Chapter 38
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 open to a blindfold in the bedroom.” His voice dropped a bit lower, a suggestive hint in it.
“Oh?” Freja shrugged a bit and backed away from him. “We’ll have to see about that then sometime. For now, I need a nice, hot shower.”
“You smell fine to me,” Hunter said, his pupils dilated with desire.
“Nope.” Freja took another step away from him.
“Don’t even think about it,” she squealed, darting up the stairs, his footsteps right behind her as she shut the bathroom door and locked it.
She leaned her back against the door and listened to him breathing just on the other side.
She could see his shadow from underneath the door and smell his heavenly scent.
“Freja,” he cooed to her.
“I’m getting my shower, Hunter.” Freja giggled, though her heart was racing inside her. She heard the gentle thump of his body as he leaned against the door.
In a raspy voice, he said, “Hurry and get your shower.”
She didn’t hesitate. She quickly took her few moments of allotted time to get a hot shower and clean all her travel stench off.
The hot water cascaded over her body as she lathered up richly with soap, wanting to make sure she didn’t smell.
She knew exactly what was waiting for her once she finished cleaning up.
She closed her eyes, letting the water run over her.
She had told Hunter that she loved him right before she marked him.
They hadn’t had a moment alone since everything happened, and she wanted to tell him that she meant it, that she didn’t just say it in the spur of the moment. It was how she really felt.
She wrapped herself in a towel, feeling a bit nervous for some reason. Maybe it was because they’d been apart for a while, or maybe it was because she planned to tell him she loved him again.
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open, expecting to see Hunter on the bed, but he wasn’t there.
She looked around the room, but she didn’t see him in there at all.
Maybe he got called out? She walked over toward the balcony and looked out the window, peering upward at the night sky, which was peppered with stars and the moon.
She had never been a fan of the Moon Goddess or the dark priestess.
However, she had to admit that because of both of them, she was happy right now.
Because Hunter was her mate, she had finally found a home.
This was all the Moon Goddess’ doing. And because Kali gave her the information she needed about the blood potion, despite having to barter for it, she was able to restore his blood back to normal.
Well, almost normal. He was stronger now, and he would never be affected by a blood potion again.
She heard the gentle creak of the door and turned around. Hunter had walked in with a towel around him, his hair damp. His eyes immediately met with hers, and he smiled.
“I figured I probably needed a shower, too. Besides, I was going nuts out here just waiting for you.” He smirked at her as their eyes stayed locked together.
He could sense she was slightly nervous, and he was, too.
He walked up to her slowly, placing his hand on her shoulder and gently turning her to face him, fixing his gaze on her beautiful face.
His hand brushed against her cheek and then traced along her jawline.
“Freja … I missed you so much.” His voice was gentle.
Then he swallowed hard. There was something he wanted to tell her, something he didn’t get to say to her earlier.
“I love you, Freja.” He watched her eyes soften as a smile spread across her face.
“I love you, too. I wanted you to know that … that I really mean it. My heart completely belongs to you.” Freja looked into his gray eyes, and he gazed back at her with love and adoration.
His hands were both resting on each side of her face, and he leaned his head in against her forehead, his fingers brushing her cheeks. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had really hurt you, or …” His voice trailed off. If he would have killed her, he would never be able to forgive himself.
“It’s over now. It’s okay. I’m okay. Besides, don’t think I would have been an easy kill. I’ve spent most of my life hunting demons. I’m not exactly delicate.” Freja giggled as she watched his lips curl up.
“No, you aren’t delicate. But still, my queen, you are no match for me.
” He wrapped his strong arms around her, effortlessly lifting her into the air.
As he did, her towel unfurled and slipped away, revealing the alluring beauty of his beloved.
His gaze lingered, drinking in every detail of her form.
With gentle steps, he carried her across the room and tenderly placed her onto the soft, inviting bed.
As he leaned over her, his own towel slipped from his waist and cascaded silently to the floor.
Their breaths intertwined, deep and ragged as he gently crawled over her.
He traced the soft curve of her stomach, and her breath hitched in anticipation, her eyes mirroring the longing in his own.
They held each other’s gaze, a tender smile shared between them.
This moment had been far too long in the making. At last, they were together again.
He lowered his head, capturing her lips with his own.
His tongue brushed against her bottom lip before exploring her mouth, a silent testament to the emotions flooding him.
The kiss began, warm and unhurried, gradually intensifying as their tongues danced in a passionate rhythm, his hands mapping every inch of her body.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer, a soft moan escaping into the shared space between them.
The skin-to-skin contact sent delightful shivers through both of them. Their bond felt deeper now, their souls interwoven and marked, enhancing the desire that pulsed between them.
His lips moved with urgency against hers as his hands explored her skin.
A low growl rumbled in his throat as he used one hand to support himself.
With the other hand, he reached between them and guided himself to her entrance, teasing the soft folds of her womanhood with the tip of his erection.
He leaned down, biting her lower lip, sucking it between his teeth as he pushed himself inside her, relishing the way her body clenched around him.
She gasped into his mouth and then reclaimed his lips, her moans muffled by his rough kisses as she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper inside her. The electricity surged between them as their hips moved together in a passionate dance, each thrust driving them deeper into ecstasy.
“Freja,” Hunter breathed out as he trailed hot kisses to her neck. He licked the mark he'd placed on her skin and then pressed his lips over it, sucking gently on the symbol of their union. He listened to her moans as he felt the buildup between them.
She clung to him tightly, fingernails digging into his back as they both approached their peaks.
He timed his release with hers, pushing deeper inside her as they rode out their high together, each shuddering breath and tremble of their bodies a testament to the intensity of their love.
Freja felt her eyelids draw heavy, from both divine exhaustion and her tiring journey. She hadn’t slept well since she’d left Hunter, and she knew he hadn’t slept well either. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. A warm light surged between them, a new connection forming.
“I love you, Freja.” Hunter kissed her head as he tried to catch his breath.
“And I love you.” Freja rested her head on his chest, her arm draped over him.
“Freja …” Hunter rolled, hovering over her. “I am accepting you as my present and future. You are now and forever my fairy mate.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her eyes.
She felt a gentle warmth flow over her, like warm water being poured over her body. A new power ignited inside her. She could feel its presence, but it felt sealed. She looked up to see Hunter’s tired eyes looking down at her with love. “I can feel something happening, but I don’t know what.”
“I know you’ll have the gift of fairy sight now.
But I’m not sure if you get anything else.
The fairy princess bestows powers to her mate, but I don’t know if it works the same with me.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” He laid back down, feeling utterly content, and pulled her toward him again.
They had exchanged all their powers and had completed every possible bond.
For the first time since everything happened, the two of them fell into a deep, relaxing sleep. They clung to one another, afraid to let go, their breaths in sync as the moonlight shone through the window. They were not the only ones celebrating at this moment.