What, You Jelly?
To say that things were awkward until the other two Hunters showed up would be putting it lightly. Aside from a few grunts of acknowledgement, neither dude said a damn word to each other. Instead, everything was directed at me, as if they couldn’t be bothered to wait for the other one to finish.
It was honestly the worst.
So, when the other two Hunters appeared, I praised them for the gods of salvation they were.
“You must be V?” a man asked, whose eyes could only be described as the color of ice.
His raven-black hair was styled and swept back, emphasizing his pale features. Dressed in form-fitting garb, the handsome stranger looked like he should be at a fashion show and not out hunting Shadow Goblins.
There wasn’t really a better way to describe him other than the dude was pretty as fuck. It was a gorgeousness that transcended gender and, honestly, reality. My face was sure to say so, and it took every bit of my willpower not to outright drool in his presence.
Is he glowing?
His features oddly reminded me of elves portrayed in fantasy movies—they were perfect, seamless, without flaw. It was a beauty I wanted to photograph and send to Kate, sure she’d be just as mesmerized. My hand itched to reach into my pocket for my phone to do just that.
“You okay there?” the attractive stranger asked as I continued to stare silently at him.
And he’s like, six-foot-three. Easily.
“I…you. Me fine,” I managed to string together, giving Nigel and Phillip plenty of reason to snicker.
I absently wondered how soft the new dude’s skin was, because it looked really smooth. Baby smooth.
The amorous Hunter wore a thickly padded vest over his chest, but it was easy to see without looking too hard the other Hunter was built to fight.
Not like Nigel or Phil, but more like someone who primarily used martial arts, because the tone in his arms and torso suggested he’d be limber and quick.
Super limber.
The compound bow and sniper rifle strapped to his back also meant he was likely a long-range fighter.
“I mean,” I started, working hard to get my head together, “That’s me. I’m V. In the flesh. At your disposal.”
I couldn’t stop the lame greeting even if I wanted to. To clarify, guys who looked like I should be reverently bowing and calling them Elf King made my brain short-circuit.
“And you are?” I asked slowly.
“Sloan,” he introduced, reaching a hand out to me first.
Sloan was my new favorite name.
I shook his shockingly hot hand with a covert glance at the woman directly behind him, whose purple hair I envied fiercely. “Nice to meet you.” I flicked my eyes to the Shifter beside me, somehow remembering his name. “This is Nigel, the alpha of the pack helping us out today.”
Sloan offered Nigel a friendly smile. “Pleasure. Been a while since I got the chance to work with a Shifter. Can’t lie, I’m a bit eager to see how well your pack performs since it was Phillip who personally recommended you.”
The dude had a Jason Statham accent, and it was absolutely delectable to the ears. His charm stock was off the charts with it, and I fantasized briefly about the things I could coax him to say if given the chance.
Nigel’s expression betrayed his momentary discomfort. “Hope I can live up to all the hype.”
Sloan clapped a hand on my friend with a chuckle. “I’m sure you will. Phillip so rarely recommends anyone.”
Well, shit.
When I looked over at the Hunter in question, the Austrian didn’t seem the least bit sorry that his recommendation put pressure on Nigel and his pack to perform. By the tilt of the sexy bastard’s lips and small laugh, I’d say it was the exact opposite.
Phillip was enjoying every minute of it.
What an asshole.
Phillip greeted the woman behind Sloan when she finally looked up from her phone. “Kris.”
Her blue eyes beamed in recognition. “Been a minute since I last saw your pretty face.” Her red-painted lips rose sarcastically. “Still breaking hearts wherever you go?”
“That’s a pretty serious accusation you’re making,” my partner retorted, light eyes glittering happily.
Kris shrugged unapologetically. “It’s not an accusation if it’s the goddamn truth.”
The air scintillated with unspoken remarks, and the entire group quieted as the two looked at each other.
I wasn’t slow. Clearly the two of them had a history together, and it would make sense. The purple-haired woman was gorgeous.
In a black, glossy corset and tight pair of jogging pants, it was easy to see she didn’t lack on womanly wiles.
Her weapons were on full display—throwing stars, daggers a similar shape and length as mine, and two long katana swords crossed over and sheathed at her back.
With one look, I was confident she and I’d get along nicely.
Her weaponry was kick-ass and I honestly couldn’t wait to see the woman fight.
But the way she talked to Phillip bothered me more than I thought it would. More than I wanted to admit to myself it did. It spoke of a strong intimacy—and I could hazard a guess what kind.
It didn’t surprise me.
By the way Phillip carried himself and talked, it’d be weirder if he hadn’t slept with her.
It didn’t, however, spare me the uncomfortable feeling in my throat or the less-than-subtle tick in my lip, which I had to bite to avoid exposing.
For some reason, it was difficult to swallow when I thought the two had been intimate in the past.
I’m literally going crazy.
Kris placed a hand on her hip, her beautiful figure nothing but sensual curves from top to bottom. “Well, most knew what they were getting into.”
“It’s good to see you, too. I look forward to working with you again.” Phillip grinned to himself, clearly amused.
Nigel touched my shoulder, his worried eyes on me. “You doing okay, V?”
I snapped out of my quiet daze with Nigel’s low, entreating voice. “Just dandy,” I lied, ignoring the tight knot in my stomach and hard lump in my throat. “Ready to get this thing underway, if I’m honest.”
Phillip’s eyes were on us. “You can go with these two, Nigel. They’d benefit most from your tracking abilities.”
Nigel’s expression instantly soured. “I’m good. I’ll stay with V. If you’d prefer, I’ll accompany her while you go off with them.”
Kris and Sloan watched the exchange, obviously intrigued, but it was like Phillip and Nigel didn’t see anyone around them. They traded short, irritated remarks, and then outright glared at each other with heat, neither showing signs of budging.
“Or maybe you two studs could go off together and I’ll just hang out with the new Hunters,” I suggested, completely over their childishness.
Sloan’s mouth quirked upwards. “That suits me just fine.” His captivating eyes settled on me with interest. “Something tells me you’re nothing but entertaining.”
Brow knitting together, I scoffed. “Not sure how to take that one, Sloan.”
His laughter was ridiculously adorable. “I promise it’s meant only as a compliment, V.”
Kris shook her head, definitely not convinced. “That said, we’d happily take you along. I’m eager to get to know the infamous granddaughter of Rose.”
“Grams is a beast, but I’m only like…half beast.”
Nigel harrumphed, hiding a smile behind his fist. “If that’s how you feel, I’m a little worried about how little self-awareness you have.”
“Shut it,” I clipped, irritated.
Sloan crossed sinewy arms over his chest, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. “I don’t believe for a second you’re not all beast,” was all he said, voice a deep growl. “I have a feeling you are in more ways than one.”
Hottie alert.
Uncomfortable with being the center of attention, I moistened my lips and dropped my gaze to the floor. “I’m still learning.”
Sloan chuckled lightly. “I can teach you a few things if you’d like.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think the Elf-like Hunter was hitting on me, and I seriously couldn’t deal.
Guys as hot as Sloan didn’t exist at my school, outside of Nigel and Phil.
I still didn’t manage full sentences when they chose to use their gorgeous charms on me.
I hated how much of a blubbering mess I turned into around them, but I didn’t make it a habit of talking to dudes who literally looked like they should be on the cover of a fashion magazine.
To be fair, girls just as hot did things to my tongue that made it impossible to sound clever or cute. It was the entire reason Cici won every time she said anything rude to me.
Not only was it a bad idea to make waves at school, but the girl was attractive to the nth degree.
She knew it. I knew it. We didn’t pretend it wasn’t a thing.
But her heart was one of the ugliest I’d ever seen.
It was better to just let her live out her teenage dream of bad bitch at school before we all went our separate ways and I didn’t have to deal with her anymore.
I opened and closed my mouth, failing to say anything when Sloan’s stunning smile was an instant K.O.
Phillip scowled and readjusted his sword. “I need to stay with you, V. Can’t exactly train you if I’m not there.”
He wasn’t wrong, and I grumbled because I didn’t want to admit it made sense. My abilities weren’t really ones the other Hunters could train easily, and no matter how much it appealed to me to get away for a minute, I couldn’t find a good reason to argue with the Austrian.
“Then we’ll stay the three, and Sloan and Kris can go check out the other spot you mentioned. Come on, we’re losing daylight bickering over who goes where,” I said, sighing.
Kris cradled her jaw thoughtfully. “I like her, Phil. She’s already used to your crap and doesn’t let you play king. She’ll be a good partner.”
Phillip tossed the other Hunter an annoyed look. “No one asked for your opinion, Kris.”
She shrugged with her mouth swept up in amusement. “And yet, you got it.”
Yeah, I definitely liked her.