Chapter 64
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
It was sad to see his brother and sister leave again, but they would be seeing one another again soon. Hunter walked back into the pack house with Freja by his side. He rubbed her shoulder and she leaned into his chest.
“I need to speak with you about something,” Hunter said quietly. He then turned to Chasen and Jin. “Let’s head up to my room for a bit. I have something important I need to tell you all.”
“Yeah, you do. You aren’t leaving me out of whatever’s going on,” Chasen said in a grumbling voice.
He could sense the tense atmosphere when the three of them woke up.
Reiya was always horrible at keeping secrets, but the other two were showing signs of secrecy as well.
He and Brody were apprehensive, wondering what else must have happened.
Hunter pulled Freja onto his lap on his couch, and Chasen sat down, with Jin sitting on him. They were all looking at Hunter curiously, waiting for him to explain what was going on.
“We were unsure what we wanted to do with the information we were given. At first, we weren’t going to say anything, but I realized it was unfair.
I would want to know. I wouldn’t want secrets kept from me.
” Hunter rubbed his hand along Freja’s side.
They deserved to know what to expect, so they wouldn’t be in shock when the time came.
There wouldn’t be time to talk about it then.
He was certain, now more than ever, that it was better to tell them.
Hunter carefully went over all the details with them, including the part about Kali and Freja.
He made sure he mentioned that it didn’t change anything anyway.
He told them that Reiya had planned to go through with it no matter what, and as the only one who could go with her, he would be by her side to protect her.
“So I have to just sit around while my brother and sister go on a dangerous mission. One that doesn’t promise you can even return, even under the best of circumstances …” Chasen’s voice was dangerously quiet, laced with agitation.
“I don’t think Kali would do something like that.
I know she’s desperate for her brother to be returned, but she isn’t like that.
I’m sure she’s only saying it out of desperation.
” Jin refused to believe that Kali would really kill Freja.
She had come to know her, and this wasn’t the person she was.
No, she knew Kali. She was bluffing. She was sure of it.
“That part really doesn’t matter, to be honest. Reiya would go anyway,” Hunter said quietly. He rubbed Freja’s arms while she stayed silent. His gaze swept over her as he waited to hear what she thought about all of this.
“Could you two please excuse us, so we can talk?” Freja finally spoke, her green eyes locking on Chasen and Jin. They both nodded and immediately left the room.
Hunter shifted Freja around on his lap so he could see her face. Her hand came up to his cheek, and she leaned in to rest her forehead against his. They stared into each other’s eyes, their soft breaths the only sound in the room.
“I’m sorry, Freja,” Hunter said as he reached up and cupped her cheek. “I will make it back to you. You know I will.”
Freja smiled softly. “I’m worried. I’m worried about all of it.
The war that’s coming up. The demons we have to fight.
And then you going into this black hole.
What if you end up trapped in there? How do I get you out?
But …” Freja pulled away from him. “But even though I’m worried, I know you can do this.
I want you to be there to protect Reiya.
And even though I’m not a fan … having you as a mate is more than I could have ever asked for.
So I also feel like we owe it to Selene.
” She smiled at Hunter and ran her hand over his face.
She felt him kiss her fingers as they traced over his lips.
“I’ll wait for you. No matter how long it takes …
I’ll be waiting for you. If you get lost in there and it takes you years to emerge, I’ll still be waiting for you. ”
Hunter closed his eyes under her tender touch and breathed in the scent of his mate.
“I’ll come back to you, Freja. No matter what.
I’m going to make it back to you. We have a future to live out together.
And babies to make along the way.” His hands found her waist, fingers pressing into the curve of her hips as he drew her flush against him.
The heat of his body seared through the thin fabric separating them.
He leaned in, his breath warm against her mouth for one suspended heartbeat before his teeth caught her lower lip.
A gentle tug, then another, each one sending sparks skittering down her spine.
His tongue swept over the tender flesh, soothing and teasing in equal measure.
He growled against her lips. “Maybe we should practice a bit more … just to make sure we know what we’re doing.”
Freja giggled, but then she jolted upright. Her attention was away from Hunter and on the far side of the room.
“What is that?”
Hunter turned his head and then grumbled under his breath. “Chasen must not have his aura up. It’s just a little house brownie. It probably came here because it sensed Reiya.” He smiled softly. “This is your first time seeing one, huh?”
“Yes it is. I’ve seen your messenger fairies, but never one of those.” She smiled. “It’s really cute. Can I … can I hold it?”
Hunter chuckled. They could continue what they’d started later. He stood up and squatted down, holding his hand out. “Come on over here.” The brownie scurried over and crawled into his hand and he carried it over to Freja. “They’re actually little troublemakers.”
“Well then, I guess they fit right in here, huh?” Freja smirked at Hunter.
“You are adorable. Were you looking for Reiya? Sorry you missed her this time. Maybe next time she visits.” Freja slowly lowered it back to the ground.
She watched it scurry along and run through the wall.
Her eyes widened, and she turned to Hunter to see if that was normal.
Hunter chuckled. “I’ll take you to Elysia soon. There are so many different fairies I want to introduce you to.”
Freja grinned at Hunter and wrapped her arms around his waist. “So what’s our next move now? Should we get in contact with Jester to see what the vampires know about Slayer?”
Hunter nodded his head. “I thought about asking Ciana if she would deliver a message for us. And I’m going to send out a fairy messenger for my mother. Then, Reiya will be trying to gather information on her end as well. Surely we’ll find something.”
“Let’s get those messages out, then. The sooner the better. We don’t know how much time we actually have.” Freja tugged on his side, and he leaned his head down to her ear.
“Okay, but tonight … tonight, I’m going to need some of my favorite dessert.” He leaned down to her neck and licked over his mark.
Freja turned and giggled at him. “Hunter Chain. If you get me pregnant before this demon war, I’m fighting anyway. So don’t even think about it.”
“You probably would fight anyway.” Hunter looked at her with amusement.
“Try me, wolf boy.” Freja quirked her eyebrow at him, and he chuckled lowly. He brushed his lips against hers with a smile.
“I love you, Freja.” His silver eyes shone at her. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. She was more than his mate. She was his life. He could not make it in this world without her. He was certain of it.
“I love you too, Hunter. But I am serious about the whole pregnancy thing,” she scolded playfully. She pulled his hand, and they both chuckled together as they walked out of the room.
Drip. Drop.
Drip. Drop.
“Do you think it was wise to tell them about everything?” Kali asked as she stared into the bubbling pot in front of her.
“I think they deserve that much. They are risking their own lives and future. They deserve to know.” Selene looked at Kali with a frown. “I don’t like you using Freja as a tool, though.”
“It was just extra insurance. We didn’t come this far to lose our chance,” Kali said simply.
Selene smiled at her. “Is that right? Who do you think you’re fooling, though?”
Kali’s black beads looked up from her pot to Selene.
“You’re bluffing. That isn’t what the black pearl is for.” Selene watched as Kali turned back to her pot abruptly.
“Doesn’t matter. They believed it. That’s the only insurance we need.”
“You had Freja get the black pearl for another purpose, though … didn’t you?” Selene smiled knowingly.
“You are incredibly nosey. Do you have to peek at all the futures? Look at the present every once in a while,” Kali spat out as she stirred her pale, boney finger in the pot.
“We’re going to get Endymion back, and you’ll finally be able to leave here. It’s almost time.”
“I can’t see the future past the black hole. Its darkness blocks my visions. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Kali scowled as she remained focused on the pot.
“I can’t see anything either. All we can do is put our trust in them and hope for the best.” Selene sighed. “Do you think he knows we’re coming for him? You don’t think he ever thought we gave up on him, do you?”
Kali stopped stirring the pot, and a small smile crossed over her lips. “No. Not Endymion. He knows we would never give up on him. Even now, he’s waiting on us.”
She lifted her head and looked at Selene. “When this is all over, we’ll take a much-deserved break. We’ll leave it up to the legacy we’ve helped create to take care of this world. Our time is coming to an end here. It’s time to give up the reins.”
“Giving up the reins will be hard.” Selene sighed with a smile.
“But you’re right. We do deserve a break.
We’ll leave this world to the Chain family and their legacy.
The whole point of their family is to bring unity to the species, and that’s exactly what they’re accomplishing.
If we can’t give up the reins now, we’ll never be able to. ”
“Selene …” Kali whispered out. “What happens if they fail to bring him back? What if they’re unable to come back? Then what?”
“As long as they’re alive, there is hope. Even if they end up lost in the black hole, there is hope that one day they will return. We’ll hold to that hope and support their families until they do.” Selene sighed. “And if they’re killed, and all hope is lost …” Selene looked up at Kali.
Kali nodded her head, already knowing what she was thinking. “If there’s no hope to bring him back, then I’d rather be sucked into the black hole, too.”
“Heaven help us for the sin we will commit if that happens.” Selene stared into the darkness above her.
If there was no hope to get Endymion back, then they would destroy the balance they’d worked so hard to build.
She would rather be damned to an eternity of darkness with Endymion than exist in the light without him.