Page 29

“What are you two talking about?” Jade asked.

“Our scents and how I’m different from the other shifters and vampires.”

Before Jade answered, Silas let out a bone-cracking yawn along with a small howl and shifted back to his toddler form. Neri, unused to how shifters work blinked down at him. Her eyes widened when she realized he was naked. Frost giggled and Neri blinked owlishly at her before glancing at Silas’s relaxed face. With another small yawn, he blinked his eyes closed.

Frost swaddled him in a light blue blanket and before she lifted Silas into her arms.

Neri leaned closer.

“Goodnight, little man. Sleep well and I’ll see you tomorrow,” Neri whispered before she kissed Silas on the forehead with a soft brush of her lips.

Night, Neri. You’re one of my favorite people in the world.

“And you’re one of mine, little man.”

Hunter cleared his throat, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall at the sweet scene between his mate and the youngest of their family. Frost sniffed and wiped away her own as she cuddled Silas closer. Xander stood and put the laptop aside before he leaned forward and kissed his son. They were in their own world for a moment before Frost turned and made her way with Silas upstairs to their room.

The room grew quiet. The others watched the scene between Neri and Silas as Hunter broadcast their conversation from the beginning to them.

“So…” Axel’s voice boomed around the room.

“Leave it to the least tactful of us to ruin the moment,” Gunnar mumbled.

Kai rolled his eyes and Reaper chuckled.

“Is Neri short for something?” Axel asked.

Neri turned toward the giant blond shifter with a passive look on her face. “Yes, but I don’t prefer my full name. The creepy scientist who injected me with something he thought would kill me liked to call me Nerissa. So you can see why I might not enjoy that name. And now let me ask you a question?”

“Okay?” Axel elongated the one word, not knowing what was coming.

“Do you always flirt with your friend’s mates?”

Axel nodded without hesitation. “I have to get my entertainment somewhere. And you would think these idiots would know their mates would never cheat on them. And yet each time, they threaten me with death. Go figure.”

Neri tilted her head back and laughed. Her hand came to rest on Axel’s arm and while Hunter knew Axel was right, he still growled when Neri squeezed before she leaned her head against the lion shifter’s shoulder. Her laughter tapered off.

“Brilliant.”

Reaper, Kai, Xander, Noah, and even Seth all growled their displeasure.

“Notbrilliant, Neri,” Kai said.

Although he sounded huffy, he didn’t sound angry and Hunter relaxed.

Hunter heard the clicking of fingers on a keyboard and remembered Xander had started his search as soon as they returned from Silas showing Neri his room. As he drifted over to see what the snow leopard had found, he spotted out of the corner of his eye Seth and Aubrey moving closer to Neri.

“We met yesterday, but I’m Aubrey.”

“And I’m Seth, her mate.”

Neri smiled at them and Hunter’s heart kicked in his chest.

“So… you, you’re a vampire but you don’t crave blood?” Aubrey asked.

“Not even a little. I eat my steaks medium well, liver is gross, and despite that I love food. I haven’t been around many people but I don’t react to blood. Can I ask you some questions?”

“Please. We’re an open book,” Seth said.