“So where do we start?” I ask.
The guys all look around at each other, clearly unsure of the answer. Eventually Jax steps up with an idea.
“Well, now that the spell isn’t on you, have you noticed anything strange happening? Anything you may have done or felt?”
I think it through for a minute but besides the mate bonds, everything has felt normal.
“Honestly, no, but I’m not sure I would really know when it’s already been so much between the two mate bonds.”
Jax nods and Nic and Jeremy appear a little guilty, which is silly. I reach across the table and grab both their hands with mine.
“I’m not complaining and I don’t regret that we have them, I’m just saying crazy things have been happening or I’ve been feeling things I’m not use to because of it.”
I give their hands a squeeze before pulling away and leaning back in my seat. They both seem happier and it’s a good reminder that they could use reassurances sometimes too.
“Well another clue is the mating mark Aly gave us,” Nic points out.
Everyone stares at him pointedly and he lifts his shirt to show the marking over his heart. To me, the mark feels strong and fierce, while also loving. I do feel a strong connection to it, so it must mean something important to my species.
“Has anyone ever seen anything like it?” Kiran asks.
There’s silence around the table.
“It’s nothing like all of our marks, the closest it would be is to Jeremy’s but if Aly was a demon that would represent her pentagon and it’s not that,” Jay finally says.
“Let’s see if we can find anything in these books like it,” Jax suggests, opening the first book in front of him.
“Before we start there’s one more thing I want to address,” Nic says and all eyes turn to him.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Well, I don’t want to concern you Aly, but being supernatural can be dangerous, so I think we should start training you in self defense while we do research too.”
A knot forms in my stomach, I don’t mind the idea of learning to defend myself but I don’t like the idea of the guys being in danger.
“Why is it dangerous?” I ask.
They all freeze a little before Nic answers, “I don’t want you to worry, because we will always protect you but there’s another supernatural race called hunters and like their name suggests, they hunt the rest of us. They are dangerous and you should always be prepared.”
There is a whole species dedicated to hunting the rest of us? Why would that be?
“It’s actually why we left our old university. They found out there was a large supernatural presence and they came for us,” Jay says carefully.
“Are there more supernaturals here?” I ask, worried the same thing might happen again.
“No there’s not, that’s actually why we picked it, so it should be safer,” Kiran says.
Before I can ask another question, Jeremy chimes in, “we are going to protect you Aly, you don’t need to worry.”
And he sounds so sure and I can feel his confidence through the bond, so I let it reassure me.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Great, so we will set up a schedule for training. Anything else before we start looking through these books?” Nic asks.
And I do have one more thing, something I’m afraid to voice aloud but I need to know.
“Actually, yes. Is there a chance I’m a hunter?”
