Instead of calming the situation, Neri’s words inflamed it. Liv slugged Hunter in the arm and after, shook her hand as if the punch hurt her. She continued to glare at him. Kai snarled and paced back and forth. Axel rolled his eyes and hopped over the couch and headed toward the kitchen. Thomas and Isaac sat as still as statues with matching looks of horror etched on their gorgeous faces. Drew looked over at his sister and laughed. Seth pulled Aubrey into his arms and was rubbing her back in soothing circles. Reaper and Ara moved closer to Neri as their eyes moved over her. Xander pulled Frost onto his lap and buried his face against her hair, breathing her in. Noah did the same with Jade. Even Gunnar, Ghost, and Kane looked sick.
“They think you could have killed her, idiot,” Axel called from the kitchen.
Neri shook her head, but since it had grown to four times the size of her normal one, the movement was minimal.
No, no mates can’t hurt each other. You said so.
“Yeah, but he watched as you bit a shifter and injected venom into his bloodstream. And yet, after watching him die, he bit you without knowing what it would do to you,” Liv snarled.
I’m fine, see fine. I feel like I’m wearing an extra five hundred pounds I’m unprepared for, but I’m great.
At that moment, Neri sensed her body shifting back to her human form. Again taken by surprise and before she could blink, she lay on the floor of the living room, naked as the day she was born.
“Well…. fuck.”
Hunter reached for the blanket draped over the back of the couch and wrapped it around her before he lifted her into his arms and buried his face against her neck.
“I’m so, so sorry.” The sound of Hunter’s tortured voice tore at her heart.
She cupped his cheek and lifted his head so his gaze met hers. “Do you regret I’m your mate?”
“No, what? I love you’re my mate.”
“Then stop acting as though you hurt me. From what you’ve told me, finding a mate is like trial and error, but we’re destined. Kai and Liv learned vampire mates can feed from each other. Ara has fantastic abilities that go above and beyond what any other immortal can do. Xander and Frost created a beautiful baby boy who’s potential is still unknown. And despite others dictating what is natural or right, there is a group of immortals, both shifter and vampire in this room that are family. Family isn’t blood, it’s what you have created together and although none of you could have predicted your lives would end up like this, you’re here and you’re happy. Life is what you make it.”
Silence met Neri’s statement and for a moment, she’d forgotten they weren’t alone in the big mansion with a room full of shifters and vampires hanging on every word of their private conversation. But Neri didn’t mind. She wanted interfering older brothers and funny, loving older sisters and with this group, she got it in spades.
For reassurance, she kissed Hunter. The short, intense kiss stole her breath and made her body tingle in anticipation, but before the others could tell how much she enjoyed kissing her mate, she pulled back, breathless.
“I’m sorry, Hunter. I overreacted. Neri’s fine and you know your mate better than anyone. I shouldn’t have interfered,” Liv said.
Neri reached for her and despite she was naked underneath the blanket surrounding her, she pulled Liv into a hug with Hunter.
“You’re a sweetheart, Liv,” Neri said and kissed her on the cheek.
“And I’m sorry for worrying all of you. That wasn’t my intention. I bit Neri because my instincts drove me to. If the panther wasn’t so adamant, I… no, I would have. But I am sorry for worrying you.”
“Okay, hands off my mate and the rest of us are sorry, too.” Kai pulled Liv up from the chair and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Axel laughed from the kitchen before he walked in and claimed the seat he vacated minutes before. “I’m not. Unlike all of you, I didn’t freak out. She’s healthy and stronger than the rest of us combined. Well, except for Ara, she’s a powerhouse. Our instincts have never led us astray so why deny them.”
Everyone, including Neri, stared at Axel in silence with their mouths hanging open. A few minutes later, it was Reaper who spoke first.
“When the fuck did you become so wise?”
Neri giggled when Axel caught her gaze and winked.
“I’m always wise, but I figure it’s about time I grow up and stopped annoying all of you.”
The assassins searched each other’s gazes as Axel and Neri laughed. Neri reached out and snagged Axel’s hand, pulling him close and giving him a hug.
“I’ll love being part of this family.”
CHAPTER NINE
NERI
When Neri woke from a deep sleep and she’s aware of Hunter’s arms surrounding her. One wrapped around her waist with his hand splayed over her stomach and the other beneath her neck, holding her close. As her groggy mind sharpened, she smiled, savoring the warmth radiating from her mate.
She pressed her back against his chest and smiled into his wrist. With a deep inhale, she scented the earthy pine that clung to his skin and centered her. After last night she needed it.
Neri had joked around with Axel for a while after the tension in the room had dissipated. She had no desire to persecute Hunter for something his instincts and his panther had begged him to do. But as they spoke about her transition and how she’d become a shifter and then a hybrid, she glimpsed something in Ara’s eyes, especially after the way Reaper had comforted her.
She pulled herself from Hunter’s hold with a brief explanation and a nod from him. Neri then stood and walked over to Ara.
“Hey, do you want to maybe… talk in the kitchen?” she asked.
Ara nodded and with a kiss on the top of her head from Reaper, they moved away from the group. Neri, groaned as she adjusted her blanket. The stark realization of being naked underneath almost caused her to run home for a second, but she spotted the torture in Ara’s eyes and wanted to help.
They sat at the kitchen table and Neri had no clue how to start the conversation. Never a people person, she blurted out what she thought.
“I’ve never been a sunshine and flowers kind of person who has positive encouragement to give. I mean, fuck that. But I have learned over the years being alone with your thoughts and your fears is worse. For the first several years on my own, people; men, women, children, it didn’t matter, frightened me whenever I was close. I’m stronger and faster, but there’s something so disabling in your mind when something happened to you, yet you can’t get past it.”
Ara nodded. “I love my life. But I remember…”
Neri leaned forward and clutched Ara’s hand in hers and before she became too lost in thoughts, she squeezed.
“The reason I’m not freaking out about all of this information is because I already suspected, deep down inside somewhere. From what Hunter told me, you watched the immortals being tortured. And that was before they set their sights on you. It would fuck with anyone’s mind, witnessing and experiencing what you have.”
“But how do I get over it?” Ara asked.
Neri squeezed tighter.
“You talk about it. You rage when you need to. Scream, cry, throw things, break things, but talk about it. You remember those you lost and you talk about them so they live on. If you keep it inside, the assholes have power over you. But if you talk about it, they have nothing.
“You are a strong woman, Ara. I see the way the others look at you, how in awe of you they are. There’s respect for your abilities but there is also love for who you are as a person. Any of them, including me, would love to be the one you open up to and there is no shame in it. Before I met Hunter, and you, and the rest of your family out there, I would have kept my thoughts to myself. Instead, I’m talking about the things I’ve gone through and it’s been freeing.”
Ara grew quiet and for a moment, Neri believed she pushed too far. But when Ara squeezed her hand and lifted her head, she caught her gaze and nodded once.<
br />
“You’re right. Although I still miss Solomon, he’s the gigantic lion shifter who killed himself after they injected him with the bioweapon, Felix, Patrick, and Michael have a chance at a new life.”
Neri sensed Ara’s guilt. “Solomon’s death wasn’t your fault and there’s no way you could have prevented it.”
“Logic tells me that, hell Reaper tells me whenever I get lost in the past, but I’m not sure my heart knows it.”
“Was Solomon a selfish person?”
That shocked Ara. Her mouth dropped open, and she shook her head.
“Would he be proud of the life you’re living now?”
And with her last question, Ara burst out in tears. It was harsh, but Ara needed to hear it. Before Neri pulled Ara into her arms and held her, Reaper appeared in the room and lifted Ara into his arms.
Neri watched as Ara wrapped her arms and legs around Reaper and buried her face against his neck. The sobbing tore at her heart, and she glanced up to face an angry Reaper. Instead, his face twisted in concern for his mate. Neri stood, unable not to do anything, and rubbed Ara’s back until her breathing evened out and she clung to Reaper, her energy waning.
“I’m here for you, Ara, if you ever need to talk. And I’ll try to work on my tact for next time.”
Ara laughed through her tears and when she turned around and searched Neri’s face, Neri smiled back.
“Thank you, Neri.”
“Anytime, honey. And I mean that.”
Reaper had nodded at her before turning to the others who were quiet. “We’re going home, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
In a flash, Reaper and Ara disappeared and before Neri could blink, Hunter stood in front of her. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. She hadn’t even noticed she’d been crying, but her heart hurt for Ara. When Hunter smiled at her, she fell into his arms and shivered.
“I hated making her cry. Her thoughts haunted her and if she dwelled on it, well, it causes damage.”
Hunter’s words came out as a whisper. “I had no clue she thought about Solomon all these years later, but one look from you, and you brought the truth to the surface. And you’re right, angel, everyone needs to talk about what’s bothering them. It’s toxic to keep it inside.”
Neri sighed. Guilt weight on her. She needed to keep an eye on Ara.
Hunter lifted her head and kissed her. It wasn’t one full of passion but one of loving acceptance and care. By the time he pulled away, her body sagged against his in exhaustion.
“Ready to head home and go to bed?”
Neri nodded and smiled when Hunter reached for her and threaded their fingers together. They walked into the living room and remembering, almost too late she was still naked, her hand gripped on the blanket that slipped.
“Got it there, gray eyes?” Axel asked.
She smiled at her new friend and nodded. “Just tired. We’re headed back to my house.”
“I remember where you live,” Kai said.
Neri turned to Hunter. “Ready?”
Hunter nodded and with one final wave, Neri gripped his bicep with both her hands and flashed them both home. She sighed, happy to see her bed right in front of her.
“I would shower, but I’m way too tired.” Neri slid under the covers before she glanced up to see Hunter smiling at her. “Lose the clothes, panther. Time to sleep.”
She didn’t even remember when their positions had shifted to Hunter holding her. Neri smiled when she thought about the term ‘small spoon’ and snuggled back into Hunter.
“How did you sleep?” Hunter asked, his voice deep and rough from sleep.
She turned in his arms and smiled at being able to wake up next to her mate, being able to touch him whenever she wanted. She traced her fingers along his eyebrows and down his cheeks, loving the warmth infusing her fingers.
“I don’t remember. I haven’t slept this well as far back as I could remember. Maybe since I lived at Thalia’s. How about you?”
He smiled and captured her lips with his own. The kiss started slow, but the moment his tongue touch her bottom lip, all thoughts fled. She moaned as she opened for him, loving when his arms wrapped around her, spanning his hands over the small of her back. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she sensed movement, but it wasn’t until the kiss ended because they needed to breathe when she realized she lay on top of Hunter, naked.
“Have I shocked you, angel?”
Neri blinked at him, unable to register the question he’d asked. She was too busy cataloging how the hair on his legs was softer than she expected. He was so much taller than her, so the top of her feet slid up and down his shins, skin against skin. Her hips pressed against his taut stomach and she shivered against him. But it was her breasts against the hot skin of his chest that drew a moan from her throat.
“Um… what?”
Hunter threw his head back and laughed, exposing his neck and causing her mouth to water. Without knowing it, her fingers moved toward her own mark on her neck and when she brushed against it, her breath caught in her throat.
She must have moaned because Hunter’s expression sobered and he spotted her hand near his mark.
“What’s it like?”
Neri swallowed. But unable to hold back the truth from her mate, she told him.
“It’s like a shock cascading over your body. But instead of being painful, it’s energizing, and then there’s the throbbing, which makes by nipples hard, and I crave your touch as my pussy becomes drenched, waiting for you to enter me.”
“Fuck.”
Neri scrambled on top of Hunter’s body until she sat on his thighs, her hands splaying over his stomach. “Can I touch you?”
“Angel, you don’t even have to ask.”
She froze for a moment as thoughts swirled in her brain, wondering where she should start. Although they’d had sex, she hadn’t pleasured him with her mouth and her hands.
“It’s all about doing what feels good. If you don’t like something, let me know and we’ll stop. But listen to your instincts and don’t let your thoughts get in the way.”
Neri blew out a relieved breath before she tilted forward and captured his lips with hers and lost herself in their kiss. In the short time she’d known Hunter, kissing both centered her and drove her crazy with need. Her pulse pounded as blood rushed through her body, making her skin sensitive and when he gripped her hips and pulled her closer to devour her mouth, she almost came.
With reluctance, she broke the kiss and moved her mouth down his jawline and pressed her lips against his neck just below his ear. His moan passed through her and she shuddered with need. Her movements came to a stop as she opened her mouth and almost begged him to take her, but this was about him. She wanted to give him pleasure.
Her mouth moved over his throat and near the indent of his neck and shoulder. She sucked the skin into her mouth and grunted when Hunter’s hips shot up, searching for relief. Neri scraped her teeth along his collarbone and this time, he clutched her close and moaned her name.
“I never knew.”
Neri’s eyes shot to his face. “Knew what, love?”
“A simple touch, a simple kiss is as erotic as making love with you.”
Her lips smiled against his pectoral and instead of answering, she explored. Kissing and nipping his skin as her mouth traveled toward his nipple. She loved it when he suckled her and wanted to know if it was as intense for him.
“Oh, fuck.”
A giggle escaped as she received her answer, but soon turned into a moan as Hunter wiggled beneath her and she moved to his other nipple, flicking her tongue against the hardened nub, savoring the salty taste on his skin. She was growing addicted to him, not only his body but everything that entailed Hunter. His caring nature and how he accepted her as his mate. She realized how much he loved the people in his life and she hoped to be one someday.
Shaking her head to quell her thoughts, she moved lower before she moaned against Hunter’s stomach. Her tongue tr
aced each defined muscle, loving how he sucked in his stomach and clenched his fists at his sides as she explored every inch of him.
Although she had a love/hate relationship at times with being an immortal, being able to remember Hunter’s skin against her own and how he reacted to her explorations, seared in her memory forever.
“You’re killing me, angel.”
Neri smiled, moving her mouth to trace over his hipbones and the cut that led to his cock, her final destination. She didn’t care if he entered her. She wanted to watch him lose control.
“What—”
She wrapped her hand around the base of his cock she savored the warmth radiating from him. She settled the rest of her body to lie on the bed in between his legs but a sudden worry entered her mind when he jerked in her grip and she glanced up.
“Am I too cold?”
Hunter froze and his head shot up off the pillow to stare at her, his eyes wide with realization.
“Since I claimed you, your skin hasn’t been cold to the touch. Or I’m used to it by now, I can’t tell. But no, you’re perfect.”
He choked on the last word when Neri, unable to stay away from tasting him, swallowed the head of his cock and swirled her tongue around the base of the head, savoring the liquid that burst on her tongue.
Focused on the task at hand, Hunter’s gasps and the stuttered partial exclamations erupting from his throat were secondary to memorizing the veins on the underside of his cock as she swallowed more of him.
Her tongue never stopped moving, flicking back and forth on the slit whenever she pulled up and tracing each inch of velvety skin when she swallowed him down. When she noticed Hunter’s body vibrating below her, she blinked back into reality and glanced up, her mouth stretched open on his cock.
She pulled off and searched Hunter’s face before she asked, “Am I doing this wrong?”
A choked laugh had Neri’s brows drawing down in confusion. Then he dropped his forearm over his eyes.
“Your mouth should be illegal, angel. I never expected you to do that. You surprised me when you did. But it was the sensations of your tongue and your mouth on my cock… I almost lost control in less than a minute. That would have been embarrassing.”
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