“I’ve known since our second day together. I was feeling drawn to you, and then I heard this inner voice. It was hard not to come on too strong with you. I didn’t want to scare you off. And just being around you and being close to you kept me happy. I love seeing you smile. This is all new and is a lot to take in. I never planned on taking a mate, let alone having a fated one. Now, though …” He leaned his head in and kissed the tip of her nose. “Jin, I need you. You are so much a part of me now that I don’t know how to exist without you anymore.” The mate bondwas truly amazing. The way it connected and united two people so completely was fascinating to him.
Jin leaned forward and pushed her lips against his, licking his bottom lip and gently sucking on it. She closed the distance between them, and he responded to her with a very slow, warm, passionate kiss as they bared their feelings to each other.
She smiled as she slowly parted from his lips. “I can’t explain what this means to me or how this even happened. I don’t think I’m someone who traditionally has a mate either. Being connected to you … it’s so nice to have you be a part of me, Chasen. I’ve been so …” She bit her bottom lip, not sure if she should say it or not. She looked into his eyes and her bottom lip quivered. “I’ve been so empty since my parents were killed. The loneliness almost swallowed me up before I met Ciana. I’m a bit emotionally overwhelmed, but in a good way. I never imagined that the mate pull would be this powerful.”
Chasen rubbed her shoulders. “Jin?—”
“Chasen!”
Chasen jumped, a bit alarmed. That was Hunter yelling for him. He hopped off of the bed and threw his shorts on. “I’m going to see what’s wrong. I’ll be back.” He immediately shut the door to her room and ran down the hall. He flew to the far end where Hunter’s room was and flung his brother’s door open to see Hunter holding his head.
“Hunter? Hunter, what’s wrong?”
“Thank goodness you’re alright. I thought something happened to you.” Hunter looked up at Chasen and shook his head slightly. “Something feels weird. I came in to grab some towels and my body started feeling this weird energy and connection. I was afraid something happened to you. But now that I’m studying it, that isn’t what this is. It’s …” He studied Chasen for a moment. “I can feel … this is Jin I’m feeling. She—she—she … holy shit, she’s my guardian now. How did thathappen?” Hunter looked up to see a crooked grin on Chasen’s face. “You know, don’t you?”
“I think I’m the reason Jin’s your guardian now. Sorry about that. I didn’t know that would happen.”
“Is everything okay?” Jin walked in, dressed in a t-shirt and her shorts. She couldn’t just sit there. What if Hunter was in trouble? She was his guardian now and needed to be there, too. She was now drawn to Hunter but not like a mate … more like an overprotective mother.
Hunter took one look at Jin and the fresh mark on her neck. A smirk spread across his face and he straightened his body posture. “I see you finally marked your mate.”
“Mutual mates,” Chasen corrected, putting his arm around Jin. “She also recognizes me as her mate. We’re not sure how or why, but we aren’t complaining about it.”
Hunter smiled. “Welcome to the family, Jin.”
She blushed slightly and leaned her head into Chasen. “Thank you.”
Hunter’s eyes glazed over, and he looked at Chasen. “Chelsie’s back.” He immediately felt worried, especially since Abaas had just reached out to his sister. “Jin, please wait here. I don’t want Reiya to find out about Chasen’s mate yet. I’m hoping we can give them this good news in person.” He smiled, knowing this would mean a lot to Chasen. “Let’s go, Chase. There could be a problem.”
Chasen kissed Jin’s head and smiled down at her. “Why don’t you get a shower and start moving your things into my room?” He gave her a crooked grin and looked up at the ceiling. “I mean, I figure that after … you know … that we should just, ummm … share a room from now on? That is, if you want.”
Jin giggled and kissed his jawline. “That sounds wonderful. I don’t think I could sleep away from you now.” She blushed slightly.
He grinned widely and pulled her up into a hard, rushed kiss. “I’ll be right back,” he said excitedly, practically gushing over his new mate, then trotting after Hunter. He would have to hide his euphoric high from Chelsie. He couldn’t wait to tell Brody and Reiya. And the next time his parents visited, they were in for a huge surprise as well.
Hunter listened as his brother caught up to him outside. He didn’t get a chance to say anything to him since Chelsie was briskly walking toward them.
“Chelsie, what’s wrong? What happened?” Hunter asked, a bit concerned.
“Reiya has sent someone to the Black Ice Pack to help in case the demons show up,” Chelsie said hesitantly as both men furrowed their brows.
“What? She’s sending someone here? A dragon?” Hunter rubbed his hand over his face. What was his sister thinking?
“No, she’s not a dragon,” Chelsie said quietly.
“She? Reiya is sending one girl here to help US with the demons?” Chasen chuckled a bit condescendingly.
Chelsie cleared her throat. “Reiya told me to stress to you both that this is someone she trusts and that she expects you to accept her.”
“Fine,” Hunter groaned. “Give me more details, Chelsie.” This time his voice was laced in annoyance.
“Her name is Freja. She’s a demon huntress. She is also a dhampir.” Chelsie saw their agitated faces. “Look, she’s already on her way here. Reiya gave her a letter to give to you so you will know it’s her. Reiya trusts her. In fact, she risked her life saving her. So please take that into consideration.”
“Reiya would risk her life for most people. That’s the way she is … it doesn’t mean anything about this person.” Hunter snorted. He hated the idea of his sister being in danger andputting her life at risk. What the heck was going on? Where the heck was her guardian while she was risking her life?
Chasen growled and scowled angrily. A demon hunter? A demon hunter was heading their way. What about his mate? His mate was a demon. There better not be any problems.
Hunter knew exactly what Chasen was thinking. “I don’t like having a stranger here. We don’t know anything about her. What if she causes problems?”
