by Lynn Hagen
Ethan dropped onto Kivani, both hands on the hilt, trying to shove the blade into Kivani’s chest.
Fuck this. Kivani shifted into his wolf, snapping and snarling as Ethan fell to the floor, glaring up at Kivani.
“Your wolf doesn’t impress me.”
Kivani latched on to the arm with the knife and sank his canines into flesh. Ethan screamed, slamming his fist into Kivani’s side. He had a powerful punch. Kivani’s ribs hurt, but he refused to let go.
The knife fell to the floor.
The closet door swung open and Joelle screamed as he dove toward the floor and tried to get to the knife. Even with one arm locked in Kivani’s jaw, Ethan managed to kick Joelle in his side, sending him flying into the wall.
Red-hot rage filled Kivani. He released Ethan’s arm and went for his throat. Kivani used his weight to take Ethan down. He trapped his cousin under him, gave one low, deep growl, then tore this throat out.
When Kivani backed away, he saw Joelle lying there, staring wide-eyed. “Nice doggy?”
Kivani shifted. He stormed across the room and yanked Joelle into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Only for you, cupcake.”
Bayne stepped into the room and looked down at Ethan. “Declan and Raven took Jabriel for help.”
“It’s a silver knife,” Kivani said. “In his stomach.”
Bayne nodded. “We figured as much. Raven called Christian. He sent someone to help Jabriel.” He looked at Joelle. “You okay?”
“I think so,” Joelle said as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Henry and Ryan came out of the closet, looking around, and Henry looked wide-eyed at Ethan. Nyx stormed into the room, grabbed Henry, and hugged him so hard Henry turned slightly red.
“I can’t leave you alone for a second,” Nyx said.
“You’re gonna break my ribs,” Henry complained. “Enough with the bear hugs.”
Ryan moved around them. “I’m gonna go meet Devil in the garage. He’s called twice already.”
“I’ll take you down.” Bayne looked at Kivani. “I’ll be back to help you clean this mess up.”
Kivani took Joelle from the room. He didn’t want his mate looking at Ethan any longer than he had to. Until the room was scrubbed clean, Kivani would drag the mattress into the living room for them to sleep on.
Hell, he’d rent a hotel room for Joelle if his mate didn’t want to stay here. Kivani didn’t care where they slept, just as long as he had Joelle at his side.
Nyx took Henry from the apartment, one arm around Henry’s waist, the other hanging at his side. Kivani wasn’t sure how Nyx did it, but the bear shifter still went after Hunters on his list.
“I was watching from under the crack in the door.” Joelle shivered as he clung to Kivani. “When I saw him drop the knife, I had to do…something.”
Kivani pressed his hands against Joelle’s face. “If you ever put yourself in danger again, I’m spanking your ass.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Kivani growled. “I nearly had a fucking heart attack when you charged from that closet.” He gave Joelle a hard kiss. “Fighting is my job, not yours.”
Joelle narrowed his eyes. “I’m not a wimp.”
“Never said you were.” Kivani kissed him again. “But I can’t take a chance that something will happen to you.”
“I just saw that knife, and”—Joelle swallowed roughly—“I was the one who nearly had a heart attack.” He looked into Kivani’s eyes. “I love you and the thought of—”
This time Kivani kissed him with passion, coiling his arms around Joelle’s slim body. Those three words made his heart soar.
Joelle chuckled when Kivani pulled away. “Keep kissing me like that and I’ll have to strip naked.” He looked down at Kivani’s nude body. “You’ve already got a head start.”
“I need my bag in my car,” Kivani said with a wink. “After Bayne and I clean up, I’m taking you to a fancy hotel. We’ll fuck on a bed that feels like a cloud.”
Joelle laughed and the sound made Kivani’s insides melt. The fact his mate wasn’t freaking out over a dead body in his bedroom gave Kivani hope. He wouldn’t stop hunting. Kivani had taken this job to eradicate those who were out to harm his kind. He wasn’t a superhero, but he couldn’t stand by while Hunters tried to drive Kivani’s people to extinction.
But having Joelle at his back meant the world to Kivani. “I love you, too, boo.”
Joelle looked toward the bedroom door. “Call Bayne to get your clothes while he’s in the garage. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”
Kivani couldn’t agree more.
The following evening, Kivani stood outside Joelle’s apartment, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. His brethren were gathered around him, and they didn’t look pleased.
“You should have told us Ethan was family,” Declan snarled. “We would have helped take him down.”
“It’s not something I was proud of,” Kivani defended. “What would you have done if you found out your cousin was a Hunter?”
“Gutted the bastard,” Bayne snapped. The guy had a great sense of humor, but underneath his wittiness was a man who could kill without hesitation and who saw the world through jaded eyes.
Then again, Kivani could say that about all the Knights. Kivani had been a wolf without a pack…until now. He looked at the five men as his brothers, and he would lay down his life to protect them.
He just hoped they didn’t string him up for not telling them about Ethan.
“I might not be working for the Ultionem any longer, but we’re still a team,” Devil snapped. “You don’t keep shit like that from us.”
“Agreed.” Declan eyed the rest of the men. “Anyone else got any secrets they need to share?”
The men looked uneasy but shook their heads. Kivani was willing to bet they all had dark secrets they didn’t want coming to light.
He blew out a breath. “You guys gonna tell the Ultionem about this?” The last thing Kivani wanted to do was face the leaders. But he wasn’t one to run. If he was punished for not telling anyone about Ethan, so be it. The weight of keeping things hidden had lifted, and no matter what happened, Kivani felt better now that Ethan was dead.
“Seriously?” Raven looked incredulously at Kivani. “We don’t rat each other out. We keep this shit between us.”
Kivani nodded as he chewed his lower lip. “We still have to figure out how to take Kovachi down. He’s seven kinds of pissed his cousin was killed, and he knows we did it.”
Nyx snorted. “Ironic, huh? You both had issues with cousins, and they’re both dead.”
Ironic wasn’t the word Kivani would use. “I’m gonna head inside. It’s been a long day.”
“Anyone hear anything about Jabriel?” Nyx asked.
“He’s recovering,” Bayne said. “Though the doctor isn’t sure he’ll regain the use of his legs.”
They all fell silent. Kivani felt like shit because Jabriel had been protecting Joelle when he was stabbed.
“You still riding with us tonight?” Raven asked.
Kivani liked working as a team rather than going after Hunters alone. And knowing he wasn’t out there by himself helped settled Joelle’s nerves.
“Meet you at midnight,” Kivani said before he headed into the apartment. Joelle, Ryan, and Henry were huddled together on the couch, watching some movie. From the looks on their faces, it was a horror flick.
Kivani plucked Joelle from the middle of the group and carried him to the bedroom.
“I finally got them to watch something other than a chick flick!” Joelle squawked. “And it was getting to the best part!”
Kivani kicked the door closed. “And I’m getting to the best part.”
Joelle arched a brow. “And what’s that?”
Kivani nuzzled his neck. “You.”
Joelle threw his head back and laughed as Kivani stripped him. Joelle dropped to his knees, but Kivani shook his head. “Me firs
t.”
He undressed, then climbed between Joelle’s legs and took his mate’s hard cock into his mouth. Joelle cried out and wiggled, yanking at Kivani’s hair as Kivani swallowed Joelle’s dick.
Kivani didn’t care if the men in the other room heard them. He wanted to show Joelle just how much he loved him, how much his mate meant to him.
Joelle bucked, gripped Kivani’s hair in an iron grip, and came down Kivani’s throat. He swallowed every last drop before rearing back. Joelle was on his hands and knees in seconds, returning the favor.
“Your mouth is goddamn magic,” Kivani hissed as he fucked Joelle’s face. “Make me come, boo.”
Joelle took Kivani’s cock down his throat, using his throat muscles to get Kivani off. With a few more thrusts, Kivani was grunting his release.
“By the way, my mom called,” Joelle said as he curled onto the bed, looking like a beautiful mess. “She invited us over for Sunday dinner. She wants to know how my messy cake-eating is going.”
Kivani scowled. “This was not the time to bring your mom up.” He paused. “When did you eat cake and why didn’t you save me any?”
Joelle yawned. “It’s a figurative cake, and, also, my dad wants to get to know his son-in-law better.”
Kivani’s chest constricted. He had family again. He wished his mom were still alive. She would have loved Joelle. “We’ll be there.”
Joelle turned when Kivani settled behind him. He gave Kivani a kiss, then pushed off the bed.
“Where’re you going?” All Kivani wanted to do was cuddle and sleep until it was time to head out.
Joelle dressed. “I have a movie to finish watching, and you have business to take care of.”
Kivani grabbed Joelle’s wrist and pulled him down to the bed. “That shit can wait.” Joelle laughed as Kivani pinned him down. “I wasn’t done with you yet.”
“Then why in the hell did you let me get dressed?”
Kivani wiggled his brows. “Because it’s fun undressing you.” Kivani nipped his ear. “And now you got me craving cake.”
For round two, Kivani took his time. His job would always be there, as long as there were Hunters to eliminate. But he had three hundred years of loneliness to catch up on, and Kivani planned on making up for that time.
THE END
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