Page 81 of Freed

“It is getting pretty warm out here,” Erica says, glancing over at her mates.

“I could go for a dip,” Lexi says. Suddenly Finn appears at her side so fast I didn’t even see him move. I keep forgetting he’s half fox shifter, half vampire.

I didn’t even know vampires were real before we moved here. He certainly doesn’t look like a vampire with his short orange curly hair and easy smiles. I watch as he scoops Lexi up, making her laugh. “Then dip you I shall!” he says with enthusiasm as he carries her off to the pool.

Erica stands and heads over to her mates as Chase takes my hand and helps me stand. “Is that a yes?” he asks me and I nod.

“If you’re coming with me it is.”

A heated smile covers his face as he pulls me against his front, his thumb rubbing along my jaw. “Pretty girl, I am always willing to come with you.” My cheeks heat at the innuendo, and I try to duck my head, but he just holds my chin in his giant hand and smiles.

“I love when you wear red,” he whispers.

“I’m wearing green.”

“Not here, you’re not,” he says as his fingers skate across my cheek.

He’s talking about you blushing.

A loud splash thankfully breaks Chase’s attention on me, and I use that chance to quickly pull away and turn toward the pool. He catches up within two steps, scooping my hand up in his as we move to the shallow end and start to walk in.

“You forgot to take your purse off,” Lexi calls from where she’s treading water with Finn in the middle of the pool.

I glance down at my bag and place my hand over it as I continue walking. “This has to stay with me at all times,” I tell her.

“What’s in there?” she asks quieter as we move down the slope into the deeper water with her.

“It’s…” I trail off, glancing around nervously. I don’t care about any of our friends knowing, but what if Blaze can overhear somehow?

“The serum,” Chase answers.

Lexi’s brows pinch in confusion, then Finn looks at her, and he must tell her something through their bond because her eyebrows rise in surprise as she nods. She looks at me and gives me a strained smile. “I’m glad you have that with you.”

“They’re all over the place here,” Chase says quietly. “They look like a blue marker, just pull off the cap and hit his skin.”

I’d helped place some around the house and outside, so I’d know where they are in case of emergencies. We weren’t taking any risks. Gage must have filled about fifty pens and we only needed one to take out Blaze.

Chase moves in front of me and squats low. I lie over his back, my arms circling his neck. He starts to swim as he calls to Finn and Lexi, “You guys wanna race?”

Finn laughs as he quickly gives Lexi his back. “You’re gonna lose wolf boy.”

“No using your vampire speed,” Chase tells him as we get into position at the end of the pool.

Finn scoffs. “Like I’d need it against you.”

“Big words for a little fox.”

“We’ll see who’s feeling small when I win this race,” Finn fires back.

“You mean when we win it,” Lexi corrects him, making me laugh at their banter.

The guys end up moving so fast that both Lexi and I are barely able to hold on. When we finish the race both guys argue that they are the winner, while Lexi and I wipe all the water from our drenched faces and quickly get out of the pool, leaving them to continue their competitions.

As soon as we step out of the pool, Hunter is there, holding a towel for me, and I see Soren doing the same for Lexi.

“Are you hungry?” Hunter asks.

“Not really. I was thinking about playing cornhole with the girls.”