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Hello.

Neri blinked and before her stood a baby with brilliant white hair and the most intriguing green eyes sparkled with blue that reminded her of the pictures she’d viewed online from NASA of nebulas. When she tore her gaze away from his beautiful eyes, she found a tiny little man with pale skin and a smile of welcome. Neri sank down to sit crossed-legged in front of him.

Um, hello. I’m Neri and you must be Silas.

He beamed at her and stepped forward, reached a hand out to her face. Silas paused for a moment, but Neri smiled at him, encouraging him to do whatever he wished, and he continued his movements until his hand cupped her face.

The room grew silent around her, but she didn’t pay attention to anyone but Silas. Although she sensed a toughness and protectiveness in the little man, there was a joy, a pure joy surrounding him and being absorbed by everyone in the room.

I’m glad Hunter found his mate. I’m hoping every one of my family gets to find their mate. You’re unique, like me. You have the same white hair and although your eyes are silver like Uncle Kai, Kane, Thomas, Seth, Isaac and Aunt Liv.

Yeah, I remember being told I was a shifter, but they injected me with something that turned me into a vampire, too.

Can I see your memory?

“No, no Silas, you shouldn’t see that,” Hunter cut it.

Neri blinked up at her mate. “You can hear our conversation?”

“Yeah, but none of the others can. I don’t think?”

The three of them glanced around the room and everyone was staring at her and baby Silas. The little man didn’t like her attention focused elsewhere and took her by surprise when he climbed into her lap and leaned back on her left arm. She cradled him, not wanting to hurt him before she glanced up and searched for his parents.

“I wanted you to know I would never hurt him.”

Xander chuckled and Frost shook her head, her beautiful eyes, similar to her son’s shining with mirth.

“Silas has a sixth sense about people. He can sense those who want to harm him and even if you tried, he can shield himself. Plus, he’s very strong in his leopard form and he can shift faster than any other shifter here. We’re not worried, honey.”

Neri glanced down to see Silas smiling at her.

Can I see your shield and how you shift? I’ve never been able to shift.

I will, but I want to show you my room at home. Do you think we can go over there using your power?

Hunter laughed at her surprise. “Nothing stays secret long in this family.”

“What did Silas want?” Jade asked.

She glanced up at found the beautiful auburn-haired woman sitting close to her and Silas. Instead of being startled she was sitting so close, Neri smiled.

Leaning forward, Neri asked, “This is a rude question, but is your hair natural?”

Jade threw her head back and laughed. Her arms wrapped around her stomach before she hunched forward and laid her head on Neri’s shoulder. Without moving, Neri leaned toward her and sniffed, inhaling the subtle scent of vanilla with a hint of fruit… peaches. She blinked when Jade answered.

“Yeah, I tried black for a while but this is my natural color.” Jade leaned forward and whispered, “Noah likes this better.”

Neri’s eyes glanced up and spotted Jade’s mate, a big man standing behind her with his arms crossed over his chest and his feet shoulder length apart, as if he were waiting for a fight. Something said military to Neri, but she moved her eyes back to Jade.

“I like auburn. It frames your face and makes your freckles stand out.”

“I used to hate them, but now…” Jade shook her head as she cupped her cheeks.

Neri!

The entire group flinched as Silas demanded her attention.

Sorry, little man. This life is new and I want to meet everyone in Hunter’s life, but I didn’t mean to ignore you. Sure, I can take you to your room so you can show me, but I have to ask your parents if it’s okay.