Page 30

30

HUNTER

P andora sat on the edge of my desk, and a constant stream of determination flowed through our matebond from her.

At her request, I’d gathered her dad, Jenni, and Joel in my office. She’d woken up with her mind clear and her intent fierce. She had too much on her plate, yet she didn’t let it drown her. Instead, she wanted to help my best friend. She was truly selfless, and Fates, I loved her with every fucking bit of my heart and soul.

Sure, Joel had no clue what was happening. Neither did Jenni. But Death and I did. We knew what Pandora had been trying to do for him. She just didn’t want to give him false hope, which was good.

False hope could be far too cruel.

Joel and Jenni sat across from us on my sofa a foot apart, their expressions tense with anticipation. Death leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his presence heavy in the room as he glared at Joel from the back.

“So, uh, not that I’m not happy to see my savior, but why are we all here?” Joel squeaked out, no doubt feeling Death’s glower at him.

“I was wondering the same,” Jenni murmured, shifting on the cushion. “I thought you had your session at this time.”

“Oh, we do. Hunter and I will continue our session after all of this.” Pandora’s red eyes met mine, and she grinned before turning back to them. “But I called you all here because I’ve been practicing something in secret, and well...I’m ninety-nine percent sure that I can bring Joel’s magic back.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Joel inhaled sharply. His eyes shimmered with tears, and he ran a trembling hand through his brown hair. “You…you really think you can?” His voice cracked. “You’d even try?”

“I have to try,” she murmured, glancing at Death. “Dad is the one who helped me realize I can.”

Jenni gasped, turning to look at Death. “Daryl, baby? You did? That’s so sweet!”

Death shifted on his feet. “I did.”

Joel turned toward Death, eyes wide. “I knew you really did like me!”

Death grumbled, but his posture softened slightly. “I told Pandora because it was the right thing to do. Plus, my mate’s attached to you, so…”

“Aww. Death is actually a teddy bear,” Joel cooed.

“Don’t go that far,” Death grunted.

“Listen, I’m sorry for this part, Dad.” Pandora shifted her focus to Jenni. “But, Jenni, I need you to hug Joel.”

Jenni blinked owlishly. “What?”

Death groaned. “I knew this was coming.”

“Hug him. Please,” Pandora prompted. “His magical essence appears for me when you do.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” she asked Death, who nodded with a frown.

“Do it. Pandora told me ahead of time, and I gave my blessing then.”

“If you’re sure…”

Death’s eyes softened more. “I am, love.”

With a soft exhale, she looked at Joel and scooted closer. “Okay, here it goes.” She carefully wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug.

The moment her hands touched him, something flickered. A spark of shimmering energy that made my breath catch.

Pandora tilted her head. “Dad, do you see this?”

“I do.” Death frowned like he couldn’t comprehend what was happening. “Push the magic into his soul,” he coached her.

She pushed with her magic the way he told her. I couldn’t see it, but somehow, I sensed his soul being manipulated. “His magical essence is almost fully merged with his soul again.”

“I can see that. Gently push.” Death kicked off the wall and stood by Jenni. “Don’t give way or it’ll pull back again.”

Pandora’s hands curled into fists, her jaw clenching. I could feel the strain rolling off her and see the sweat beading at her temple as she fought to control it. She let out a shaky breath.

“Holy Fates,” I whispered, my gaze momentarily leaving my mate.

Joel gasped, his body tensing as his dormant pheromones flared to life around him. He trembled in Jenni’s arms.

“Breathe,” Death instructed, his voice soft. “Feel it. Direct it. The magical essence is not fully absorbed by his soul yet.”

Pandora’s whole body vibrated. Magic crackled around her as she worked her magic. Then, with a final push, a bright surge of light filled the room.

Joel inhaled sharply, his body shuddering as his magic settled within him once more. His pheromones thickened my office, and my brows shot up.

She did it.

Joel had his magic back.

Tears spilled down his cheeks, his hands shaking as he clung to Jenni. “Fates, Pandora, you saved my life and my magic. I can’t thank you enough!”

I caught Pandora’s gaze. My chest was tight with something raw and overwhelming. “Thank you.”

She smiled, exhaustion leaking into our bond. “Joel deserved his magic back. I couldn’t do it without Jenni being near him,” she admitted, glancing at the way they held on to each other.

I had to admit, their relationship didn’t seem like a trauma bond right now.

“I knew you could do it,” Death told Pandora with pride in his gaze. “Now, Joel, stop choking my mate with your pheromones.”

Something else shifted with both Jenni’s and Joel’s magic as they started to pull back. A slow, unmistakable bond between Jenni and Joel flickered to life, something deeper than magic. Something primal. Something I was familiar with: a matebond.

Death stiffened, eyes widening. “Oh.”

Jenni and Joel clung to each other again, a dazed sort of realization dawning between them.

Joel let out a shaky laugh. “I fucking knew it!”

“Wait, hold on.” Jenni pulled away slightly, eyes flicking to Death. “Are you…okay with this?”

Death ran a hand down his face, sighing. “I was jealous of Joel before now. I’ll admit that. But now that the bond is there between you two…I’m not. The jealousy is literally not there anymore. If anything, I’m rather fond of him. The Fates always know what they’re doing, so Joel’s...family now.”

“You accepted that so quick, Death.” Joel choked on a laugh, pulling Jenni into a tighter embrace. “Thank you, though, and thank you, Pandora, for giving me this.”

Pandora and I watched as the moment settled around us. I placed a hand on her back, warmth spreading through me. Happiness for them bounced through our own bond.

Joel had always wanted a mate, and now he had one. Plus, he shared a bond with my mate’s father.

That made him family, too.

“Congratulations, you two,” she said with a grin. “Dad, I’m happy our family is growing.”

“Me too,” he murmured, and there was not a hint of jealousy in his tone, his gaze, or his soul as he watched Jenni and Joel hug.

Though, I could relate to how he must be feeling. I felt the same warmth in my heart watching Pandora with any of her other mates.

Jenni grabbed Death’s hand, too, jumping to her feet and tugging both of her mates toward the door. “Enjoy your session, you two! I’ll be busy for the next few days.”

Death smirked playfully. “ If Joel can even get it up.”

Pandora cringed.

“Nu-uhh,” Joel blurted, pointing at his crotch that obviously sported an erection. “Jenni fixed it, see?”

I groaned, jumping to my feet, and immediately covered Pandora’s eyes. “Dude, in front of my mate?”

“Shit, sorry, Hunt!” Joel yelped.

Jenni cackled. “Oh, fuck, yes! Someone as open as I am!”

Death slammed the door shut behind them. “My daughter saw that, Joel!”

“She sees more than you think from her own mates,” Jenni teased him as they disappeared down the hall.

“Oh my Fates,” Death muttered. “I don’t want to think about that!”

Pandora and I started laughing, my chest pressed against her back, the weight of the moment settling into something warm and inevitable.

She grabbed my wrist and pulled my hands from her eyes as she turned to face me. “I did it! Fates, I had a suspicion they were mates, but the way it snapped immediately shocked me. Dad’s even okay with it!”

“Of course he is. They’re mates.” My fingers wound with hers. “You didn’t just give Joel his magic back. You gave him himself back. I didn’t think he’d ever get a second chance like this.”

She squeezed my hand. “He deserved one.”

I hesitated before admitting, “Joel has always been there for me. It means a lot that you helped him.”

“I know, Hunt.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against mine, sending tingles straight to my cock.

“Joel admitted to me that he was in love with Jenni. I warned him to stay away because of Death, but it just makes sense now,” I admitted. “I even feel bad for telling him to back off.”

“Good thing he didn’t listen to you.” She pulled back, understanding in her eyes. “Jenni was always a little too invested in Joel than just a friend. It makes more sense now.”

I tucked her hair behind both of her ears and kissed her again. “As much as I’d love to lay you out on my desk and make you cry out in pleasure, we’ve already been scolded for our indulgence during your session time.”

She pouted, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she slipped off my desk and walked over to sit on the sofa. “You have a valid point.”

“Usually do.” I smirked.

With a lot of effort, our conversation drifted to the mission with the supernatural agents coming up this weekend—and how strange it had been to have a weekend without a mission. We were getting far too comfortable with the supernatural agents and sabotaging ritual sites, to be honest.

We talked mainly about Dark Veil and our other threats for the rest of our hour.

Before I realized it, time was up, and Dex melted into the room from the shadow. A lazy grin played on his face. “It’s fucking crazy that Jenni and Joel are mates. I told the rest of the guys in the group chat.”

I groaned. “Dex?—”

He held up the tablet before handing his to Pandora, who was giggling. “Check your messages.”

I grabbed my tablet and slid it in front of me before going into the group chat.

Dexter Shadowheart

Do you know what our beautiful mate just did?

Bram

What did she do?!

Reed Nyx

Did she manage to give Joel his magic back?

Dexter Shadowheart

She did. And guess what? Joel and Jenni are mates.

Skel Grimshaw

Oh shit.

Bram

Oh fuck.

Reed Nyx

Is Death okay?

Dexter Shadowheart

He’s actually really fucking chill about it.

Reed Nyx

Really? That’s good.

Bram

And Pandora?

Pandora giggled and handed Dex’s tablet back to him before pulling her own out.

“I’m truly shocked as well, you know,” Nebula said from her bag. “Just kidding. I called it before anyone.”

“You did,” Pandora agreed before messaging the chat.

Pandora Gravesend

I’m happy for them.

Hunter Darkmore

You guys are insufferable.

Dexter Shadowheart

You love us.

Hunter Darkmore

I tolerate you.

Reed Nyx

He loves us, don’t worry. He’s told me so.

Skel Grimshaw

I knew it!

Pandora laughed, leaning against Dex, who had splayed out on my sofa next to her as the chat continued.

Warmth spread through my chest.

Yeah.

This all made so much sense now.