Immortals can learn to mind link with others who aren’t their mates. But it takes a lot of effort and training. I can mind link to the other assassins because we’ve been working together for decades. But with mates, human and as it seems immortal alike, communication is easy.
Neri glanced down at the glass in her hand, the ice leaving condensation as the drink sat untouched as they spoke. She ran one finger down the beads until the moisture pooled on the table. She glanced up and captured his gaze in her own.
Can you… hear me?
Hunter nodded. “Yes, as clear as day.”
Fucking cool! She beamed at him.
He laughed at her enthusiasm and hoped it would translate into her trusting him. But as her eyes moved from his and onto his black tactical gear, he knew she remembered back to when he should have rescued her.
“Why are you dressed like that?” Her head nodded toward his chest, but her hands never left the glass she clutched onto.
Unable to stay away, he reached for her hands, holding his palms up on the table and was almost surprised when she moved them into his. He loved how her cool skin, still the same temperature after several minutes of him warming her hands, pressed into his overheated ones.
“The other man with the shock white hair who didn’t speak today, he’s a white wolf shifter named Ghost. He founded Dark Company in 1920. We, those who Ghost employ, are all immortals and we’re hired assassins under government contract.”
Hunter didn’t let go of her as he searched her face for her reaction. She swallowed, uncomfortable by this news, but she didn’t run away. He wanted to rush in and explain, but he waited for Neri to think over the implications before he answered questions she may have in her own time. One good sign was she didn’t pull away, but she dropped her head. He knew her a little by now to realize she did that when she thought things through.
“Were all of you, the assassins, there when I woke?”
“Not all of my family are assassins. Liv works in her lab, trying to figure out how immortality differs so much from human DNA and how it’s even possible. She is also trying to figure out how Ara has enhanced telekinesis and healing powers, both of which she had when she was human but increased tenfold since her transition.”
Hunter paused when Neri’s brows bunched. When gave him a small nod of acceptance, he continued.
“Since Frost is half shifter and half human, Liv is researching the probabilities of the occurrence and after Frost transitioned to full shifter, how pregnancy became a viable option when no other immortal can conceive. I’m surprised she didn’t rush down to her lab to grab a syringe and draw your blood outside today. She’s brilliant, but her need to research how you’ve become a half shifter and half vampire will consume her.”
“Is that healthy?” Neri asked.
Hunter shook his head. “But Kai is there to remind her there’s more to life than work.”
“So…Frost isn’t an assassin?”
“Frost was never interested in becoming one either. She takes care of Silas, her son, who seems to grow in power every day. He’ll want to meet you. He’s curious about the world and has powers of his own. You’ll see when you’re introduced. And Seth and Aubrey aren’t assassins. They are working to figure out what they want to do by taking college courses and spending time with one another.”
Hunter took a breath for Neri to process all of this information.
“Reaper’s mate, Ara, and Jade’s mate, Noah, became assassins to work with their mates and keep them safe.”
“Do I…”
Hunter shook his head. “It’s a choice. If you wanted me to quit, I would. But the assassins are my family and I don’t want to cut ties with them.”
Even as Hunter spoke about his family, Neri was shaking her head. “No, I would never judge you or your family for their decisions. But it explains how all of them reacted when I explained my past, or the parts I remember, anyway. I know you and the others aren’t indiscriminate murderers. This is what you do, not who you are.”
Hunter relaxed at her words.
“Ghost has had one point of contact since he started Dark Company and all orders come from that person. When the contact retires, they assign a successor. It’s worked for a hundred years. We still verify every target with a thorough background check and surveillance. So yes, all those we eliminated are threats to natural security or worse.”
“Do you shift to kill?”
“Most of the time, unless we’re outdoors and have a long way to trek in the mountains or somewhere remote, we don’t shift. We dress in tactical gear or try to blend in, making sure the target is alone and there will be no chance of collateral damage.”
Neri became lost in thought as his eyes traced the shape of her cheeks, down to her chin, her throat, and back up to her eyes. Hunter knew then he couldn’t care less about her vampire side, she was his.
“Why were you and the others there?”
He cleared his throat before he began, worried about her reaction.
“Liv worked at Standard. She got her Ph.D. in immunology, but she worked on cancer research. Her sister, Molly, died of leukemia at seventeen and Liv worked for years to find a cure. One night, she stumbled onto a sample of the bioweapon made from her perverted cancer research. They recorded a scientist injecting a shifter with the bioweapon and Liv found it along with the formula.”
He paused as he recalled the images and sounds he wanted to forget. “It caused rage, and he killed the unlucky scientists. After, his rage didn’t subside, he killed himself. She smuggled proof out of Standard, after destroying their bioweapon, but after today we know not all of it was.”
Hunter remembered what Neri had gone through. Her screams echoing in his mind, but she squeezed his hand. He shook himself out of the memory and glanced up. She gave him a small smile, giving him the strength to continue.
“Liv found Kai and passed on the information. Ghost ordered Kai to protect her and he balked. At the time he denied to himself and to Liv that she was his mate. She worked on an antidote until she succeeded. But before she administered it, Kane kidnapped her. He was a pawn blackmailed by Dr. Ames who held his mate and wife hostage. We learned when we rescued Liv that he’d kill Kane’s mate. Kai turned her when the doctors told him she was brain dead after Dr. Ames tortured her for hours.”
Hunter squeezed Neri’s hand, happy she hadn’t pulled away.
“We were at Standard because Liv believed they were holding more immortals as test subjects. That was when Reaper found Ara. And I walked past you instead of saving you.”
“Hunter, no. I believe everything happens for a reason. We’re here now. It meant those years were for something else, for both of us. We are immortal and we have forever.”
His heart leapt in his chest and he stumbled over his next words. “I like the sound of that. Are you… willing to get to know me and see where this leads?”
“I would like that.”
“There’s more I need to tell you, but I don’t want you to change your mind about us. You might be in danger because of our profession.”
Neri lifted a brow but waited.
“When Xander found Frost early last year, there was a shifter, Anzû, who wanted Frost as his mate. Not only that, he wanted to take over Dark Company and kill all of us to get it. Frost killed him when he threatened her son. It’s become clear they have a new leader and several factions of shifters willing to kill us for power. The shifters we killed in the clearing yesterday were part of that group.”
Taking him by surprise, Neri shrugged. “With any life there is a danger. While I’ve avoided everyone for the past four years by choice, I’ve also been lonely. I would rather be your mate and a friend to the others than to be alone. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Can I kiss you?”
He smiled as her eyes widened and her gaze dropped to his lips.
“I’ve… I don’t…”
His hand cupped her cheek, and she trail
ed off. “We don’t have to if—”
He stopped talking and his breathing stuttered when she darted forward and pressed their lips together. Her tentative movements had him groaning into her mouth when he opened for her tongue. He grew lightheaded as his cock swelled to throbbing within seconds.
Hunter tilted his head and licked her bottom lip, loving the gasp of pleasure that parted her lips, giving him access to her mouth. Instead of delving inside, he suckled her bottom lip, licking the sensitive skin just behind the soft curve of her lip. She shivered and moaned, giving Hunter permission and he deepened the kiss.
Her arousal teased his nose and along with the beat of her pulse against his skin as she held onto him had him swaying with desire. His hands grasped her hips to hold her in place, not wanting to scare her if she pressed against him and found his erection.
But he should have predicted Neri would explore him further and not hold back.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and slid forward until her scorching heat brushed against his cock, drawing a long, low moan from deep inside his chest.
“Nothing has ever felt as good as you pressed against me.”
As if his words egged her on, she rolled her hips, pressing and rubbing against his clothed cock, making him jump in his rough polyester tactical pants as a fierce rush of pleasure passed through him.
“Hunter!”
He brought their mouths together, each devouring the other, until she tensed in his arms. He scented her orgasm before she ripped her mouth away from his, throwing her head back and screaming his name.
Hunter soon followed as her hips continued to move back and forth as her orgasm overwhelmed her. He clutched her close, bringing his face to press against her neck near her collarbone, and for a fleeting moment, he wanted to mark her as his. He clamped his mouth shut but continued to inhale against the soft skin of her neck, scenting his mate.
Until he learned what would happen to her, he couldn’t mark her as his. Yet.
“Is it too forward of me to ask you if I could stay with you tonight?”
Neri chuckled. “I don’t want to let you out of my sight now I’ve found you. Or you’ve found me.”
Hunter hugged her close and savored her sigh. He pulled back and gazed at her when she cleared her throat, obviously a nervous gesture.
“Why don’t you shower? Just drop your clothes outside the door and I’ll wash them before I take one myself.”
“I guess we’re not at the walk around naked in front of each other stage,” he teased.
Neri blushed and Hunter loved the stain spreading on her cheeks. He brushed a kiss against her lips.
“I was kidding. There’s no rush and no pressure.”
He stood and set her on her feet before he kissed the tip of her nose. She smiled at him and he forced his eyes away from his mate. He turned toward the hallway and headed toward the bathroom. Before he crossed the threshold, he pulled his tee over his head and dropped it on the ground.
“Holy shit,” Neri whispered.
Hunter turned around, unable to stop himself, and caught her gaze before he gave her a small wink. His actions caused the blush that erupted on her cheeks.
“You can touch me anytime, even if you want to experiment. I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want to do. So when you’re ready, we’ll explore the physical side to our relationship.”
Neri smiled. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me hope for the first time in my life, knowing I won’t be alone for the rest of my existence.”
“Trust me. It’s the same way for me, angel.”
He heard Neri’s breathing rush out in a huff at his endearment. To protect her from the desire rushing through him, he stepped into the room and with one last smile, shut the door and blocked her from his view. He took a few minutes to calm his body, his need, before he shucked the rest of his clothes and deposited them outside without flashing more skin.
Hunter started the shower and stepped under the hot spray, relaxing as the water sluiced over his already heated skin.
He found his mate.
His smile widened. He’d never, not once since his transition, pictured a mate or wondered whether he would find her. The odds were against him.
Until now, he hadn’t realized there was a warmth that pulsed beneath his skin and that part yearned for his mate. He’d found her and the pulsing had calmed into a contentment he’d never felt before. And he would protect her with all he was and everything he had.
With that last thought rattling around his mind, he hurried through his shower because his destiny was right outside the door.
CHAPTER FOUR
NERI
After her escape, Neri had never enjoyed the touch of others, even a casual brush of shoulders as they passed in the aisles of a store. And she sure as shit had never slept next to anyone before. Despite all of her instincts, she found herself relaxed when Hunter, his fresh scent washing over her, slid into the bed clad only in his boxer briefs. She had used the shower in the guest room before she changed into a long-sleeved shirt and pink and black flannel pajamas, but as her gaze traveled over his muscled chest, she tugged at the hem of her shirt in a nervous gesture, aware of her desire for him.
Wow, he’s beautiful.
Neri’s cheeks heated, but that didn’t stop her gaze from tracing over every inch of his olive skin and sculpted muscles as he moved. Hunter, who called to her in ways she had yet to understand, was the most gorgeous man she’d ever come across. But it was his protectiveness and his assuredness that allowed her to conclude she was his mate.
As he lay down, she relaxed back on her pillow and a flash of memory came to the forefront. Instead of forcing it away, she concentrated on it.
Fear flooded her as she watched a little girl; her long brown hair tied up in pigtails, dash off as if someone was chasing her. Neri caught sight of the dread etched on the girl’s face and she searched for the person chasing her. Before she caught a glimpse, the memory faded.
Without realizing, Neri had leapt out of bed and stood next to it, her back ramrod straight and her fist clenched at her sides. Hands gripped her shoulders and as she came back to awareness, she blinked and looked up at Hunter, who had concern etched on his face.
Neri swallowed and then cleared her throat before she explained what she had seen and sensed.
“I promise, we and the other assassins will help investigate your past and we’ll find out what happened to her.”
With his words, something inside Neri relaxed. Hunter would do everything he could to help her.
Hunter searched her face and Neri watched his gaze study the dark circles under her eyes from years of fitful sleep, always dotted with nightmares so she hadn’t slept an entire night straight through.
“Let’s sleep and we’ll search tomorrow.”
With heavy steps, Neri walked toward the bed and dropped next to Hunter after he pulled down the covers. As she moved to lay her head on her pillow, Hunter maneuvered her to lay her head on his chest as he wrapped her close in his arms.
Neri burrowed closer to his warmth as it infused into her cold skin. She hummed as she clung to him. He let out a breath, and she remembered, too late, that her skin was cold to the touch and she tried to pull back. Hunter stopped her movements by opening his hand on her back.
“I like your cool skin on mine. We shifters run hot. It’s half the reason we live in the mountains.”
Hunter cupped her cheek and continued.
“You are perfect the way you are.”
“Odd, you mean. A freak.”
“No, no angel, you are not a freak. Each immortal is different, each with rare abilities and skill sets. There is nothing wrong with being you.”
She grew quiet as she mulled over Hunter’s words.
Although she had limited interactions and conversations with other people and trusted none, she trusted Hunter.
“Even though I remember not
hing from before my transition, I can sense when I’m in danger. When it happens, I find myself in another place before I can blink.
“I never allowed myself to get close to anyone. I have that sense that even in the life I had before I found myself imprisoned, I shut myself off and I have no clue what normal behavior is. But the doctor said I was disposable, and I found no evidence anyone ever wanted me to bother enough to search for me, so I couldn’t help conclude he was right.”
Hunter’s expression grew sad as he stroked his hand up and down her arm, warming her skin.
“Immortality is a second chance in life. Some remember their past and some don’t but all that matters is we found each other. So now you have a mate and by default, a nosy, loud, and deadly family who protects their own and will butt into our lives any chance they get, but they mean well. And we’ll find the answers you need. But know this…”
Neri, who had been staring into Hunter’s eyes and watching them spark with emotion as he spoke, blinked away tears that threatened to spill over. “What?”
“Nothing we find will change things between us. You are mine and I, my angel, belong to you.”
Overwhelmed by strange emotions that flooded through her, she took a moment to calm her emotions enough to speak. As she opened her mouth to respond, there were several loud clanks in succession.
Something had tripped her motion sensors.
The ten different pairs of flood lights surrounding her house and her workshop were illuminating the grounds.
Neri blinked and was out of the bed in the next second, opening the lid of her laptop and pressing the spacebar to wake it up. Once she logged in, she clicked open the surveillance system and moved from one camera to the other until she stopped at a group of men clustered around the front of her house. She counted fifteen men, all dressed head to toe in black.
With her eyes focused on the screen to see if there were any others around, she heard Hunter pulling on his clothes. She followed the group around the side of the house as they searched for a vulnerability in her security.
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