My Protector (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 2) (11 page)

"I'll have to work on that," he murmured.
 

"I won't survive. Now, tell me what you didn't want to say in front of Meryn." She rolled over onto her side and pinned him with a knowing look. His mate was far too observant.

"The feral actually made mention that they knew I was in transition and at my weakest. He also said I had been chosen." He heard her gasp. He didn't like the fear in her eyes. He pulled her close.

"I'll be fine. Even at my weakest they are still no match for me." He didn't dare let her see his face, he knew she'd pick up on his lie. She rubbed her nose against his chest before placing a soft kiss against his skin.

"I called my fathers today. My uncle said he would be calling you later for a little 'man to man chat'." She twirled her finger around his belly button.

"I'll call Magnus later, I can just imagine what he has to say to me. More than likely the same thing I would say to someone newly mated to a favorite niece, something along the lines of 'if you hurt her I will skin you alive'." He sighed.

"I'm sorry, but it's because we're so close. Sometimes Daddy and Papa were busy in the lab, so he would watch me. In some ways I'm closer to him than my parents, because he wasn't just an uncle growing up, he was my best friend," she confided. He groaned, the man would be gunning for him for sure. She looked up, concern on her face. He kissed the tip of her nose.

"I remember Magnus from my time at Noctem Falls. I respected him as a warrior and I respect him as our Elder. If he feels the need to lecture me about the care of his beloved niece then I will let him."
 

Gratitude filled her eyes. "Thank you."

"Anything for you. Do you suppose Aiden is looking for me?" he asked pulling the blanket up around them.

She giggled. "I hope that Meryn wore him out so we can stay like this for a little longer."

"We'll check on them in a little bit, for now let's just enjoy the afternoon."

She snuggled close. He closed his eyes determined to enjoy this time with his mate despite the threat looming over them.

CHAPTER SIX

Half an hour later Elizabeth walked down the stairs with Gavriel. They met up with a smiling Aiden and Meryn. Aiden looked up and grinned at Gavriel before leaning down to kiss his mate on the forehead.

"Okay Meryn, remember what I said. You have to stop interrupting our training; we're still a functioning unit and need to be able to work on our drills. If you need to talk to me, try to come out during a break or lunch."

Meryn sighed. "I'll try, but some stuff can't wait."

Gavriel turned to Elizabeth and kissed her gently before stepping back. "I'm going to try to do drills with the guys this afternoon."

"Be careful," she said.

He nodded then both men headed for the door.

Keelan came from the family room looking concerned. "Umm guys, we can take this stuff down right? Guys? Hello? Fireballs?" Keelan trailed after them voicing his concerns.

Meryn laughed. "Poor Keelan." She turned to Elizabeth. "Come on let's get started."

They walked to the office and looked around at the cluttered mess of stacked papers and the one small desk. They looked at each other.

"Tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.

"Totally! I don't know how your afternoon went, but I'm wiped. I don't know how Aiden is out there doing drills. I'll work on the databases after dinner when Aiden and I are upstairs relaxing." Meryn stretched and yawned.

"My afternoon was probably similar to yours and I agree, the men must be monsters." They walked to the family room. Meryn collapsed on one of the large leather couches, Elizabeth the recliner. Elizabeth reached over to the side coffee table and picked up the forgotten pastry bag. She pulled out a cookie smiling happily.

"I don't want to move." Meryn curled up into a small ball.

"Me either." Elizabeth kicked back the recliner chewing her chocolate chip cookie. It was scrumptious.

"Ladies, would you like some tea?" Ryuu asked from the doorway.

Meryn opened one eye. "What time is it?"

Ryuu leaned back and checked the foyer clock. "It's one thirty
denka."
 

"Can you wake us up before the guys come in?" Meryn yawned.

"Of course," he was about to leave the room when the phone rang. He turned and picked up the old-fashioned receiver.

"Alpha Unit Estate, oh yes. How are you today sir? We're fine here. He is outside at the moment but Meryn is here. Yes, hold please." Ryuu covered the mouth of the receiver.

"
Denka,
Lord Byron is on the phone for you."

Meryn perked up and hopped off the couch. She took the phone from Ryuu. "Hey Dad. Probably, I'm not sure. I can ask him. Yeah, hold on." Meryn set the receiver down on the sofa table and turned to her.

"I gotta run ask Aiden something." She turned to the door.

"
Denka,
your coat," Ryuu said.

Meryn shook her head, "I should only take a second."

Elizabeth stood. "I'll go with you; maybe the fresh air will wake me up."

Elizabeth followed Meryn out the door to the side of the house. The clearing beside the driveway provided the men the space needed to work in larger groups. They walked up to the open area where the men were sparring with each other. Smiling they waved as she approached.

"Hey Aiden..." Meryn called out.

Aiden turned, a frown on his face. "Meryn what did I just tell you about interrupting our training? These drills could save your life one day," Aiden practically shouted.

"But I.."

"No. Go back into the house. I'll come to you when we're done." Aiden deliberately turned his back dismissing her.

"Aiden..."

Aiden ignored her.

"Aiden, please."

Aiden stared down at his clipboard steadily ignoring his mate.

Nostrils flaring Meryn turned to her. "Wait here."

Oh dear.

Meryn marched back into the house with a determined look on her face.

A few seconds later Meryn walked through the front door and down the porch steps around to the back. A minute later, when she pulled up in a large black Camaro, she had everyone's attention except Aiden's.

Elizabeth watched as Colton jogged up to Aiden. He watched Meryn, his eyes growing wide.

Meryn pulled a gas canister from the trunk and started to douse the car. Elizabeth watched smiling. Her eyes met Gavriel's. She raised an eyebrow and nodded to where Meryn was gleefully saturating the car. He shrugged. She noticed not one warrior breathed a word to their commander.

Aiden turned to Colton. "Colton, did you spill gasoline in the armory? That could be a potential disaster waiting to happen," he admonished.

Colton shook his head. "No. But Aiden, Meryn..."

"I told her I'd speak to her later."

"But Aiden..." Colton gulped.

"Later," Aiden said in a curt tone.

Meryn threw the gas canister into the car and pulled out a pack of matches. She tried the first match and it didn't light. Scrunching up her nose she kept trying.

"Aiden..." Colton tried again.

"I will talk to her later," Aiden said firmly.

Meryn's third attempt worked, she looked up and smiled at everyone before dropping the entire matchbook into the backseat. She stepped back as the entire car erupted in flames.

Colton brought both hands up and threaded his fingers behind his head. Rocking back on his heels he grinned. "Aiden, what I was going to say was, Meryn is setting your car on fire." Colton jerked his head to the side pointing to the driveway.

"What?" Aiden yelled. He turned to see his car rapidly becoming a small bonfire.

"Meryn! What the hell?" He raced over to stand in front of his mate. He looked at her satisfied smile and back to his car. He pulled at his hair with his hands.

His gaze was furious when he turned back to his mate. "Meryn!" he roared.

She pulled her foot back and kicked him in the shin.

"Fuck! Dammit Meryn!" Aiden dropped down to one knee and rubbed his leg. Elizabeth walked over to stand next to her friend. She may not be a bear, but she was a shifter and Meryn wasn't; she could at least get between them if Aiden needed a second to calm down.

Meryn glared down at her mate. "Shut up! Now
you
listen to
me
." Meryn put both hands on her hips and leaned over her huge mate. "First off, I am not a simpering clingy mate. I don't interrupt you for fun. Usually if I have to interrupt you it's something important, because guess what? I have my
own
shit to do! In case you hadn't noticed I'm helping your brother completely restructure the training program and getting computer illiterate elders savvy on message boards. Secondly, my grandmother used to ignore me and I cannot stress to you enough how much that bothers me. I refuse to be ignored by someone I love again." With tears in her eyes she headed up the porch steps. She turned back to him. "What I was going to tell you was that your father was on the phone for you." She walked past her squire whose eyes were shooting daggers at Aiden.
 

With an evil smile, Ryuu raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The trunk exploded in blue flames. "Actually Lord Byron saw the smoke from his office window. I informed him of what transpired. He said to call back when you were back in your mate's good graces." He turned and followed Meryn into the house.

Seconds later Aiden was turning his head back and forth. He swatted his hand in front of his face. "Ow! Meryn come back! Dammit Felix cut it out!" Aiden lost his balance and ended up on his back. The tiny speck of light struck again and again before it flittered through the door and it slammed shut behind him.

Elizabeth and Gavriel walked up until they stood on either side of Aiden's prone body.

Colton whistled behind them. "Dude, you're so fucked."

Gavriel looked down at his friend who was now sporting tiny red abrasions on his face and sighed, looking over at her he said. "We'll be back." He leaned down and pulled Aiden to his feet. "Come on cub, maybe that old man at the store will know of a way to fix this." Aiden nodded absently. Gavriel gave him a gentle shove towards the garage.

"I'll check on Meryn. If you're running to the store can you pick me up a couple chocolate bars?" Elizabeth asked, trying not to smile. The poor Unit Commander was dazed.

"You can have whatever you want my mate. Thank you for checking on Meryn, she's a little quirky but we all care about her." Gavriel said.

"You mean
you
care for her, don't you?" Elizabeth teased.

Gavriel nodded. "I've been with her, inside, for the past month since I couldn't train in the state I was in. She made those long days bearable."

Elizabeth kissed him and nudged him after Aiden's stumbling form. "Go take care of your commander, I have a feeling you and I will be taking care of these two for a long time."

Gavriel ran a hand over her hair. "More than likely, they have a heavy future in store for them." Elizabeth nodded. Gavriel titled her head up. "You see it too?" he asked.

"Yes. Remember, I was raised around vampires. I'm used to forward thinking. Hurry back."

He kissed her one last time and followed behind Aiden.

Colton's voice rang out. "Let's make s'mores! Ow!" His head jerked forward from Sascha cuffing him.

Elizabeth laughed at the men's antics.

*****

Gavriel followed behind Aiden as they walked into the store. He wanted to pick up the chocolate for Beth and he was dying to see what advice the old man had for Aiden. Walking behind his commander they approached the register where the aged man sat flipping through an old Bass and Guns magazine. The older man's face brightened when he saw Aiden approaching.

"Well look what the cat dragged in. Been awhile, son. Surely you don't need more feminine products, considering how much you bought last time you was here."

"Sir, I..." Aiden began. The old man held up a wrinkled hand.

"My name is Bartholomew son, you can call me Bart. I have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot of you, we might as well be on first name basis."

Aiden thrust his hand out giving the old man hand a thorough shake.

"My name is Aiden McKenzie, this is my... friend Gavriel Ambrosios." Aiden pointed in his direction. Gavriel nodded.

Bart nodded back and turned to Aiden. "Okay son, what's yer question?"

"What do you buy a woman to get back on her good side when you've made her really, really angry? Cake? Fudge?"
 

The wrinkles on the old man's face scrunched together as he frowned.

"How angry did you make her boy?"

"She set my car on fire."

The old man blinked and then began to laugh. He laughed so hard that he began to hack and wheeze. Gavriel thought for sure that Aiden had killed the gentleman. Holding his stomach the man continued to laugh as he reached for a pen and piece of paper. With a shaky hand he scrawled something on the paper and thrust it at Aiden. He exhaled and wiped his eyes still chuckling to himself.

Aiden looked at the paper. "Is this a place that sells good chocolate?" he asked.

"No son. That is the address where they sell jewelry. Chocolate can fix a lot of things, but it's not the embodiment of kitten angel tears if you know what I mean. If yer woman set your car on fire, then son, the only thing that can help you at this point is something shiny." The old man rubbed his rounded belly and began to chuckle again at Aiden's chagrin.
 

"Come on sir, I know that place he is recommending, they do sell nice pieces there. How about you go wait in the car while I buy these candy bars." Gavriel sympathetically pat Aiden on the back before the commander trudged back to the car. Gavriel turned to face the old man.

The old man watched Aiden leave, scratching his stubbled chin. "His woman really that feisty?"

"You have no idea."

"What a lucky bastard."

Gavriel shook his head. "Mine's feistier."

The old man shook his head and rang up the candy bars.

"I have a feeling I'll be seeing more of you boys."

Gavriel picked up the bag. "You're probably right."