Chapter 62
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Hunter opened his eyes in confusion. His head was resting on someone’s lap, and he was back inside the pack house. His eyes met with Chasen and Freja.
“He’s coming to,” Chasen said and turned to look at Reiya, who was gently cradled in Lee’s arms. He could see she was also waking up. And next to them, Xander was also stirring.
“Hunter? Can you hear me?” Chasen asked as Freja gently ran her hand through his hair.
“I can hear you, Chasen.” Hunter smiled lazily as he shifted into a sitting position.
He reached over and grabbed Freja’s arm, pulling her into his lap.
Just thinking that Kali would kill her had his protective instincts raging.
He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her neck to soothe himself.
“What happened?” Levi asked, looking at Hunter for a moment.
“My head feels heavy,” Xander said as he rubbed it. He looked at Lee holding Reiya. “Oh I see … there’s no one to hold me. Well, don’t be asking to hold me later then.” Xander sat up and looked at Reiya’s closed eyes. Her body shifted into Lee’s embrace as she pressed her face into his chest.
Suddenly, Reiya launched herself up and was now sitting on Lee’s lap. She looked around rapidly and relaxed as she found both Xander and Hunter. The tension in her shoulders released and she exhaled slowly.
She leaned her head back and groaned. “I am so over this chapter in my life. Someone just tell me when it’s over?” Reiya pouted and buried her head in Lee’s arm.
Brody was inching closer to Reiya now. It put him on edge when he felt like he couldn’t protect her. He wanted to hold her close, but that wasn’t happening with Levi around. He was practically snarling if anyone got too close.
“Everything is going to be okay, Reiya.” Xander looked at Hunter then. “Everything is going to be just fine.” He was saying this to Hunter as well.
“Someone please explain things for the rest of us?” Lee tightened his arms around Reiya and pulled her deeper into his chest. His eyes were now pinned on Xander, looking for answers.
“Looks like another demon is after our sister again,” Hunter said, looking up at Chasen and Brody. Hunter squeezed his arms tighter around Freja. “The original demon Mephisto has decided to claim Reiya for himself now.”
Lee let out a low, deadly snarl hearing that. Mephisto was a real threat. Not like Abaas, who he could have killed just by looking at him. He looked down at Reiya to see her eyes open with a small frown on her face. “Are you okay? I’m not going to let him touch you,” he cooed to her gently.
“He said he was going to kill you.” Reiya looked up at Lee. “But if he does that, he can’t have me anyway. I never felt more relieved to know that I’ll go when you go.” Reiya smiled up at Lee, who frowned at her.
“What do you mean by that?” Chasen asked quietly while Brody looked into his brother’s brown eyes.
“Reiya and Levi’s lives are linked together. If one of them dies, then they both will die.” Brody could see the immediate agitation in Chasen’s eyes, but a look from Hunter calmed him down. It was a look that said they would talk more about it later.
Lee smiled as he looked down at Reiya. “You’re writing me off as dead already, are you now? You really think I’ll let that sloppy demon get the best of me?”
Reiya smiled into his light blue eyes.
“Were you afraid? I know his appearance is terrifying.” Freja looked over to Reiya who turned around to look at her.
“He came to me in his human form.” Reiya tilted her head, not knowing what his true form was.
“That is disgusting.” Freja shook her head, scowling. “He wanted you to envision him in his human form because …”
“Yeah … he made it quite clear what he wanted me for,” Reiya said, and Lee held her tighter.
“I’ll be the one ripping him apart.” Lee’s eyes darkened and he growled lowly. She was his. His possession. His mate. He would protect what was his.
“So Mephisto pulled Reiya into a mental realm? Why?” Jin asked quietly.
“I think he was sizing me up. He was curious as to what type of person I was … I guess he liked what he saw.” Reiya frowned again. If only she had acted meeker.
“Why were you two taken there?” Chasen asked, his gaze flicking between Hunter and Xander.
“Selene and Kali brought us there to protect Reiya’s mental presence, since we’re both connected to her.” Xander shrugged.
“I’m connected to her, too. So why wasn’t I taken there?” Brody said in agitation. He was her guardian. He should have been there with her.
Xander shrugged again. He couldn’t exactly say the real reason. But Levi was studying him hard out of the corner of his eye. Damn. He was already suspicious.
Xander cleared his throat. “Anyway, I think we should all be on high alert. I have a feeling that we’re going to see trouble soon.”
“I think so too.” Hunter frowned. He hated keeping this secret from Freja.
But if she knew he was risking his life just to protect hers, she would be livid.
It wasn’t just that reason, though. Reiya had decided on her own that she would help out the Moon Goddess.
He would go just to protect Reiya. In either case, he didn’t want Freja worrying about it.
There was nothing that could change what had to happen.
For now, they just needed to concentrate on winning the demon war. That would be difficult enough.
“We get rid of one psycho and end up with another. Sounds about right.” Brody chuckled as he shook his head.
He wrapped his arm around Chelsie, who had been standing there quietly.
“I’m not sure if this needs to be said, but I’m going to say it anyway.
You’re not fighting. There isn’t a discussion to be had here.
” Brody felt Chelsie’s muscles tense as she turned to look at him with a frown.
He had a feeling that was what was going through her mind.
“I can’t not be there,” Chelsie said desperately.
“No. I can’t concentrate on fighting with you there. I think that much is obvious.”
The moment Brody said that, she immediately looked at the ground. That was true. They had lost him for a moment because he was worried about protecting her.
“Same goes for you, Jin.” Chasen gazed into Jin’s green eyes. “I’m not letting you and my unborn child anywhere near this war.”
“I’m Hunter’s partner. I came here to fight.” Jin looked at Chelsie in camaraderie. They were both being put in the same situation.
“Jin.” A quiet voice sounded from the kitchen.
Ciana walked toward her and gave her a small smile.
“I’ll fight hard enough for the two of us.
Chasen is right. You can’t risk it. You’re pregnant, and you need to take care of yourself.
What if something happens to the baby? You would never get over that.
” Ciana then looked over to Chelsie. “You wouldn’t either. ”
Jin lowered her head in defeat. She was thrilled to be pregnant, but the timing was horrible. She wanted to be there to protect her mate … wanted to be there to protect her new family. But she was going to have to stay back.
“Chelsie and Jin can stay in my kingdom. There’s a barrier there to keep demons out. We can make an exception for her, though,” Xander said, looking at Chasen.
“I appreciate that. But I think I will leave Jin in Elysia. My grandparents aren’t fighting in the war.
Instead, they’re going to be the last stronghold, in case things go bad.
I think I want to leave her in their care.
Either there or here in Black Ice Pack territory.
” Chasen could see Brody nodding in agreement.
“I think that’s where Chelsie will probably stay as well. It is her homeland, after all. Actually, I think it would be best if she waits with Jin.” Brody rubbed Chelsie’s side tenderly.
“I guess that’s it then.” Chelsie frowned.
“Your job is to keep yourself and our child safe.” Brody reached his hand over Chelsie’s stomach and rested it there with a smile.
Reiya had to be there to fight. There was nothing he could do about that.
But he could at least limit his distractions.
There was no way he could concentrate on fighting if she were on the battlefield.
He needed to know that they were safe. And he felt even better knowing that she would be with Jin.
The two of them could keep each other company.
Chelsie laid her hand over his and leaned into him. She knew she had to keep their child safe. She just wished she could stay by Brody’s side as well.
“Reiya. I also want you to stay behind …” Lee started, but Reiya swatted at his chest.
“Nice try. I’m not pregnant, so you can keep that talk to yourself.” Reiya giggled as she felt his lips press against her forehead.
Chasen looked over at his brother holding Chelsie close and then over the room.
It was nice having the four siblings together again.
And he was happy they’d all found their mates.
“I hope we can do this more,” he said quietly.
“It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other. I don’t want it to go that long again.”
“It won’t, and after this war is over, we’ll see each other at least once a month. I am mated to a dragon, after all. I might as well put that to good use.” Reiya bit her lip and smiled up at Lee.
“And maybe next time, we can have your parents here too, so you all can be together,” Lee said, smiling back at her.
“That’ll be nice. To have the whole family together. We’ve grown a lot since then and are still growing.” Brody grinned as he rubbed Chelsie’s stomach slowly.
Hunter looked over and caught his sister’s gaze.
He wished they knew more about this Slayer presence.
If they knew more about it, maybe they could try to combat it.
The dragons might have some ancient knowledge on this creature, maybe his grandmother as well.
He didn’t know how much time they had, but maybe they could uncover something about this creature.
It was better than going in blind. What could this creature do?
Did it have any weaknesses? Why didn’t the goddess elaborate on it more? Did she not know a lot about it either?
He looked over at Xander, who was also deep in thought. It appeared he was not the only one thinking about their upcoming challenge. Levi would probably know something about this Slayer creature. But that would be up to Reiya to discuss it with him.
“I’m going to step out for a bit of fresh air,” Xander said, abruptly walking out of the pack house.
Hunter and Reiya exchanged a quick look. They both knew why Xander needed the fresh air. He knew what was supposed to happen and yet he had to be a bystander. He was just supposed to be their lighthouse so they could find their way back.
“I wonder what’s bothering him,” Lee said as his face fell.
His eyes flicked at the closed door as he rubbed Reiya’s arm.
Xander was obviously upset about something, and he had a feeling it had to do with whatever happened while they were unconscious.
They wouldn’t be keeping secrets from him.
Maybe they didn’t want to say what happened in front of everyone.
That was fine. But he would know. Reiya had never been a good liar anyway.
Hunter slid Freja to the side and gave her a small smile as he stood up. “I’m going to step out for a moment, too. See if Xander wants some company. Besides, I need to get to know my new brother better.”
Hunter walked out of the house and began to look for Xander. He thought he would just be standing on the porch, but that wasn’t the case. He followed his scent away from the pack house and up into the woods. Finally, he saw him walking in the distance.
“Hey Xander, wait up,” Hunter said, jogging up to him. “You okay?”
Xander looked at Hunter, frustration evident in his eyes.
“I’m supposed to keep her safe. I can’t do that.
I have to just wait here. And this whole thing sounds shady and dangerous.
We haven’t been given all the information.
I don’t like this. And there isn’t a choice to refuse, which makes it even worse. ”
Hunter nodded in agreement as the two continued to walk together slowly. “I don’t like it either. But I’ll be there. I’m not going to let anything happen to her. She’s my precious sister, and I’ll protect her with my life.”
“I know you will. I just wish I could, too.” Xander let out a heavy sigh and kicked at the ground a bit as he walked forward.
“Well, we sort of need a way to come back, so without you, we’ll be lost in some sort of black hole. I would say that’s a pretty big deal.” Hunter smiled. “Do you think your archives might have something about this Slayer creature? Any information we can find about it would be helpful.”
“The Great Sage might have some information. I’ll ask him when we get back. Also, Levi might know, too.” Xander grabbed a stick off the ground and tossed it casually, watching it as it skipped off the ground a couple of times before it settled in one spot.
“Do you think Reiya will tell Lee about all this?” Hunter asked.
Xander chuckled. “He already knows something’s up. He’s lived for an eternity. We aren’t going to simply outwit him. She isn’t going to have a choice. Plus, she can’t keep secrets very well.”
Hunter laughed. “Reiya is horrible at it.”
“What am I horrible at?” Reiya asked, running up behind them.
“Keeping secrets.” Hunter turned and smiled widely at her.
“I can’t help it if my heart is just too sweet and pure,” Reiya said as she stepped between Hunter and Xander.
“Ha! That isn’t it. You just don’t have a poker face at all,” Hunter teased with a laugh.
“Are you both okay?” Reiya looked at Xander. “You seem upset.”
Xander let out an airy laugh. “Just a bit, Reiya.”
“So … who’s going to tell me the big secret you three have?” Lee asked, standing in front of them on the path.
“Hey! How did you get in front of us? Tsk … damn deities.” Hunter tipped his head and smirked at Reiya
Reiya sighed with a frown. “I am horrible at secrets.”