My Protector (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 2) (12 page)

Whistling he walked out of the store to meet up with Aiden.
 

*****

Elizabeth looked over to where the men were gathered around their unit leaders getting orders for the afternoon's drills in Aiden's absence.
 

She walked over and looked at Colton, Keelan and Darian. Colton was still rubbing the back of his head from where Sascha had thumped him.

"Can I ask you something?" The men nodded. "Aiden is your Unit Commander, how come none of you said anything when Meryn was setting his car on fire? You had plenty of time to stop her." She had been surprised that not one of the warriors had moved to tell Aiden what Meryn had been up to.

Colton looked at Darian and Keelan and all three winced. Colton turned to her with a wry expression on his face. "Because of five words Meryn said to us after she moved in."

"What were they?" Elizabeth asked.

"I. Know. Where. You. Sleep." Colton shuddered.

The warriors standing around them all gulped.

Sascha smiled. "Is this what we have to look forward to when our mates start arriving?" he asked.

Colton laughed. "Mayhem? Not understanding a single word that comes out of their mouths? A new set of rules for conduct and threats of bodily harm?" Colton thought about it then nodded. "Yes."

The men all groaned.
 

Smiling, Elizabeth patted Colton on the arm. "It gets better. I'll be in the house calming Meryn down if you need me."

"Good luck!" Keelan called.

She waved at the men and then went into the house. She had to listen for a second but quickly identified that the sounds of frustration were coming from Aiden's office. She made her way down the hall and opened the door.

"You okay, sweetie?" Elizabeth asked walking into the office.

Meryn was slamming things around muttering under her breath. Elizabeth could see an agitated light darting around Meryn's head.

"I'm fine! He's just so damn exasperating! He was so wonderful earlier and then he pulls this shit." Meryn flung one of Aiden's folders across the room. It slammed against the wall and slid down. Elizabeth winced; she would have to organize those papers later.

"Not to sound like I'm taking his side, but I think he got worried that you were outside, especially with the feral sighting so close to the house today. He knows it's just a matter of time before they realize that Ryuu doesn't have a defensive spell up. They are getting bolder." Elizabeth walked over and picked up the folder before setting it on Aiden's desk.

Meryn sat down in Aiden's chair and frowned. Elizabeth waited.
 

Meryn looked up, a surprised look on her face. "You're not going to ask me what's wrong, are you?"

"No, if you want to tell me you can, but I've discovered that when someone is pressed for answers they seldom reply with the truth." Elizabeth sat down in the leather chair across from Meryn.

"I've been acting just a little bratty this month," Meryn confessed.

"No! Say it ain't so." Elizabeth teased.

Meryn smiled and continued. "Okay, I admit it, I can sometimes be a bit blunt and I know I'm quirky, but I've been pushing the envelope with the guys. I thought for sure they would have snapped off at me by now, but they haven't. Not once have they ever told me to 'quit acting ridiculous', or to 'grow up'. They haven't made me feel like a nuisance or told me to shut up," she paused.

Elizabeth spoke gently. "Those are someone else's words and responses aren't they?"

Meryn nodded. "My grandmother was always telling me to 'be quiet' and 'go away'. I figured it would be just a matter of time before the guys got sick of me too."

Elizabeth got up and walked around the desk; she pulled Meryn up and gave her a hug. "Real family doesn't do things like that Meryn, and that's what we have here. They may be a bunch of chest banging, cavemen throwbacks, but they're ours. They would never hurt your feelings. Not only do they care about you too much to do that, but they wouldn't risk pissing off your mate, or mine for that matter. Gavriel is absolutely smitten with you. He told me today that you made the long days trapped inside bearable." Elizabeth held the small woman at arm's length.
 

Meryn sniffled and used her sleeve to wipe her eyes. "That's why it hurt so badly when Aiden dismissed me. I knew that he wasn't doing it to hurt me, but all of a sudden I was five again and alone."

"You're no longer five and you certainly aren't alone. You have that delightful little sprite that took on someone one hundred times his size for you, not to mention your squire. I thought he was going to deck Aiden when that fireball engulfed us." Elizabeth smiled when Meryn snickered; she was relieved that the human was bouncing back to her normal self.

Meryn looked up at her, eyes dancing. "Did you see their faces when we were covered in blue flames?" she laughed then snorted which made her laugh harder.

Elizabeth laughed right along with her, every time Meryn would snort, Elizabeth would laugh harder. It wasn't long before both women were on the floor under the desk cackling.

"
Denka
, I take it from the laughter that you are feeling better?" Ryuu asked from the doorway.

Meryn stood on her knees to look over the desk but barely cleared it. This made Elizabeth start laughing again. Meryn glared down at her. Elizabeth stuck out her tongue and wiped her eyes. Meryn stood facing her squire.

"Yeah, I'm good. I forgot for a second that I completely kick ass."

Ryuu raised a brow then smiled. "That you do. I was afraid for a moment I was going to have to do something painful to your mate, but since you are laughing and not crying, he is spared."

"Ryyuuu! You can't just knock my mate around like a kid with a toy. He's the Unit Commander for crying out loud." Meryn waved her arms about wildly.

Ryuu just stared at her. "
Denka
that title means very little to me. Your health and well-being are my only concerns. If his ineptitude leads to another instance where you are almost barbecued then he and I will definitely have words." Ryuu crossed his arms over his chest.
 

Meryn turned to her. "I can't do anything with him!" she said pointing to Ryuu.

Elizabeth stood and dusted off her jeans. "That is how squires are Meryn. My uncle's squire has yet to address my uncle with any degree of respect. Sebastian sees my uncle as his charge and nothing more. In a way, I think my uncle needs that. He can always rely on Sebastian to keep him humble."

Ryuu's expression didn't change. "I wouldn't damage him ... permanently." He shrugged.

Meryn smacked her forehead in exasperation. "I give up! And ... I'm hungry." Her concern for her mate forgotten, she looked at Ryuu with puppy dog eyes.

He gave a faint smile and bowed. "I have prepared a snack from the pastries you ladies purchased in the city earlier this afternoon, along with your favorite Earl Grey tea."

"You love me!" Meryn turned to her. "You coming?"

Elizabeth nodded. "For pastries and tea? Of course I'm coming, be there in a moment. I need to ask Ryuu about ordering a certain tea for me, especially considering I'm going to be living here."
 

Meryn shrugged and walked into the hallway; she paused for a second before turning back to her. "I'm really glad you're here, Bunny," Meryn confessed.

Elizabeth was too touched to rip her cute little face off for calling her 'Bunny' . "Me too, sweetie."

Meryn smiled and walked away.

Ryuu looked out the door and held up a finger. After a few seconds be lowered his hand and turned to her. "I take it this isn't about tea?"

"I wouldn't mind if you ordered some Fortnum and Mason's English Breakfast tea. I got addicted to the stuff when we visited London. But no, what I was going to ask you is ... have you made sure all the spells have been disarmed? I'm not too proud to admit that this afternoon's fireball scared the hell out of me." She shuddered.

Ryuu scowled. "Don't remind me of that incident. Most are actually still operative, they will only activate if someone tries to open a window and enter from the outside. We can activate the front and back doors whenever we wish with the small, brass charms hanging on the walls by the doors. I have been working with Keelan on what we would need for a permanent perimeter. It's difficult because you can't, for example, ban all shifters. We would need to be very specific, but in doing so, may leave loopholes."

"As long as there's no possibility that either I or my mate will be burnt alive, I'm satisfied. Did you eavesdrop on our conversation?" she asked.

He nodded. "Naturally."

"Can you make sure Aiden understands why she got so upset? I don't think Meryn will say anything, but I think, unless Aiden knows why this impacted her so much he will inadvertently walk into this blunder again, and it won't be his fault."

Ryuu sighed. "I suppose you're right."

Elizabeth patted him on the arm. "All in a day's work. I hope Meryn hasn't eaten all of the apple fritters. She was right, they are delicious." She walked into the hallway towards the family room to wrestle Meryn for some pastries.

*****

"She was crying." Aiden stared down at the jewelry box in his hands and shook his head.

Gavriel knew hurting Meryn enough to make her cry had devastated his commander. He looked from his friend back to the road. "These are the type of things every new couple has to face. All you can do is fall on your sword, beg forgiveness and then do your damnedest to never hurt her again."

"I knew she had a shitty childhood, but she always made light of it. What was I thinking to ignore her like that?" Aiden beat the small blue gift-wrapped box against his forehead.

"When we get back, grovel and beg forgiveness ..." Aiden groaned. Gavriel continued. "And then sit her down and get her to talk about the things that she's insecure about. Let her know you're not a mind reader and that you're not going anywhere."

Aiden turned to him. "You've seen her more than I have this past month, why would she think that I would leave?"

Inwardly Gavriel sighed. All he wanted was to curl up with his mate and learn more about
her
. When he looked over and saw the absolute confusion on Aiden's face he knew he had to break it down for him, he owed Meryn that much at the very least.

"Aiden, she lost both of her parents when she was very small. That alone could cause abandonment issues, but when you factor in a grandmother who ignored her existence, I bet she has been waiting for us to tell her to leave or for us to start ignoring her altogether. You really couldn't have screwed up in a worse way."

When he looked over, Aiden was staring at him mouth open. "Oh Gods, my poor baby."

"You'll just have to tell her every day for the next fifty or so years how you feel about her," Gavriel suggested.

Aiden nodded and stared ahead. "Drive faster."

Gavriel nodded. "Yes, sir."

*****

Elizabeth was sipping her tea when she heard a car door slam outside. Meryn turned to her, a look of panic on her face.

"What if he hates me because I torched his car?" she whispered.

"He won't, just talk to him Meryn. He may be a shifter, but he's still a male. Use small words, not a lot of syllables and you'll be fine," she suggested.

"Right. Small words. Got it." Meryn twisted her fingers in front of her nervously.

When they heard the front door open and close Meryn looked like she was going to be ill.

"Breathe," Elizabeth whispered. Meryn nodded.

Aiden walked into the room, Gavriel behind him. Elizabeth had always dated shifters or fae. She liked their larger frames and muscles, but seeing her mate next to the bear shifter she was suddenly breathless. She remembered the way his sculpted body of lean muscles had looked looming over her, he made the Unit Commander seem clumsy and bulky in comparison.

"Meryn," Aiden said stiffly.

"Aiden." Meryn stared down at her hands.

Elizabeth looked at her mate who shrugged. After another minute of silence, Elizabeth leaned over and whispered. "Remember what I said?"

Meryn nodded before turning back to Aiden. "Want.To.Have.Sex?"

Elizabeth was surprised at how fast Aiden moved, for such a large man he got to his mate in record time. Meryn giggled as Aiden swung her up in his arms and proceeded to kiss every exposed inch of her skin. Aiden turned and nearly sprinted out of the room.

Shaking her head she picked up her cup and took another sip. "I did tell her to use short words with few syllables."

Gavriel swaggered over and dangled a small white plastic bag in front of her. "For you, my dear."

Elizabeth licked her lips and reached for the bag.

Gavriel jerked it out of reach. "You have to pay."

Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously. "What will it cost me?"

Gavriel gently lowered the bag into her hands. "The rest of the afternoon with me, I'd like to get to know my mate much, much better."

"If you can secure us lunch from Ryuu, you have a deal. All I've had today is caffeine and sugar. It may be normal for Meryn, but I'm a shifter and need more sustenance."

Gavriel pulled her out of the chair and into his arms. "Deal. Head up and I'll see what I can put together for our lunch."

Elizabeth stood, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. She had meant to surprise him, but the trick was on her. He took the kiss over and when he was done she was panting.

"Sneaky vampire," she muttered, heading for the foyer.

"Of course, and I'm sneakier than most," he admitted.

"Hurry with the food."

"As you wish."

Elizabeth turned to stare at him. Did he just quote
Princess Bride
?

Gavriel looked at her, an innocent expression on his face. "What?"

She couldn't determine if he was joking or not.

"Damn vampire."

His chuckle followed her into the foyer.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Gavriel had just reached the kitchen when he heard Beth's startled gasp and then the sound of something or someone tumbling down the stairs.

Beth!