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“But we never tested the fact shifters and vampires can’t mate. We know vampires have silver eyes. Your features are distinct, so is your scent. After being in your memory and getting to know you, I don’t care you’re a vampire.”

Hunter’s words rang truthful, and he wouldn’t lie to her, even if it hurt her. But she had thousands of questions running through her head, but one stood out.

“What if I bite you, injected you with my venom?”

Neri held her breath as she waited for Hunter’s answer. There was a pain, maybe something more, spreading through her chest.

“After years of observation, fate does not make mistakes. Kai was the first to find Liv. Until we learned from experience, there was one person made for us and us for them, it was a theory.”

Hunter squeezed her hand and warmth rushed through her.

“Kai fought his feelings for Liv, to the point he almost lost her. Reaper knew Ara was his the moment he laid eyes on her, but she disappeared from Standard during the rescue. She admitted her need for Reaper, but all her instincts told her to run and she followed them. Seth was young and human when he met Aubrey in class and although she hesitated to change him because her transition was horrid and she didn’t want to hurt him, he didn’t care as long as he could be with her forever. Xander, he is the exception to all of us. While we, including me, believed we weren’t as lucky as the others to have a mate of our own, Xander wanted a mate and never stopped hoping he would find his. Jade was like me, not actively looking for her mate, but knew Noah was hers the moment they met.

“All the mates were brilliant in their own way, but Frost was born half shifter and half human. When she transitioned, her body kept the human ability to bear children. When they had Silas, something wondrous happened to change everything we believed, because Silas is special. He shifted within a few months of his birth, he can mind link with everyone, and he’s strong. When you meet him, you’ll see.”

Hunter took her by surprise by leaning forward and kissing her. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and lost herself in the new and exciting sensation of Hunter’s mouth on hers. As they broke the kiss, their breathing choppy, Hunter held her close. She relaxed against when he ran his fingers through her long hair, letting go of the tension that racked her body since the alarm.

“There is no rhyme or reason for how or why we meet our mates when we do, but all I know is that the reasons don’t matter because I found you. Every cell in my being tells me you are mine. I want to protect you. And despite knowing your half vampire, the fact doesn’t make me hesitate to touch you, it makes me proud you are my mate. Every other thing we will maneuver through together by trial and error, but I think that’s typical of most relationships.”

Neri, despite Hunter’s words cracking the shell of fear, the image of the shifter dying from her venom wouldn’t budge from her thoughts. She must have sent the image through their mind link because his hold tightened, bringing her out of her spiraling thoughts.

“Death is an aspect of my world that hasn’t bothered me for a long time. But that will not happen to us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Both shifter and vampires inject venom into their mates to start the transition and we mark our mates with a bite on their neck where the shoulder meets the collarbone. There is a way for you to mark me and me to mark you without introducing our venom.”

Hunter paused and Neri bit her bottom lip, waiting.

“Do you feel our connection?”

“Yes,” she breathed out. “I want to touch you, hold you close, and I’ve never felt such pure rage when I saw those shifters surrounding you, trying to hurt you. Lying in bed, in your arms for that short while… well, I’ve never felt so relaxed and happy.”

His intense green eyes searched her face before he nodded. She knew he would understand.

“That is why I sent you to Kai and the others. It’s too painful to think someone is out to get you, but I get murderous when I realize I brought them to your doorstep.”

Neri shook her head. “It was only a matter of time. I was searching for them first, and I would rather know why they are after me and face the problem head on than wait around to see what they have planned for me.”

“I’m tired of this shit, so yeah, I agree with you.”

They grew quiet for a while, lost in their own thoughts. The impact of finding her mate, of having someone with her for the rest of her life, brought a small smile to her lips.

“There is no rule book, but you and me, we are in this together from now on. You are my mate and I am yours. Answers to all of our questions will come in time.”

Neri trusted Hunter and wanted everything to work out between them.

Without hesitation, she whispered, “Okay.”