He had to wait for Frost to come into his life. He remembered the feeling of being alone. But every morning, he woke up next to his wife and mate, and with their son sleeping next to them, content and dreaming happy dreams, he knew he was the luckiest man. And with his extended family vowing to protect them, as he would protect them, he knew that they could handle whatever Anzû threw at them. But he wished he would hurry the fuck up with his plans.

  Xander laughed as Silas had a burst of energy and ran around the trees, darting in and out, before looping back to keep his parents in sight. He had developed speed in his leopard form, only with the occasional stumble. But as he grew more confident in his abilities, he shifted often. In his human form, he was stuck with someone holding him, and he liked that when he was tired or wanted to cuddle with Frost, but he couldn’t crawl at his young age and this way, he was free to run. Xander couldn’t fault him for that.

  Xander was alerted to the change in their environment when Silas stopped running. His ears perked up, and his furry head tilted a bit to the right, as if he were listening to someone speak.

  Two men are talking. Maybe more. No, wait. Not talking, thinking as they track something.

  Frost stood by Silas as Jade and Ax turned in the direction of where Silas had heard the intruders’ thoughts. Xander put himself in front of his family. They readied themselves for an attack whenever the men came into view.

  They’ve gone quiet. Their minds blanked.

  Silas jumped into Frost’s arms, but the moment she straightened, they all heard a low whistle of something they couldn’t identify, heading their way. With horror, Xander watched a dart pierce the soft skin of Frost’s neck. Her eyes widened and she put Silas underneath Xander before reaching for the dart and pulling it out. Her eyes drooped and she fell unconscious.