Oh, can it. I might be a werewolf now, thanks to you, but that doesn’t mean I’ve completely lost all sense.

She settled after realizing that my practical personality was simply who I was, but still . . .

How many other surprises was I going to learn about my new mate?

When Olaf again attempted to slash Kaillen’s stomach open with a new knife from his belt, while promising to never stop trying to kill him, Barnabas called loudly, “Would you like some assistance?”

The hunter sighed, seeming more annoyed by Olaf’s attempts than anything.

In a flash of speed, Kaillen had Olaf pinned to the wall as Olaf’s knife clattered to the floor. He held the supernatural by his neck, so it wasn’t surprising that Olaf’s face began to turn blue, his eyes bugging out, as he unsuccessfully tried to get Kaillen to drop him.

The other patrons in the bar, and the bartender, all continued watching the fight with detached interest. I had a feeling this kind of behavior happened somewhat regularly here.

“I would be delighted to drink from him and compel him at the same time,” Barnabas called again. “Perhaps then he would finally leave you alone.”

“Compel him?” My jaw dropped. “That’s illegal.”

Barnabas gave me an amused smirk. Oh. Right. Something told me he didn’t see anything wrong with partaking in illegal activity.

Kaillen gave him a side-eye. “Might be useful. I’m getting tired of his attempts.”

“If you would excuse me, dear Tala.” Barnabas slid my way so I stood from the booth. The vampire glided past me, his hand brushing my waist in the process.

“Just had to cop a feel, didn’t you?” I called.

Barnabas gave me a wicked grin. “You do smell quite delicious. You can’t blame me for trying.”

“Keep your hands off my woman, Barnabas,” Kaillen called through clenched teeth.

Barnabas winked. “He can be quite testy, can’t he?”

I swallowed a laugh as the vampire waltzed toward my hunter.

As Kaillen held the disgruntled ex-husband to the wall, Barnabas compelled him to leave my mate alone once and for all. Since nobody even glanced in their direction, I guessed that meant the Fae Guard wouldn’t be called to intervene, so I slid back into the booth and eyed Fallon curiously.

“How is it that the three of you know each other?”

Fallon looked up from his phone. “Business.”

“Shadow Zone kind of business?”

He inclined his head, then replied to a text.

“Are you and Barnabas also hunters?”

“No.” Fallon finished with his phone and slid it into his pocket. He picked up his drink and took another sip.

A strangled sound came from Olaf as Barnabas bit into his neck and began drinking. Kaillen was no longer holding him, merely standing back with his arms crossed. I figured Barnabas’s compulsion was holding the disgruntled ex-husband in place and that the vamp was now drinking from the man since he was an easy meal.

Wow. Definitely against the law.

Kaillen’s gaze dragged my way, and I caught the question in his eyes. I gave a small smile, my insides churning a bit as I got a glimpse into what his life was normally like. Even though we were mated now, it struck me that there was still so much I didn’t know about him. Like what he and his friends got up to in their spare time . . . Apparently, illegal activities.

An image of six sirens straddling, kissing, and fucking Kaillen entered my mind. My wolf snarled, and I quickly shoved that picture away. Vampires who compelled supernaturals who were trying to murder my mate, I supposed I could live with, but sirens intent on riding his cock? Not so much.

Clearing my throat, I returned my attention to Fallon. “So if you’re not hunters, then what are you?”

Fallon stroked his chin, and I inhaled but didn’t detect any emotional scents from him. He was either wearing an incredibly complex cloaking spell that hid his emotional reactions, or he truly wasn’t feeling anything at all right now. “He didn’t tell you anything about us, did he?”

“Other than Barnabas being a horny pervert? No.” I shook my head.

Fallon snorted, then lifted his jacket’s lapel, revealing inner folds that contained a myriad of blades and knives of every size. “Just a few work tools.”

My eyes widened, and I swung my gaze to Barnabas who was now sealing the bite on Olaf’s neck. Olaf was slumped against the wall, a dreamy look on his face, as Kaillen’s expression turned to stone. A strum of his worry flickered to me on the mate bond. He’d obviously picked up on my sudden apprehension.

I grumbled. Of course, our bond went both ways . . .

I whipped back to Fallon just as understanding dawned. “Oh my gods. You’re both hired killers?”

Fallon raised his eyebrows. “I prefer assassin. It has a better ring to it.”

Barnabas wiped his lips, his tongue flicking out to nab the last drop of Olaf’s blood, before he straightened his clothing. “Off you go,” he said to Olaf. “And remember, you no longer have any ill feelings toward my friend. In fact, you feel you deserved to be caught for your misdeeds.”

Olaf nodded dopily, then ambled out the front door.

My eyes widened as the worry strumming from Kaillen grew as he and the vamp sauntered toward us.

I leaned back in my seat, my lips parting in surprise as I raised bewildered eyes to my mate. “Assassins? Your best friends are assassins?”

Kaillen and Barnabas slid back into the booth as Kaillen eyed me coolly. That iron mask had descended over his face, but I still caught the scent of anise rising from him. He was really worried.

Barnabas brought a hand to his chest. “Oh my, you’re not the judgey type, are you?”

I glared at the vamp. “No, just the surprised type. My mate failed to mention anything about either of you, other than your ability to rile him, before we arrived.”

Barnabas laughed. “Ah, new mates who haven’t known each other for long. This shall be fun.” He rubbed his hands in glee. “Now, where is it that we’re off to? I feel quite energized after that little meal.”

But Kaillen ignored his friend and glowered at Fallon. “What did you tell her?”

Fallon lifted his shoulders as he drained his glass. “I just showed her my work tools.”

“Lovely, so you now know we’re independent contractors for hire.” Barnabas scooted closer to me, but one growl and yank from Kaillen had the vamp backpedaling. “A thousand apologies my friend, but she is most delicious smelling and quite delectable to look at.”

A tingling sense of unease drifted through me, and the anise fragrance from my mate increased.

My wolf growled, already sensing where my thoughts were going, but I couldn’t help it. Once again, it became apparent to me that I barely knew Kaillen despite his claim that I knew him better than most.

Barnabas stroked his chin, his lips curving up in a titillating smile. “Does it bother you? What we do for work? I do love when women pretend to be squeamish about our lifestyle, but actually ache with need for a man like me who will—”

Kaillen’s hand locked around his friend’s throat. “Don’t even finish that sentence. You’re really starting to test my patience.”

Barnabas raised his hands innocently as Fallon snickered.

“We need to get moving,” Kaillen added, releasing Barnabas. He eyed me again as crimson fire rolled in his irises, before he addressed his friends. “Are you two up for helping us track down a group of supernaturals who keep trying to abduct Tala?”

“Will there be killing involved?” Fallon asked.

“Hopefully,” my mate replied.

Fallon shrugged. “Sure.”

Barnabas grinned. “I’ll happily track down anyone if it means watching you fuck things up with your beautiful new mate.”

Kaillen muttered something under his breath and stood. I got up too but didn’t rush to his side.

A scowl tugged at Kaillen’s lips.