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Mercy opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Hunter’s hand lifted, gently tilting her chin upward. His gaze softened, something more serious lurking beneath the teasing surface. "You know what I am," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper. "You’ve always known."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she cursed herself for the weakness in her knees. His closeness was doing things to her she didn’t want to admit, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words to respond. She hated that he was right—somewhere, deep down, she had known what he was. She’d felt it the moment their eyes had locked on that cliff.
But that didn’t mean she wanted this. Didn’t mean she wanted him.
Mercy scoffed, but it was weak. "I know what you are," she muttered, pushing his hand away from her chin. "But that doesn’t mean I want anything to do with it."
Hunter’s lips curved into that same slow, knowing smile, but this time, he didn’t press further. He leaned in once more, brushing his lips lightly against hers in a way that sent a jolt of electricity through her body. It was barely a kiss, but it was enough to remind her that despite all her protests, she was drawn to him.
And she hated it.
With a surge of willpower, Mercy pushed against his chest, finally finding the strength to put some distance between them. She stepped back, her breath unsteady, her pulse racing in her ears. "This doesn’t change anything," she said, her voice hardening again as she turned on her heel and made for the door. "I’ll help you—oryou can help me. But that’s it. I’m not tying myself to a vampire."
Hunter chuckled softly behind her as she stepped into the doorway. "Tying you up might be fun. We’ll see," he called after her, his voice filled with amusement.
Somehow, his words sounded more like a threat than any kind of reassurance. And with those words, he was gone, leaving her standing there in the hallway like some kind of lovesick schoolgirl.
Mercy clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and then continued down the hall, her emotions a tangled mess. She hated him. She hated how he made her feel—how he made her question everything she thought she knew. She wasn’t supposed to feel anything for him. And yet…
Damn it, she thought, her fists clenching at her sides.What the hell just happened?
She didn’t want this. She didn’t want him. But as she stood there, trying to gather herself, Mercy knew, deep down, thatthings had just gotten far more complicated than she’d ever anticipated.
Shaking her head, Mercy made her way down the hall, heading toward the one person she knew would help clear her mind.Adriana.
Adriana had been the only person Mercy had ever trusted with the full extent of her abilities. It was Adriana who had first identified the trace of a witch in Mercy’s bloodline, the small but potent magic that had been passed down through her family for generations. It wasn’t much—just enough to enhance Mercy’s natural shifter abilities, to give her an edge when it came to sensing the supernatural—but Adriana had insisted there might be more. She had been fascinated by Mercy’s gift, and the two of them had met regularly to practice controlling and honing it.
As Mercy walked into the chambers Adriana shared with her mates, Greg and Decker, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. The smell of herbs and incense filled the air, and Adriana was already waiting, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, a small fire crackling in the hearth.
"Rough day?" Adriana asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked up from the book she’d been reading.
"You could say that," Mercy muttered, sinking into the chair opposite her. She wasn’t ready to get into the wholeHuntersituation just yet. Not until she had a clearer head.
Adriana gave her a knowing look but didn’t push. Instead, she closed her book and set it aside, focusing on Mercy with her usual calm intensity. "What’s on your mind?"
Mercy hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Hunter. He’s the falcon-shifter I told you about. Turns out he’s a vampire as well.”
Adriana’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Interesting. He’s also the fated mate you’re trying very hard to ignore."
Mercy groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Don’t remind me. It’s bad enough I have to deal with him in my head, let alone in person."
Adriana chuckled softly; her gaze sympathetic. "Well, there’s no fighting fate. You know that."
Mercy shot her a glare. "I don’t believe in fate."
"Sure, you don’t," Adriana replied, amusement still dancing in her eyes. "But you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t believe there was some truth to it."
Mercy sighed, leaning back in her chair. She wasn’t ready to admit it yet, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger than herself was at play. There was a reason she had crossed paths with Hunter, a reason their fates had become entangled.
But that didn’t mean she had to like it.
"I’m here because I need to focus," Mercy said, changing the subject. "We have a mystery to solve, and I need your help."
Adriana’s expression turned serious as she leaned forward, her interest piqued. "The fae-wolf shifter?"
Mercy nodded. "Yes. Hunter and I are trying to figure out why she’s here, topside. It doesn’t make sense. The fae stick to their own realm. There’s no reason for her to be out here, especially in the state we found her."
Adriana’s brow furrowed. "A fae-shifter, out in the human world… That’s definitely unusual. What do you need from me?"
