Chapter 16 - Hunter

I have never beaten my sister at billiards. She's always been better at it than me. But tonight, I think she might actually lose. Granted, not directly because of me, but I'll take the win however I can get it. Especially if it means I don't have to deal with changing her oil or windshield wipers anymore.

We only have one more ball to sink to win, the eight ball. I stand back, allowing Lottie to line up her shot, and the sight is a welcome one. Lottie leans over the table, thrusting her backside out in my direction. I don't pay attention to what's happening on the table because all my focus is on her beautiful ass. The swaying blue material of her dress brushes against the backs of her thighs in a way that has my pants growing tighter.

I wasn't kidding when I said it was a pleasurable torture to watch females play pool. Seeing Lottie bent over all but presenting herself to me has me practically panting. I've been hard the entire game and have had to discreetly adjust myself so as not to draw attention to it.

My hand tightens on my stick, and it creeks under the pressure. Lottie's skirt rides up just far enough to glimpse her creamy thighs that rub together with every slight adjustment she makes to her angle.

I can easily imagine her in this very position, down on all fours in the middle of that grassy meadow in the forest. Her voice hoarse from screaming my name, and her pussy bared for me, wet and ready. The urge to growl and purr is too great to suppress, and I feel a rumbling vibration in my chest. Thankfully, the music and chatter of the bar are too loud for anyone to hear. The place has gone from partially full to almost overflowing with people.

My perfect view is suddenly hindered by the body of another male, leaning in to speak with Lottie. She must have already taken her shot, and I didn't see it since I was focused on her ass and how I'd like to see it bare except my claw marks.

My insides bristle at the thought of another male near my female. But I stay still; he's only speaking to her, and if I were to make a claim on her publicly like this, there would be talk around town. So, I clamp down on my desire to wring the nymph's neck and clench my jaw tight to stop from barking out an alpha command at him.

The nymph, now leaning in dangerously close to Lottie, is one I'm very familiar with. Kai isn't a full-time resident of Snowberry but visits regularly for the equinox, which happens not long after the blood moon. I hadn't known he was back in town already. He's a cocky bastard and a relentless flirt. He'll hit on anyone that strikes his fancy, and Lottie, being new in town, would be considered fresh meat to him.

I don't expect Lottie to reciprocate his flirtations, but when he leans in to sniff her and runs a finger down her exposed arm, I can't stop my body from pressing forward, a warning growl building in my chest.

"I don't care who you smell like, sweetheart; you are too delicious to ignore," Kai utters softly enough that Lottie furrows her brow in confusion at him.

She's a human, and Kai knows it, but he still says stupid shit like that anyway.

"Kai," I bark out his name in a low warning tone. Nothing aggressive . . . yet.

"Hunter. Didn't see you lurking there. Is this one yours? So sorry," he says in mock defense with a shit-eating grin but wisely removes his hand from Lottie.

He knows damn well I was standing here and even just admitted knowing who she smelled like—me—and yet still tries to play it off innocently. As if he was completely unaware.

"Didn't know you were back in town," I say instead of the litany of clarifications he seems desperately in need of.

Putting him in his place in front of Lottie and the other humans present in the bar tonight would be too much of a hassle, and I don't have enough fairy dust with me. Although I could easily ask for more from Becca. Even though she was on my sister's team playing against me just now, Becca is always willing to help. She was a great help to me four years ago during the last blood moon disaster when we had to go around town dusting the humans. She and Levi worked in tandem to help get everything back to normal. Making sure we got to the humans quickly and efficiently replacing their nightmare fuel memories of horny wolf beasts with ones of less scary wild dogs running through town.

Kai shrugs and smiles in Lottie's direction, still not giving up on his flirting. "Came early, felt like getting away from the city and . . . things for a while."

He's most likely referring to the demands of his uptight family. Kai comes from a long line of purebloods , as they like to call themselves. Nymphs who only mate and procreate with other nymphs. No cross-species mating and definitely no humans. To them, humans are for fun, not for mates or children. They think humans weaken their blood and species and they're not completely wrong.

When a non-human breeds with a human, the offspring are a mix of the two, half and half. Like Daisy, she's half earth nymph and half human. Her ability to use a glamour isn't as strong, her senses are not as sharp, and her appearance is a blend of her two parents, giving her more human characteristics. For example, her shorter pointed ears rather than the long, elegant points of most.

Whereas a pairing of two non-humans results in a child of one or the other. If a fairy were to mate with a shifter, their child would be either a fairy or a shifter, not a mix of both, except in the occurrence of two different types of the same, like nymphs. There are many types with different magic, and their magic can mix when they mate. Kai himself is a mix of animal and fire nymph.

Kai follows his family's rules and restrictions but is less prejudiced than some of the older generations. They come to Snowberry to celebrate in the old way for the equinoxes and solstices, leaving their manors and mansions to "slum it" with the common folk. Everyone looks forward to the seasonal celebrations as it isn't only the nymphs who partake.

"Well, as nice as it is to see you again, Kai, we're in the middle of a game, so how about you take your shameless flirting elsewhere for the time being? Okay?"

The cocky nymph chuckles and wisely takes a step back. Running his fingers through his long red hair that he doesn't try to hide through his glamour, he deftly avoids his glamoured invisible horns. An amused fire dancing in his eyes, his fire-nymph side showing. I think that's part of why he enjoys stirring up trouble so much. Fire nymphs like to spark flames and watch things burn sometimes.

"No problem, Boss. I think I see a few willing ladies right over there calling my name."

He winks at Lottie before sauntering over to the bar, his striped tail swishing behind him. He's already setting his sights on another female, another human. I think he purposely seeks them out to piss off his family since they dislike them so much.

"Who was that?" Lottie asks, pressing close to my side.

Her arm brushes mine, and a bolt of pure desire shoots through my body, reawaking my cock. I shiver and step to the side so it doesn't happen again, no matter how desperately I want to touch her skin.

"That was Kai. His family has a vacation house in town. They visit a couple times a year."

"Oh," her voice sounds curious but disinterested in him personally, which makes my chest swell. "He was very . . . friendly."

Lottie's giggle is just as musical as her singing, and I can feel her amusement as if it were my own. Light and airy, a soft tickling in my stomach.

"Yeah, he's friendly, alright. With everyone . He's relatively harmless, though. You tell him no, he won't push it. He might flirt and sweet-talk you, but he won't be forceful. You don't have to worry about him," I tell her, knowing she must be concerned after the whole Roman incident.

"That's good to know."

I stare down at her, and when our eyes lock, we stand there silent and motionless for a few moments before Ginger's snickering snaps me out of my stupor.

"So, did we win?" I ask, redirecting my attention back to the game at hand.

"Oh, yeah. We did."

Turning, I take in the table; all stripes and the black eight ball are gone, and four solids remain.

"You are my hero, Lottie Pickle."

She smiles, and a fierce protectiveness for this woman floods my veins. I'll do anything to keep that smile on her face.

"I try."

"How about two out of three?" Ginger offers, trying to salvage her loss.

"What? You want to lose twice?"

Lottie's burn finds its mark, and Ginger's jaw drops while Becca hisses in laughter.

"Okay, miss smarty-pants. You just think you're such hot shit because you managed to beat me once, but that doesn't mean you can beat me twice."

I can see Ginger's competitiveness growing, and I know she's going to demand a rematch, but I won't let that happen. One game is enough torture for the night.

Stepping between the two, I hold out my hands in surrender. "All right, how about we get a few drinks and sit down for a bit? There'll be plenty of opportunity to play again later."

There won't be a later.

All the girls agree, Ginger more reluctantly than the others, but I manage to persuade her with offers to pay for the drinks. We find a table far away from the karaoke happening on the corner stage, and the girls sit as I go to the bar to order the drinks. Ryder joins me, a silent companion as he assists in carrying all the glasses to the table.

The girls all wanted blue moons, Evelyn's specialty. Lottie is still amazed at the glowing drink that she can't figure out. None of us tell her how she does it, of course, because it's part of Evelyn's magic.

She's a nymph with earth and animal magic, a mixture that gave her bioluminescent abilities. With just a touch, she can temporarily give things the ability to glow like bioluminescent fish or fungi.

Settling in with our drinks, we fall into light conversation, commenting on whoever is on stage attempting to perform. Lottie is gifted with one of Dottie's performances, which she claps to wildly, asking for an encore, much to everyone's dismay but to Dottie's delight. And, of course, Dottie is more than willing to oblige.

"Don't encourage her. She has enough confidence as it is and very little talent to back it up," I chide playfully.

The drinks have relaxed everyone, even Ryder, whose stoic features crack the tiniest bit at our banter.

"Oh, nonsense. She enjoys it; let her enjoy it. There are so few great joys in life."

So very true.

Although the girls keep their attention focused on the stage or each other, mine and Ryder's swivel around the room occasionally. Checking to ensure everything is copasetic.

Everything seems to be going great until a duo of younger girls take the stage and start singing some poppy song I don't know. Since Lottie sits right next to me, I notice immediately when her demeanor shifts from easy and relaxed to quiet and stiff. I eye her, worried she's sick or perhaps she saw something non-human I hadn't caught, which freaked her out.

Looking around, no one's glamour seems to be slipping. I look back at Lottie, and I can smell her panic. It's sticky and clammy, smelling like damp mold. It curls my nose, and now I'm starting to panic. I look to Ginger only to see her in a similar but less frantic state. She's eying Lottie warily but trying not to show it.

I finally catch Ginger's gaze and try to convey my concern without words. Thankfully, my sister understands my unspoken expression.

She puckers her mouth, pinching her lips together widening her eyes while microscopically tilting her head in Lottie's direction, then towards the stage where two females are destroying whatever song they're singing.

I don't understand her meaning. She doesn't like the song?

I frown at Ginger, lost to her wordless communication. She tries again with the same move but more aggressive. It doesn't make it any clearer.

Next to me, Lottie abruptly stands and stutters before blurting out, "I need some fresh air. I'll be right back."

No one has time to respond before she's practically running out the door.

Ginger seat hops until she's sitting next to me where Lottie just was. Leaning in, she whispers low in my ear so no one else can hear.

"That's one of her songs . You know, Alexandria ."

Lottie's secret identity.

Fuck.

"Go after her," Ginger hisses.

I don't hesitate, I go after her. But when I burst out the front door, my panic increases when I don't immediately see Lottie. She's not here.