My Guardian (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 6) (21 page)

"You're a miracle worker."

Beth scoffed. "As if you weren't drop dead gorgeous before I got started."

"Not like this. This is polished and sophisticated."

"Get used to it. I have a feeling Adriel will be seeing a lot of Level One from now on. Uncle wants it to be known how much he supports the unit warriors." Beth looked in the mirror and dabbed on a bit more lipstick. She turned to her smiling. "Ready for the big challenge?"

"Dinner?"

Beth shook her head. "No. Meryn."

Eva followed Beth out of her room and down the hall. Without knocking, she walked in and sighed. Meryn was stretched out on a large oversized chair. She was wrapped up in a blanket that now sported orange powder stains. Eva looked down and spotted the culprit. An empty bag of Cheetos lay forgotten on the floor. Meryn's eyes were slightly unfocused and glazed over as she watched television.

"Oh dear, it's worse than I imagined." Beth's brow creased as she frowned.

Behind them, Ryuu walked in carrying a cup on a tray. Unless Eva's nose was playing tricks on her, it was coffee.

"
Denka
, here is your evening treat." Gently, he wrapped Meryn's fingers around the cup. Slowly, Meryn began to sip her coffee. It wasn't until she had drunk every last drop did she look around. She took in Eva and Beth's appearance and groaned. She pulled the blanket up over her head and burrowed between the cushions of the chair.

Exasperated, Beth stalked forward and began to unravel Meryn's blanket burrito. When she was finally uncovered, Meryn scowled up at her sister. "I'll eviscerate you."

Beth huffed and dropped the blanket. "No, you won't, because you would never hurt your niece or nephew."

Meryn blinked then smiled. "True." She closed her eyes and the air around her shimmered. Gone were the baggy sweats and t-shirt, in its place were jeans and a new hoodie. Beth stared, aghast at the change.

"Meryn! You can't wear that! Do something else."

Meryn closed her eyes again, only the hoodie's color changed from black to gray.

Beth's mouth open and closed in horror. "Okay. Okay. We can do this." She walked over and sat next to Meryn. "All right sweetie, picture this: A black tea length satin dress, off the shoulder with long sleeves. Imagine silk stockings and black kitten heels. You're wearing pearls and your hair and make up look like Audrey Hepburn." Beth stood as Meryn's clothes began to change. When it was done, Meryn sat primly in a gorgeous navy blue, satin formal dress. It was off the shoulder as Beth described and accented with tiny sapphires. The string of pearls was exactly as Beth planned and Meryn's hair was slicked back for a modern twist to a vintage look. Her eyebrows were artfully arched, her high cheekbones glowing, and her lips a perfect red.

"Damn Meryn, you look amazing." Eva said, shaking her head at the change.

Beth tilted her head. "Where did that hairstyle come from?"

Meryn shrugged. "This is how it looks after I get out of the shower and brush it, before it whacks out and get curly. I always thought it looked stylish."

Beth frowned. "I miss your spiky curls."

Meryn shrugged and yawned. Her outfit wavered for a second between evening glam and Pikachu pajamas.

"Don't you dare!" Beth shrieked.

The image stopped and Meryn was still dolled up. "Didn't you take a nap while we were gone?" Eva asked.

Meryn shook her head. "I can't sleep. I haven't been able to sleep since arriving."

Eva looked around. "Where are the twins?"

"Micah swung by and picked them up. They've been working on houses up on Level Six. I heard that the vendors found out what happened and donated a lot of house stuff. I think the first set of families should be moved in by now." Meryn smiled. "They even impressed Declan by redesigning the housing layout. The houses are being built in quads creating mini courtyards where the buildings meet. Nigel said that the kids would need a safe place to play."

Eva felt relieved. The sooner the pack could get into housing and return to a semblance of normal the better.

Beth reached down and helped Meryn to stand. "I heard that the pack is organizing a barbecue to get to know their neighbors better. The vendors are excited, it's been decades since they've had any type of a party."

Eva couldn't help but smile. "I hope your vampire vendors are ready for a good ole Texas barbecue."

Beth winked. "I think maybe that's exactly what they need." She turned to Meryn. "You up for tonight? You don't have to use your gift if you don't want to."

"What's this about her gift?" Eva asked.

"You mate Adriel suggested that Meryn use her empathy during the formal dinners to get a better sense of who supports Uncle." Beth looked over at Meryn, worry clearly visible on her face.

"How do you feel about that, Meryn?" Eva asked. She knew Adriel wouldn't have suggested such a thing unless it was absolutely necessary. He had witnessed how much people's pain had affected the small human and understood the price she paid. Determining these families' loyalties must be vital.

Meryn shrugged. "I can't really control it. I look at someone and sometimes I just know I don't like them. Then there are times I meet someone and I know I'll like them, like with you and Stefan."

That surprised Eva. "Stefan?"

Meryn nodded. "He's honest. He says exactly what he's feeling; I like that."

"Yup. That's Stefan all right."

Beth turned to them. "Are you ready, ladies?"

Meryn grinned. "Bring on the hotties!"

Eva laughed. The dinner might end up being awkward and political, but with Meryn there, it sure as hell won't be boring.

*****

"She is still staring," Javier BelleRose said, pointing to Meryn.

Eva had to admit, it was getting kinda creepy. Meryn had been staring at the head of the BelleRose house for at least ten minutes.

Aiden growled and nuzzled her neck. Meryn absently swatted at him. "But he's so pretty."

Javier's mate, Marie, raised her napkin to her mouth and laughed. Everything the woman did was elegant. "You are very pretty, darling," she teased her mate.

The older vampire actually blushed. "Well, thank you, I suppose. Though I do not hold a candle to your beauty, my love." Marie smiled.

Eva could practically see the love between the couple. Simon Géroux and his mate, Leana, were no different, though there seemed to be a sadness around Simon and his mate.

"I guess I am just a chopped liver in comparison," Simon joked.

Meryn turned her head to stare at him. "You're like warrior hot. Like if shit was hitting the fan, I'd totally duck behind you," Meryn said sincerely.

Beth covered her face with her hands as Simon blinked. He frowned, and then his lips twisted before he burst out laughing. "Gods, I needed that! Thank you, Meryn. Considering how many from my line have become unit warriors, I will take that as a compliment."

Meryn frowned. "Didn't it sound like a compliment?"

Leana smacked her mate on the shoulder. "Of course it did dear, do not mind him. We have both had a long day."

A long awkward silence filled the room. Everyone looked around, smiling nervously.

"Is that because one of your peeps might have gone bat shit crazy and exsanguinated two of the refugees?" Meryn asked bluntly, looking around the table in an air of innocence.

Eva watched as Beth and Magnus' eyes bulged. Aiden's mouth dropped, and beside her, her mate tensed.

Simon's eyes widened, and he looked around as if unsure of what to say. Leana, however exhaled and leaned back in her chair. "Thank the Gods! I thought we would be eyeball deep in elephant shit before someone pointed out the elephant in the room."

Meryn grinned. "I like you."
 

Leana laughed. "I think I am going to adore you as well. Such a breath of fresh air. I was dreading coming tonight, unsure of how we would be received, but your honest reaction is most welcome."

Marie glared at Leana. "You did not have to be nervous all by yourself. If you were concerned about tonight's dinner, you should have come to me, you know we support you."

Leana looked contrite. "I am sorry, it is just an awful situation. I did not want to get you or your mate involved in case things escalated."

Meryn looked at Magnus and pointed to Javier. "I like them, too."

Magnus nodded. "They are some of my closest friends. They have supported me at every turn." He leveled a look at Simon. "I would hate to think that my good friend would not come to me in his time of need."

Simon glared right back at Magnus. "I was trying to protect you. You have enough on your plate trying to open the city to protect people, you did not need more problems heaped up on you."

Magnus scowled. "I am getting real tired of people hiding problems in an effort to protect me."

Simon shook his head. "We did not hide anything."

Adriel cleared his throat. "No, sir. I believe that particular barb was thrown in my direction. My unit warriors have been picking and choosing what to report, with the good intentions of helping our prince."

"Is this about some of the other families being disrespectful to the warriors?" Leana asked.

Magnus pointed at her. "She knew? How did I miss such a thing?"

"Probably because you were meant to." Meryn looked around. "Can I have some pudding?"

Magnus had his mouth open to protest and shut it quickly. "Should you be having pudding for dinner?"

Ryuu stepped up behind her with a prepared bowl. "Actually sire, it's practically all she has been eating since she had it the first day, the only exceptions being her favorite Cheetos, and the kebobs and meat pies from the Marketplace."

Marie clucked in sympathy. "When I was carrying, I practically lived off of chocolate. Poor Javier thought our child would come out coated with the stuff."

Javier nodded. "I was never so grateful for the fae portals. She had me hopping around the world for different kinds of chocolate." He winked at his mate. "It was worth it though. Our son was born hale and hearty."

"Your son?" Meryn asked.

Marie smiled. "Our son's name is Viktor; he is a unit leader here in the city."

"I met him when Adriel introduced the units. He was very kind," Eva said, remembering his wonderful manners.

Marie beamed. "Thank you, and congratulations on your mating."

"She is more than I could ever dare to hope for," Adriel said.

Marie turned to Beth. "Are the rumors true? Are you with child?"

Beth looked around the table in surprise. "How..." She looked behind her. Suddenly, Sebastian had a keen interest in the wine selection. "Sebastian!"

He stepped forward looking a bit embarrassed. "I may have ordered a crib, bedding, clothes, blankets, and one or two toys."

Beth's anger melted in the face of such fatherly indulgence. "Thank you. My child will want for nothing with you helping to plan their arrival." Sebastian's face flushed with the praise. Beth nodded at Marie. "Yes, I am."

Marie clapped her hands together in front of her. "A thousand blessings on your child! The first baby to be born in Noctem Falls in decades, how exciting!"

Eva caught Gavriel's mouth moving and could have sworn he muttered that the baby would be born in Lycaonia. Poor Gavriel. Eva felt like laughing, even though he was the vampire, Noctem Falls claimed his shifter mate as their own, while he remained loyal to Lycaonia, the shifter city.
 

Beth leaned forward to stare at Meryn. "By the way, what's with your new word usage? First eviscerate and now exsanguinate?"

Meryn stuck her nose in the air. "I am trying to improve my vocabulary."

Aiden chortled next to her. "Ask her what's she's using to build her vocabulary."

Beth hesitated. "What?"

"It's a perfectly legitimate app."

Aiden nipped her shoulder. "Tell her."

"I downloaded the Serial Killer Word of the Day app," Meryn answered. She looked around as the table fell silent. "What! All the normal ones were boring, I mean who really wants to use words like 'mulct' and 'gormandize' in everyday conversation. The serial killer app came with cool information about blood splatter patterns and medieval torture methods."

Again, there was silence.

Javier regarded Meryn intently. "You are the most dangerous creature in the city, are you not?"

Meryn beamed at him. "I knew I liked you."

Simon shook his head once and then turned to Magnus, changing the subject. "Is it true that the warriors have already completed the first set of housing?"

"It is. Two small witches recently of Storm Keep managed to accomplish what their older counterparts could not. Under their own power, they easily carved building after building out of the stone walls. It was all the other warriors could do to keep up," Magnus said, practically bragging the two witches up. "And to think that Storm Keep begged me to accept them."

Eva watched as Adriel turned to his prince. "They did?"

Magnus nodded. "Evidently, they barely passed their warrior exams and were such misfits they did not know what to do with them. They did not want to be separated, so I told them we would try them out. Best thing I could have done."

Beth raised an eyebrow. "And you couldn't bear the thought that the two brothers would be sent to different cities."

Magnus cleared his throat. "Maybe."

Eva watched a thousand thoughts play out on Adriel's face. She hoped her mate never took up poker, because he couldn't hide what he was thinking to save his life.

"They're mine; I adopted them," Meryn declared cheerfully, taking another bite of pudding. Beside her, Aiden began to choke on his steak. Gavriel leaned over and whacked his commander on the back.

Once his airway was clear, he turned to Meryn. "What?"

She looked up, confused. "What?"

"Adopted them?"

"Yup! They are my baby Keelans."

Aiden's brow creased. "Baby Keelans?"

Ryuu stepped forward again. "She is referring to the fact that Masters Nigel and Neil look very similar to Keelan."

"I think it's the hair. And their sense of humor. And pranks," Meryn rattled off.