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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

HUNTER

“Surprise!”

Neri, who had her face buried against his chest, jerked in his arms before she held him tighter.

“What… what’s going on?”

Neri shook against him and for a long minute, he wondered if throwing a surprise party for Neri was the right thing.

“Um… we’ll it’s your birthday, and I wanted to throw you a party with everyone and surprise you. Are you… did you not want one?”

She shook her head before she paused for a moment. She sucked in a deep breath and released her hold on Hunter. With deliberate movements, she turned around, and she sucked in a breath as she took in the decorations and the confetti everywhere before her eyes landed on the group crowded around them.

Tears welled up in her eyes and Hunter opened his mouth to apologize and figure out how to make it up to her, but then he watched as the corner of her mouth lifted. Soon the other side followed and by the time she took in all the decorations and the confetti everywhere; on the floor, the tables, the chairs and couches, she was laughing.

Neri moved a hand to cup her neck as she turned back to Hunter.

“You did this… for me?” She choked on the last word.

He brought her closer and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I wanted you to forget about everything and have a good time. I hate the thought of you being alone for the last four years, not knowing when your birthday was or anything about your past. But I’m here… we’re here and we want to celebrate with you.”

“Thank you, love.”

“I would do anything for you, angel. Anything.”

Thalia stopped by Neri’s side and pulled her into a hug. “Oh, moró, happy birthday.”

“Thanks, mamá.” She leaned down closer to Thalia’s ear, “I’m so glad I found you again.”

“Me, too.”

At that, the floodgates opened and Axel was the first to pull her into a huge hug. “Happy birthday, gray eyes. What’s it like to besoold now? Almost geriatric.”

“Fuck you, lion. And it’s good. Wait, how old am I?”

“You’re twenty-five,” Xander provided before he side hugged her.

“Oh, no, a quarter century old. Do you need help walking?” Ax laughed at his own joke.

A huff escaped his throat as she punched him in the side, but smiled back at her when she laughed. Seth and Aubrey hugged her laughing when Neri giggled at their excitement. Thomas and Isaac gave her a serene smile as they took turns hugging her, wishing her many more happy birthday’s before they drifted off to a corner and started a private conversation.

Silas jumped into Neri’s arms and she gasped in surprise.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed, little man?”

He beamed at her and kissed her cheek. “Mommy let me sleep longer for my nap so I could stay up late. I didn’t want to miss your birthday.”

“Thank you.”

As she carried Silas around, Xander and Frost hugged her, and Kane picked them both up and squeezed before setting them down on the floor. Ara squeezed Neri’s hand, giving her a smile. Hunter noticed her eyes seemed less haunted than they had before her talk with Neri and when he glanced at Reaper, he even had a small smile on his face and the tension around his eyes and mouth had lessened.

“Okay, so I might have gone overboard when Noah and I went shopping and if there’s something you don’t like; the colors, the style, well, I’ll take them back, but I hope I picked out something you like,” Jade said.

“Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

Jade shook her head, sending her auburn locks flying back and forth.