Page 123 of Shifter Situations

“Hyde is fine. Those are her friends.” Stone circled his finger around to encompass the large group of people sitting quietly in the yard.

Palmer shook his head. “We’re her friends. You really have no idea how protected the tiny succubus is, do you?”

The necromancer closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to settle himself.

Sloane gave the mage a half-smile, and he unmuted the guys in front of us. It took them a minute to find their voices. Then Dolyn grinned wryly at my mate.

“We were being overbearing assholes, weren't we?” Dolyn bounced his finger between himself and Ripley’s other two mates.

“And she doesn’t deserve that,” Lo reiterated, flattening her mouth as she quirked a brow at the incubus.

“I hate it when you’re logical.” The incubus rolled his eyes skyward as he confessed, “I’d much rather you be violent.”

“I wasn’t doing anything,” Ozlo stated.

Tiago snorted. “Right. Creeping from room to room while you silently observe her is nothing.”

Dolyn rubbed his right hand over the short-cropped hair on top of his head. “Cut it out. All three of us made her feel uncomfortable, and we need to fix it.”

“Listen, I have an idea. Okay? Maybe it will help calm Hyde and Ripley down.” She pursed her lips as she surveyed the large group around us.

“What are you thinking, Sweetheart?”

“Let’s just hang out. The sun has risen, everyone is too keyed up to rest, so let’s start a fire.”

The djinn brushed his fingers along his jaw. “And we need wood, yes?”

“No,” Stone told him. “We don’t.”

Sloane strode across the yard, heading straight for Grim. The reaper gave her an unamused look when she started talking to him.

“Oh, shit,” she uttered, smiling apologetically at Blaire and her mates. “Palmer, can you unmute everyone now?”

“Sure thing, Love.”

“So, a bonfire?” Grim asked, picking up where Lo left off.

She pointed to the center of the yard. “There. Would you mind putting up a barrier?”

When Grim nodded in agreement, she flounced away, hellfire waiting in her palm. She kicked away some decaying leaves, dropping the flames onto the ground before backing away to stoke them higher.

Blankets appeared on the ground as the reaper built his hazy gray dome around us. Having the soundproof barrier in place would make talking less worrisome. Now we didn't have to consider anyone overhearing us.

Ripley studied Grim intently before questioning him. “Is it rude for me to ask what you are?”

“Not when asked so nicely,” he acknowledged, winking at her before tipping his chin. “I’m a grim reaper.”

She pursed her lips, tilting her head as she examined the unassuming man.

I leaned closer to Grim. “She doesn’t believe you. Show her your scythe.”

“You keep your scythe on you? I can’t imagine it fits in your pocket.”

Grim rolled his lips in, shrugging as he held his hand out. “It’s a part of me.”

The bones of his fingers came into view as the handle of his scythe formed in his grasp. Ripley stepped closer, her fingers extended to touch him before she pulled back.

“He won’t bite,” Dolyn teased.