Free Hunter Reborn by Katie Reus Page A

Leila, the sixteen-year-old shifter they’d recently adopted.
    Jayce just shook his head as Kat texted her back. Their new ward was staying with December and Liam while they were off on this mission so it wasn’t as if she was alone. And what the hell was she doing up this late anyway?
    She wants to see her new . . . friend,
Kat said, answering the question he hadn’t asked.
    Jayce tensed, knowing his bondmate was right. Leila had started hanging out with a human boy. Who rode a motorcycle. Hell fucking no.
Not happening tonight.
    â€œNo kidding,” Kat muttered aloud as she slid her phone back in her pocket.
    â€œCome on,” he murmured to Kat as Niko stood up.
    Cece was lying back on the couch now, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. Whatever Niko had done clearly worked.
    The three of them walked outside, but Nikoremained in the doorway. “I’m going to stay for a few more hours until I’m sure she’s okay. Then I’ll keep watch over her house for a couple days. She seemed to take the memory scrub well, but she was attacked, so she might have nightmares. She thinks I’m a gay vampire she picked up at that club tonight.”
    â€œGay?” Kat asked, a touch of amusement in her voice.
    â€œI planted that in her memory so she wouldn’t feel threatened by me. She needs rest after her ordeal.”
    â€œThanks, man. Call me with any updates and I’ll let you know if I find out anything about the vamp blood dealing,” Jayce said before he and Kat headed to their SUV.
    â€œYou’re keeping him apprised of your investigation?” Kat asked once they were in the vehicle.
    Jayce nodded. “Out of courtesy. This business with the vamp blood dealing could affect all vampires if it’s not taken care of.” Normally he didn’t check in with anyone regarding his investigations except the Council. This situation was different, especially since he was working with the Armstrong pack.
    â€œAnd if you keep him in the loop, he’ll keep you in the loop if he discovers something interesting,” Kat finished on her own.
    Jayce gave her a half smile. His mate knew him so well. “Exactly.”
    *   *   *
    Aiden locked the front door to the cabin behind Connor, but didn’t turn around yet. He could feel Larissa behind him, watching. Waiting. Even though hecouldn’t see them, those indigo eyes of hers were so damn expressive.
    They hadn’t always been like that, but now she was confused and not acting like the Larissa he knew. She was wearing her emotions right out in the open and it was jarring. His Larissa had been strong and a little arrogant. At over five hundred years old and ridiculously powerful, she had a right to be. He wanted her back, all of her.
    Taking a deep breath, he tried to get his wolf under control. He knew she’d seen his animal revealed in his eyes a few times on the drive to the two-story log cabin. He’d tried to rein himself in but it was damn hard with her sitting next to him. Alive. Real. After all these years.
    Whoever had put her in stasis, had taken her from him, would pay.
    When she politely cleared her throat, he turned to find her standing there with her arms wrapped around herself. Such a human gesture and so out of character . . . Suddenly it hit him. “Are you cold?”
    She nodded, her face flushing slightly, as if she was embarrassed. “Just a little,” she said softly, her lilting accent rolling over him, bringing up so many damn memories of the first time they’d met.
    Okay, that was the Larissa he knew. Not wanting anyone to sense what she would perceive as a weakness. He hated that he hadn’t sensed her discomfort, but he’d had to semi-lock himself down from their bondmate link. It was difficult after being separated for so long, but not impossible. He was still connected to her, but he was allowing his wolf a little more