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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.

“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.”