“Yes, Asher mentioned that to us before. It’s something we’ll have to think about. For now, we both feel like our place is here. It’ll be better when we can visit everyone more. Just need to get the demons out of the way first.” Kristen smiled as Garrett placed his arm around her.
“It might be something we decide to do once everything settles down and we all survive this apocalypse.” Garrett chuckled and the group joined him.
“Take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you soon.” Caden looked at his old alpha and luna with a sad smile. It was hard seeing them go, almost as hard as it would be to leave his children behind when they moved to Elysia, but it was what he and Rosa both wanted. It was where most fairies and their mates went to live out the remainder of their lives.
Lita nodded with a smile, glancing back once more at the place she used to call home. She would be leaving part of her heart behind.
Asher helped her onto her hippogryph and the three of them set off, waving goodbye to her friends and family.
“Be safe, please,” Lita said quietly. Her whole life had been altered because of the demons. A determined gaze fell upon her face as she looked forward. She was going to put a stop to the demons so she and her family could live their lives freely.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“I’m glad you made it back alright. I take it Jester didn’t give you any problems?” Jin said casually, not noticing the minor twitch from Hunter’s eyes.
“Who is Jester?” Hunter asked, tilting his head to look at Freja.
“He’s a vampire. I needed to get the black pearl off of him,” Freja said casually, trying to brush off the conversation.
“Just a vampire? Try one of the fiercest vampires around!” Jin was wide-eyed with excitement.
Freja felt Hunter’s fingers squeeze into her arm slightly. “So he’s dangerous?” Hunter asked with a chill in his tone.
“That’s an understatement,” Jin said, oblivious of the tension she was causing. “How were you able to get the pearl from him?”
“He gave it to me.” Freja looked down at her hands. Jester was not a danger to her. It was the shriek and the other vengeful spirit that were dangerous.
“He just gave it to you?!” Jin leaned her hands on her knees, waiting in anticipation for the story.
“Why would he just give it to you?” Hunter’s tone was low, with a slight growl in it.
“Because … we’re friends,” Freja said with a small smile. She could call him a friend now, even though she couldn’t before. He was indeed her friend. Regardless of the fact that he was interested in Freja as a potential mate.
Jin furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at Freja, confused. “If you guys were friends, then why didn’t you tell me that? Why was it too dangerous for me to come along?”
“Yes, Freja … please elaborate.” Hunter looked at her with darkness in his eyes, something Chasen didn’t miss.
“Well, would you look at the time? It’s been a long day and I’m pretty tired. I think it’s time for bed.” Chasen coughed a bit, trying to get Jin’s attention.
“Go ahead and go to bed. I’ll be up after I hear Freja’s story,” Jin said, completely oblivious to the growing tension.
Freja looked at Chasen and gave him a small, appreciative smile. At least he tried. Jin was just too innocent sometimes. She wasn’t going to be able to escape this conversation, and maybe it was best to get everything out, since Jester planned to visit her.
“Okay,” Freja said with a sigh. “Umm … I guess at first I didn’t really think of Jester as a friend. It wasn’t until this time that I was able to understand friendship. Jester had never been dangerous to me. He was interested in me being with him as a mate.” Freja heard the low, throaty growl from Hunter. She ignored him and continued on with her story. “He actually protected me twice when I went to visit him. Once from the shriek, which will kill anyone who fears death.” Freja bit her lip and looked into Jin’s green eyes.
“I never feared death before, so running into the shriek wasn’t a problem. It would be for someone like you, though. I don’t fear death now, either. But I smell differently now that I am mated to Hunter, so the shriek hunted me. Jester shielded me from it. Then, there was something else in the woods, something new. A very vengeful and evil spirit. It was after love.Jester shielded me with his body, trying to protect me from it. We were lucky. Ciana was able to purify it.” Freja turned her head to look at Hunter. “He risked his life to protect me. He’s also planning to come and visit me here. I think he wants to get a look at my mate.” She gave Hunter a small smile.
Hunter offered her a smile back and nodded his head. He wanted to meet this guy, too. The least he could do was thank him for protecting Freja. His possessive wolf didn’t like the idea of another being interested in his mate, but Freja was here, by his side. She had chosen him.
“And that’s enough story for tonight.” Chasen tugged Jin up with him. “Have a good night, you two.” Chasen winked at Hunter, and with a crooked grin, he pulled Jin along with him. His brother and Freja were still new mates who hadn’t been together in a while. They would need to get reacquainted tonight.
Freja watched as they left, and Hunter pulled her to her feet. She looked into his silver eyes. “Are you upset?”
Hunter reached out and brushed her hair behind her ear. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against her forehead. “No, Freja. I don’t like hearing that you were in danger. And I’m not ecstatic to hear that another guy is interested in you, either. You put yourself at risk for me, for us.” He gave her a gentle smile and pulled her tight into his chest, holding her for a few moments. “I was so afraid I would never be able to see your face again,” he whispered.
Freja smiled into his chest. “You were such a drama queen. You were going to claw your eyes out.” She let out a muffled laugh.
“I don’t give a damn about my eyesight. What I needed was you. It was the only thought going through my mind.” His lips then curled up into a mischievous grin. “However, I am still opento a blindfold in the bedroom.” His voice dropped a bit lower, a suggestive hint in it.
