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Without hesitation, he replied, “I’m Hunter, I’m Neri’s immortal mate. I’m an immortal shifter if you wanted to be specific. I shift into a black panther.”

Instead of wondering what he meant, Thalia nodded her head once and turned back to Neri. “Let’s go inside and I’ll make tea. We can talk and catch up.”

“We would like that,” Neri said.

Thalia nodded and led them inside her house. The walls in the living room were a beautiful blue-green color that matched the creme chairs, sofa, and love seat, all splashed with blues and greens. But Thalia led them into the kitchen with a wooden table. A familiar wooden table.

“You bought one of my tables and the matching chairs to go along with it.”

Thalia laughed. “I bought this at Lancaster Furniture down on Snow Lane. I had a good feeling about the pieces once I saw them and I had to have them.” She directed them to take a seat and moved to the stove, flicking on the burner for the kettle.

They settled next to each other, facing Thalia, and Hunter wondered how long it would take before she asked her questions.

“Where have you been, moró korítsi? Oh, I’m sorry. I’d given myself at least fifteen minutes before I interrogated you, but you’re here and I can’t...”

“You have every right, mamá. I never intended to leave.”

“What… what do you mean?”

Neri glanced at Hunter and he gave her an encouraging smile, squeezing her hand resting on the table.

“From what we’ve learned over the past few days, someone kidnapped me in front of Standard Biotech on the way home from the store. Xander found they kept me there for a few weeks until I escaped. My memory is very sketchy. I remembered a girl from the orphanage when I was ten and after Xander told me about a foster mother, I remembered you. I remembered our life here. But nothing about the time they held me.”

Thalia jumped when the kettle whistled and poured the water into three teacups with the bags already inside. Neri hopped up and carried the tray to the table before her and Thalia sat.

“What did they do to you?”

Neri swallowed and reached for Thalia’s hands. “We think a scientist there, Dr. Stevens, injected me with shifter venom and I transitioned into a shifter who, as I remember from my memory, couldn’t shift. So instead of killing me or letting me go, and this is from what I remember, injected me with a combination bioweapon and vampire venom. Instead of killing me, my body accepted the injection so I’m a hybrid, half shifter and half vampire.”

She continued, telling Thalia all about how she’d met him and explained about his family, the assassins and what they’d discovered as she replayed the events from the past couple of days.

From the expressions on Thalia’s face, she understood the harsh realities of life and didn’t seem fazed at all by immortals; shifters and vampires alike. The love that shone in her eyes was the same look Xander and Frost, or any of the immortals, had whenever they spotted Silas. It promised unwavering support and love, with no explanation needed.

“Dr. Stevens… why does that name sound familiar?” Thalia asked.

“Older man, long face with cold eyes, and long, lanky legs?” Hunter described.

Recognition lit up Thalia’s eyes. “Yes, he came by here saying his car broke down and asked to use the phone. But he told me he worked at the hospital, but there are three. As he was dialing, his eyes kept darting around the house, searching for something. I forgot about the entire incident after he left, but then you disappeared three weeks later. Oh, Neri, I’m so sorry.”

“No, mamá, you didn’t know what he wanted. We still don’t. But I’m healthy. Do you want to come live with me, in case he comes back?”

Thalia shook her head. “No, moró, he won’t come back. I read in the paper about a year after you disappeared he died in a car accident. I remember seeing the picture and thinking he must have had more car trouble, and that’s what killed him. Now, I’m not so sure. And besides, I’m never leaving my house. We built a life here, and for me, it’ll always be here. But…”

She trailed off and Hunter glanced at Neri, a spark of something mischievous flashing in her eyes. And within seconds, Neri finished her sentence.

“You want to meet my new immortal family? I would love that. Do you have time now?”

Thalia’s eyes widened and her look implied she would refuse.

“They would love to meet you, so would baby Silas. He’s only a year and seven months old, but he’s brilliant,” Hunter said.

After that, Thalia agreed. They piled into the SUV and headed for Kai’s. He called to give him a heads up. Not that they needed one.

“Yeah.”

“Neri’s mom is coming to meet everyone.”

Kai didn’t say goodbye and hung up on Hunter, which made him laugh.