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“You’re right.Sorry about that.”

She shook her head and waved off his apology.Jade felt sensitive about the subject.She couldn’t remember anything about her past life and although she found her place in the world with the assassins, she never felt wanted.And Noah being hesitant to be her mate reinforced the fact that she still wasn’t wanted.

Except for my skills as a tracker and fighter.

Shaking her head, she stopped her morose thoughts and nodded at Reaper.She was ready.

Jade followed Reaper to the clearing outside Xander’s house where they’d recently fought.She laughed when Silas waved his little arms at her and went to press a kiss on the top of his downy head.“I love you, little one.”

I love you, too, Jade.

Reaper moved near Noah so he could explain the way she fought.Jade was surprised when Noah gave her a short nod and a small smile.She would take it and smiled back.

Jade stepped into the clearing and turned toward Kane, always the first in the group to attack.He was a blur, even to her eyes, but Jade had honed her senses over the years, especially after getting her ass kicked by Kai so many times.She calmed her heart and relaxed her muscles, making tracking the gung-ho vampire easier.

The moment he reached for her, Jade ducked and timing it just right, she lifted up and planted her shoulder into his gut, before she twirled around.Using the momentum of the action and her strength, she launched him through the trees and out of view.

She swung around in time to capture Axel’s fist in her own.She twisted her wrist lightly, but the movement was enough to make the lion shifter lose his balance and flip in the air.He landed hard on his back and, with one strike to his sternum, Axel groaned and dropped his head on the ground.

Ara lifted her off the ground before she could strike Ax again.Jade waited until she reached a sturdy branch.She reached for the branch, flipped herself so she could stand on it, and without hesitation, she launched herself at Hunter.The surprised look on his face was nothing compared to when she lifted him easily and threw him at Ara, who hadn’t been expecting that counter.They tumbled into each other and she heard Reaper growl at her actions, but she ignored him.

Gunnar snarled at her and she blinked.She loved the way his soft gray hair would sway with the wind, but he snapped his sharp teeth together and charged.She sensed Kane coming back for a second round and dropped onto her back as he flew past her, hitting a tree and felling it.

“Hey, leave the trees out of this,” Xander huffed.

Gunnar reached her and snapped his teeth at her neck.She let him get close enough before she brought her knees to her chest.When she pressed her legs up to make contact with his chest, she sent him flying into the air and out of view.Silas chuckled to see a gray wolf flying through the air and that made her smile.

Thomas and Isaac, the two vampires who liked to fight together, reached for her and she darted out of their grip.They might be vampires, but she was faster.She maneuvered them until they were close enough she could feel the brush their strikes against her skin without actually landing.As they recovered and attacked again, she determined where they were to strike next and darted away in time so their strikes landed on each other.The force of their dual hits against each other sent them out of sight.

Xander shifted and Jade immediately followed suit.He growled at her, showing his large teeth, and she danced away.Xander charged and she rolled under him, his teeth missing her neck by millimeters.She unrolled from her tuck and pushed off the ground, landing on Xander’s back before he stopped his momentum.She pressed down on his shoulder blades.From his own forward momentum and the force of her body, his legs gave out and he skidded on his face for a few feet before stopping.

Ghost, in his white wolf form that she rarely saw, then jumped on top of her, pinning her to the ground.She immediately bared her teeth and growled, as did he, and they snapped at each other, trying to find a vulnerability.Getting nowhere, she moved and tried to head butt his leg.He noticed her actions and when he moved it, she shouldered Ghost off her and pounced on his back, bringing her mouth around his neck and squeezing slightly.She backflipped off of him and waited.

Kai was always her last opponent because he liked to be patient, looking for vulnerabilities in his enemies.She learned patience from him.

She scurried up the tree and rained branches and dead leaves down upon his head, chuckling to herself at her actions.

“Kai was the most talented fighter until Jade came along,” Reaper explained.

Jade heard Noah grunt and that split second of distraction allowed Kai closer.She jumped toward Kai, swiping her paw across his chest.When she heard the small grunt of surprise, she continued with her assault.She moved quickly, striking him on the legs, the Achilles, across the back, all while using the trees to ping-pong herself around Kai.

She continued with a strike on the back of his neck, his wrists, the back of his legs before she landed on all fours several yards from Kai and stared at him.

Kai nodded at her, telling her that if her claws hadn’t been retracted, her attack would have worked perfectly as she moved from artery to artery with swift and precise strikes.

“Her moves are always practical and logical.Also, they are the quickest way to eliminate a target.She will never allow herself to be overwhelmed and will separate the enemies before slowly killing them until there isn’t anyone standing.Your job is to keep those who don’t fight fair off her back until she’s done.But she’s always got your back.Don’t forget that.Protect your six and hers and you’ll be fine.”

Jade moved toward Liv, farther into the trees, where Liv handed her a hoodie and a pair of jeans.She hugged Liv and smiled when she pressed a smacking kiss to her cheek that caused Liv to giggle.She walked back toward the group.

“Inside for one last mission briefing,” Ghost announced.

Jade caught Silas as he jumped into her arms.She buried her nose into his stomach, loving the baby smell and something uniquely Silas, before tossing him in to the air.She laughed as he giggled and soon, she had him cradled in the crook of her arm.“I love you, little one, very much.”

I love you, too. I’m gonna miss you and Noah while you two are gone.

We’ll miss you, too.

Of course we will, buddy.We’ll be back soon, though.Jade wasn’t surprised Silas included Noah in the conversation.