From the Shadows (Hunters #1)

Chapter 21

Six months later

“Happy birthday, Jerm!”

He stared, his eyes wide, at the amazing thing Shay had made for him. When he’d asked Jeremy what he wanted for his party, Jerm had said he would love a Mario Kart cake. Diego was puzzled when Shay agreed so enthusiastically, but afterward, he understood. After Jerm headed for bed, Shay went online to find bakers, then started calling everywhere, doing his best to find someone to teach him.

And now, six months later, Jerm was turning eight, and Shay was ready to wow him. A three-tier design, outfitted to look like a racetrack, complete with colorful cars and characters. It was truly a work of art. Watching Shay working with the baker, Diego understood—finally—what he’d meant about eternal life not being a weight around his ankles. Several weeks later, once they were home after the final lesson, Diego witnessed the smile on Shay’s face as he made the sky-blue cake, then decorated it with star-shaped sprinkles, and put little guys he said were Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi on top that Shay had helped make out of fondant. He assured Diego that by next year, he’d have that skill figured out and be able to make it on his own.

And seeing the way Shay’s face lit up? That was all it took for Diego to get bitten by the learning bug. To fill all those wasted hours he’d lived through with creating things of beauty, like the quilt he was currently trying—and not succeeding too well—to make. But, like Shay told him, he had forever, so why get frustrated and rush?

“D!” Luckily, he turned in time to catch a flying Jeremy, who then latched on to Diego’s neck and squeezed him hard.

“Thank you for the PS5!” he squealed. “Can we play later?”

What? He hadn’t….. He looked up at Shay, who stood there smiling at him. Diego stroked a hand over Jeremy’s back. Once again, Shay was taking care of Diego and his— their kid. “You’re welcome, son.”

That word brought an even bigger smile than the game unit, and he hugged Diego tighter. Good thing he didn’t really need to breathe, or Jeremy would have choked him.

The party was sedate, at least for a kid. There wasn’t anyone Jeremy’s age there, but the team had managed to bring in some family from out of town to share in the festivities. It didn’t seem as though Jerm minded in the least. Shay had told Diego that Jeremy was making amazing strides with his shifting and controlling it. He suggested that, with the coming school year, maybe Jeremy could attend classes and make some friends his own age. While it would be hard to let Jeremy go off, Diego knew he had to allow it.

“What do you think about going to school next year?” he asked Jeremy after the last guest showed up. “Shay tells me you’re testing above your grade, and he says you have your shifts under control, and he— we —think you’re ready for this.”

Jeremy frowned. “But what will you guys do without me?”

Diego chuckled. “I promise you, we’ll slog through our day until you get home.” He put Jeremy on the floor and knelt beside him. “We want you to go out and experience all life has to offer. Make friends. Enjoy all the things kids do, because you won’t be one forever.”

“I have friends,” Jeremy snapped. “Everyone here is my friend. ”

“Nah, kid. We’re your family,” Diego corrected gently.

Ranna ran a hand over Jeremy’s head. “He’s right. With friends an entirely different set of rules apply.” She waggled her brows. “With your parents and family, you can’t get away with anything. With people your own age, you’ll be able to run rings around these geezers,” she said snarkily.

Diego wanted to chide Ranna, but she was right. He hadn’t been a kid for far too long, and a lot of what was happening now? It eluded Diego. He couldn’t understand the music, the slang, or pretty much anything else. Yes, physically he would always look twenty-five, but he wasn’t. He was an old geezer who should be standing outside yelling at people to get off his lawn or he’d bite them.

He smirked at the images in his head. Being with Shay had unlocked something within him. He no longer dreaded facing a new day, because he knew that Shay would be there to make things right for their super dysfunctional family.

Speaking of which, he sat back and watched the people. He’d missed out on so much when he locked himself away. It wasn’t just because of the humans. He’d basically cut ties with everyone, for the most part. Yet Shay had come in and pulled them all together. Made them more cohesive.

And now he would be by Diego’s side. For eternity. And that didn’t sound half bad.

Shay had taken to learning about his new life. He threw himself into it with a fervor. What had taken Diego years to learn, Shay got the hang of in months. Of course, he had Diego helping, so there was that.

Still, Shay obviously didn’t mind the change. He had no family to miss, no friends outside of the mansion to worry about him. That was probably why being a vampire, starting a new life, was so exciting to him. He had no ties to his old life, so everything was new for him. Still, one thing bothered Diego, and it was high time he corrected it.

“Shay?”

He turned and gave Diego a megawatt smile that melted his heart. “Hm? ”

“I love you.”

Shay’s eyes widened, and then his lips curled down as he said, “Oh, baby. Been waiting for you to figure it out. I love you too.” He leaned in and gave Diego a quick kiss.

Jeremy’s face lit up at the display of affection. “I love you both!” he shouted.

They grabbed him and dragged him into their family and kissed his face. He giggled, but when they loosened their grip, he tightened his.

“Don’t stop. Please?” he begged. “I’ve always wanted two dads. Diego needed someone in his life, and I am really happy it’s Shay.”

That was a sentiment they shared.

Diego could understand Cristobal wanting a family. Now that he had it, he’d make certain to never lose it. If only Cristobal hadn’t been a psychotic bastard who murdered people to make it happen. Then again, his fate was sealed the day he turned Diego without his knowledge or permission.

“Wanna go check out the closet in our room?” Shay whispered. “You’re looking a little peaked. I stashed some lube in there, just in case.”

“Yes. Yes, I do,” Diego replied, his cock thickening at the prospect of being buried in Shay once again.

Before he could move, though, he found a six-foot reticulated python slithering up his leg and making its way to his shoulder, where it perched, surveying the area. It stuck its tongue out at him, and Diego chuckled. He kissed the snake on the nose, then turned to Shay. “Raincheck?”

“Yeah, I think that can be arranged.” He stroked a hand over Jeremy’s head. “That’s awesome, Jerm,” he said. “You make us so proud.”

Jeremy let loose with a soft hiss, then snuggled against Shay’s face.

“How about we go swimming?” Diego offered.

Jeremy squirmed around Diego’s shoulders, smacking their heads together.

“Someone likes that idea. Shay? Wanna join us? ”

“Always,” Shay vowed, and Diego knew it wasn’t just for this. He was making a promise that he would be there, come hell or high water, to help Jerm grow and to make sure Diego didn’t fall back into bad habits.

Diego was certain it would never happen. He was too happy with what he had now.

Shay. Jeremy.

And their family of hunters.