Chapter 9: My Protector: Chapter 8

Beth heard the study door open and close, then the sound of a tray being placed on the dresser. Seconds later the bed dipped down. She opened her eyes and looked at her mate. He looked exhausted and worried. She reached up and pushed his hair away from his face.

‘Whatever is worrying you, it will be okay,’ she whispered.

His smile was forced. ‘Are you hungry baby? Colton left a tray for you.’

She shook her head and snuggled closer to him.

‘Go back to sleep baby, you need your rest. I’ll wake you up for dinner.’ He pulled the blankets up around them and curled up behind her pulling her close. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of him. Out of nowhere the thought hit her that this was her home now.

‘Gavriel?’

‘Yes, love?’

‘Would it be okay if I had my uncle send my things?’ Now that she knew she would be living here she wanted the rest of her wardrobe with her.

‘Of course, I’ll clean out a part of the closet tomorrow.’ He kissed the back of her head.

Smiling, she let herself drift off and return to her nap.

*****

‘Beth, honey, time to wake up.’ She felt a hand on her shoulder. Blinking, she looked up. Her mate was standing beside the bed looking dapper as usual, whereas she could almost feel her bed head.

‘Is it morning?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘No, it’s time for dinner.’ She could tell he was trying not to smile.

‘How bad is it?’

‘You may want to stop by the bathroom before we go downstairs.’ His eyes danced with laughter. She wanted to pull the pillow over her head. Sighing she got up and walked over to the bathroom. The pain in her side was nearly gone. She reached for the doorknob and noticed he was staying fairly close to her.

Turning, she looked him in the eye. ‘I don’t need a babysitter, Gavriel.’

‘Maybe I just want to always be near you.’

‘Fine, but you stay out here while I make myself presentable,’ she countered.

He nodded and pointed to the bathroom. ‘I’ll wait right out here.’

She huffed and walked into the bathroom closing the door behind her. When she looked at herself in the mirror she gasped. On the other side of the door she heard his chuckle. Her hair was sticking straight up. Mortified, she turned the water on and wet her hair. She ran a brush through the tangled mess until she looked less like an escapee from an insane asylum and more like the socialite she was. She powdered her face with her compact and added a bit of lipstick. She was so pale she needed the pop of color the lipstick provided.

‘When were you going to tell me about your alert necklace?’ she heard him ask. Mentally she began to curse her fathers. Of course they would tell him about her magical leash. She opened the door and scowled at him.

‘I hate that damn thing. We don’t need it.’

‘I must insist that you recode it so that should you ever need to use it, it will alert me and not your fathers who are across the country and not in a position to provide immediate assistance.’ One look at his face and she knew better than to argue. She had learned growing up, you had to pick your battles and this was one she would not win.

‘Fine!’ she stomped over to her suitcase and pulled out the small velvet pouch that had been tucked away in the corner. She opened the drawstrings and turned it upside down dropping a large pendant necklace and three blue stone key chains into her hand. She turned to him. ‘This pendant came with six keystones. Both my fathers and my uncle each have one. You will receive the fourth. Who would you recommend to receive the fifth and sixth for here in Lycaonia?’

Gavriel stared down at the small, plain looking flat stones. ‘Are those worry stones?’ he asked.

She sighed. ‘Yes, the fae warrior who made these for us had a sense of humor. But it actually worked out for the best, since they are small and flat they’re easy to carry.’ She held one up to him.

He took it and turned it over in his hand. ‘I would recommend Meryn and Adelaide.’

His recommendations surprised her. ‘Not your commander?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘If I wasn’t here, it’s almost a guarantee that I would be on a mission with Aiden, so it would be pointless to have two stones with us. If Adelaide had one you would be able to alert her, Marius, and more importantly Elder McKenzie to the fact that you need help. Any of those three would be able to mobilize assistance in minutes.’

She nodded. ‘And Meryn?’

Smiling he handed the stone back to her. ‘She’s crazy enough to do anything to save you; in addition to that Ryuu is always with her. I have a feeling there isn’t much those two can’t do,’ he admitted.

‘Those were the two I’d chosen as well. Okay, give me a moment.’ She placed the three remaining keystones so that they were touching the large pendant and whispered the spell that she’d learned on her sixteenth birthday. When she opened her eyes the stones were glowing a deep burnished gold. After a few seconds the glow faded and the stones returned to their normal royal blue color. She handed a stone to him and he immediately added it to his key ring.

‘I’ll give Meryn and Adelaide theirs later.’ She put the necklace on and sighed.

Her mate surprised her by pulling her in for a kiss. When she looked up at him questioningly, he smiled.

‘I know that you hate it, but thank you for wearing it. It will help me worry less when I’m not with you,’ he said and kissed her on the tip of her nose.

And just like that she didn’t mind the necklace anymore. If it helped her mate worry less so he could concentrate more on himself to avoid getting hurt, then she would gladly wear the stupid leash.

‘Come on, let’s head downstairs. Tonight Ryuu made one of Meryn’s favorites, his own version of Hot Pockets. Each one has a different filling, but you don’t know what it is until you eat it. It’s actually quite amusing.’

‘I can’t wait.’ And she meant it. She had had more fun in the past couple days with her mate than in the previous year living alone.

She grabbed her wristlet and they left the room. As they walked Elizabeth noticed that he matched his steps to hers perfectly, his hand never leaving the small of her back. She knew he was doing it to prevent a fall and it made her feel just as rebellious as when her uncle and fathers did it when she was at home. But, she had to admit his touch, though small, felt wonderful. Her animal was practically purring like a kitten. The warmth from his hand was more comforting than controlling. His touch was feather light, acting more like a reminder that he was there, rather than a censure of her. Looking over at him she noticed that even though his features remained unyielding and stoic, his eyes were warm and almost kind. Just that small touch at her back was enough to put him at ease. Slowly he was worming his way into her heart. Shaking her head she reached out and hooked her finger through his belt loop. When he turned to look at her his rare smile held so much joy that she forgot about her footing and tripped. Laughing he simply extended his arm and wrapped it around her waist, holding her close. He had a way of making her feel like the most precious thing in his world.

When they walked into the dining room Meryn was sitting on Aiden’s lap laughing and holding up a square pastry to his mouth. The three other men stood.

Gavriel walked her to their seats and pulled out her chair. She sat and he scooted her in. He sat down as Meryn continued to fuss at her mate. The men sat down and watched Meryn and their commander.

‘No way! You know the rules, if you pick it out, you have to eat it.’ She swung the pastry back and forth in front of his mouth.

Aiden frowned at his mate. ‘But I didn’t smell the wasabi until it was under my nose. You know I hate that stuff, baby.’ He looked up at Meryn with liquid brown eyes.

Meryn sighed. ‘Fine, I’ll eat it. But if I get one I don’t like, you have to eat it.’ She took a bite and smiled.

Aiden turned to them. ‘Just in time for the fun.’ His attention turned to Meryn when she started to wave a hand in front of her mouth. He picked up a glass of water and brought it up to her lips. She took the glass and downed the contents then sat back against his chest.

‘Hey Bunny, did you have a good nap?’ she asked.

Elizabeth looked around the room and made eye contact with the men whose mouths were twitching. She gave them the same look she used to give Magnus’s erroneous aides.

‘She can get away with it, you, cannot.’ The men gulped and nodded.

Ryuu walked in and placed two tall glasses of blood in front of Gavriel.

‘Thank you, Ryuu.’ Gavriel lifted a glass and began to drink. Elizabeth was unfazed. Growing up in Noctem Falls she was used to seeing blood being served at meals, but if Meryn’s reaction was anything to go by Gavriel didn’t drink his blood at the table often. She watched him in rapt fascination as he drained the first glass. When she began fidgeting, Elizabeth knew that something was about to pop out of her mouth, poor Meryn looked like she was about to implode from keeping whatever she wanted to say in.

‘Do you always drink from a glass?’ she finally exploded.

Gavriel shook his head. ‘Over my lifetime I have fed in nearly every way imaginable. Drinking from a glass is tame in comparison.’

Meryn started to grin. ‘Would you drink from a man?’

Gavriel nodded.

‘Would you drink in a van?’ she asked her eyes dancing.

‘I don’t see why not,’ he replied.

Elizabeth stared at Meryn as she continued.

‘Would you drink from an actor?’

Again Gavriel nodded.

Laughing Elizabeth shook her head at Meryn.

‘Would you drink on a tractor?’ Meryn could barely get the words out she was laughing so hard.

Gavriel frowned. ‘Maybe from a farmer if the need were dire.’

Her mate’s serious answers to Meryn’s macabre Dr. Seuss questioning made the scene all the more hilarious.

‘Don’t, please, Meryn.’ Elizabeth gasped.

The men were staring at them as if they were crazy. When they had both caught their breaths, Aiden frowned down at his mate.

‘I can never understand what you say,’ he complained.

Meryn shrugged. ‘That’s not my fault, I tried to indoctrinate you into the wonderful world of the gamer geek, but it’s like you have some sort sci-fi/fantasy narcolepsy. It’s weird. The second I try to show you something you fall asleep.’

Aiden grimaced. ‘I can’t help it, it makes me tired.’

Meryn looked back to Gavriel. ‘What does that taste like?’ she asked.

Colton laughed and Darian groaned before reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. He took out a twenty and passed it to Colton.

Colton shook his head and tucked it into his shirt pocket. ‘I told you she would ask.’

Darian scowled at his friend. ‘I should have known better.’

Gavriel regarded Meryn, his eyes kind. Elizabeth knew her mate wasn’t mad. Meryn wasn’t asking to be rude, she just wanted to know. She had no idea what a huge breech of etiquette it was to ask a vampire about blood.

‘It has the viscosity of thick cherry syrup, the intoxicating jolt of your morning cappuccino and the comforting savory taste of a hearty winter stew,’ Gavriel held up his glass and winked at Meryn.

She licked her lips. ‘Can I try?’

Aiden shook his head. ‘No Meryn, it wouldn’t taste the same for you. You’ve licked a cut finger before right?’ he asked. She nodded. ‘To us blood simply tastes like meat or hamburger, it’s nowhere near as enticing as it is for a vampire,’ he explained.

She blinked at him. ‘Wait. Your blood tastes like hamburgers? How is that fair? When I lick a cut on my finger all I taste is copper.’ She frowned down at her finger.

Aiden looked around the table. ‘Blood tastes like hamburgers to you guys, right?’ he asked.

Elizabeth nodded, as did Colton. Keelan and Darian shook their heads.

‘To me, blood tastes like earth.’ Darian was now frowning at his own finger.

‘It tastes like ozone to me, the way ozone smells anyway,’ Keelan contributed.

Elizabeth glanced around the table. Now all the men except Gavriel were staring at their fingers. ‘How did we not know that? I always assumed it tasted the same for everyone,’ she asked.

Ryuu walked in and set a platter of fresh pastries in front of them. ‘That’s because our people are so concerned with being proper that they forgot how to be curious. Meryn has no preconceived notions of etiquette so when she wants to know something she asks. Curiosity is valued and encouraged amongst humans, whereas we value tradition and status.’ Ryuu’s explanation seemed to weigh the room down. Finally Meryn broke the silence.

‘So basically I kick ass, yet again,’ she said seriously and reached for another pastry.

Elizabeth couldn’t help it, she began to laugh. Aiden shook his head smiling and Colton began to flick crumbs at Meryn. Meryn’s inborn need to avoid tension and confrontation led her to be slightly silly, but that also meant those around her were usually smiling.

Elizabeth picked up her own pastry and took a bite. She had lucked out, it was a spinach and feta mix. Humming happily she finished that pastry and reached for another. When she had consumed two more she noticed that her mate had yet to eat anything but was instead on his eighth glass of blood. That was more than four times the normal blood requirement and still he drank. Concerned she tapped his leg and nodded to the red tinted empty glass. Gavriel brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles. Ryuu set another two glasses down and took the emptied glasses away. Gavriel kissed her hand one more time before releasing it to pick up his glass.

‘So what would I taste like?’ Meryn asked. Aiden growled and pulled her closer to him.

Gavriel shook his head. ‘Meryn, you’re the only one in Lycaonia whose blood isn’t enticing to me at all.’

Aiden stopped growling, a surprised look on his face. ‘You never told me that.’

Gavriel took another long drink and set the glass down. ‘I’m not sure why, but even when I’m at my most thirsty, she has no appeal whatsoever to me.’

Meryn looked at Gavriel, the insecurity in her eyes was there for everyone to see. ‘Am I not good enough?’ she asked quietly. Aiden immediately nuzzled her neck and rubbed his chin over the top of her head making Meryn’s head rock from side to side like a bobble head.

‘Meryn, that’s not it at all. Trust me, I would rather drink from you than Colton,’ Gavriel said gently.

‘Hey! I resent that. I am irresistible to both sexes, thank you very much,’ Colton preened.

Meryn smiled at Colton then frowned. ‘I wonder why I don’t seem yummy.’

Aiden kissed the back of her head. ‘You’re yummy to me,’ he admitted.

‘Besides, if he’s going to drink from anyone, it’s going to be me. Sorry, Colton.’ Elizabeth winked at the wolf shifter.

Colton pouted, then laughed. ‘I guess you can have him,’ he teased.

‘Thanks, he’s the mate of my dreams and I’m not giving him up.’ She leaned into Gavriel when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

‘I’ve been meaning to ask you, did you dream about me, before we met?’ Gavriel asked, looking down at her.

Elizabeth shook her head. ‘Sort of. I would dream about situations and then they would happen, but you weren’t there. Only, I felt like someone was watching and was worried about me. Normally being watched over always made me feel like a child, but in the dream I felt genuine affection and also admiration for me.’

‘That was probably me. I dreamt of you constantly in dangerous situations and I couldn’t do anything about it.’ Gavriel shuddered.

Colton sat back, his normally jovial face somber. ‘So what you dream about your mate is true,’ he said softly.

Elizabeth turned to him. ‘Have you dreamt of your mate?’ she asked and the table got quiet.

He nodded. ‘It started last week. At first I didn’t see anyone in particular, just random faces only the place remained the same. Then the same woman started to appear, just her face. Always looking sad, tired and anxious. I know she’s in trouble, but I only get a glimpse each night and then the dream is over.’

Gavriel was the first to speak. ‘I don’t think the dreams are meant to scare us. I think they are meant to help us understand what our mates are going through and potential threats so that we can better understand them and keep them safe.’

Aiden nodded. ‘My dream about Meryn didn’t come exactly true. She wasn’t stabbed to death. But I think because I was so cautious about her safety because of the dreams, that I changed the outcome.’

Meryn smiled at Colton. ‘I know for a fact that the reason I accepted Aiden so easily is because I had been dreaming of him. I had dreams where we spoke and had fun and scary ones where I was being stalked. But it was the pain on his face as I was dying in my dreams that helped me to take that huge leap of faith in accepting him.’ Aiden growled low, his face taking on a haunted look hearing about that particular dream.

Gavriel continued. ‘Every night was hell watching Beth get hurt, but I know that it wasn’t meant to torture me, it was meant to prepare me. I think the dreams are truly meant to help us accept our matings.’

‘I’ve dreamt of my mate as well. I think she’s one of the cashiers at that grocery store in Madison,’ Keelan said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him.

‘Then why haven’t you gone to claim her?’ Darian asked.

Keelan shook his head. ‘Because she’s away at college about ready to graduate. She’ll be back for the holidays. My dreams aren’t scary, but I do think Gavriel’s right in that they help us get to know our mates better. In my dreams my mate and I joke around and play video games.’ He smiled widely.

‘That doesn’t sound very romantic to me,’ Darian commented.

Keelan shrugged. ‘She’s fun. After she graduates and moves back I’ll head to town and meet her. I can’t wait.’

Colton smiled at Keelan’s enthusiasm, but Elizabeth noticed that it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was still worried about his own mate.

Ryuu stepped away from the wall and began to pick up empty platters. ‘I still find it odd that so many matings are happening all at once.’

Aiden laughed. ‘You can blame my mother in part for that one and the desire for grandchildren.’

Ryuu nodded and continued to clear the table.

It dawned on Elizabeth that Ryuu was right. If something was brewing then it couldn’t be a coincidence that the mating spell had been cast. She met Ryuu’s eyes and nodded. She would add that to the ever-growing list of things that needed additional follow up.

‘Did you remember to contact your uncle about your things?’ Gavriel asked breaking her train of thought.

‘Sugar! No, I forgot. Good thing they’re two hours behind us.’ She pulled her phone out of her wristlet and sent off a quick text to her uncle’s assistant asking him to overnight freight her things.

‘Speaking of my things, you weren’t actually using that darling little study were you?’ she asked sweetly.

Her mate’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why?’

‘Because I am commandeering it for my closet.’

‘Closet? My study is over three hundred square feet.’ His shocked expression was adorable.

‘Good point. Do you use the library as well?’

He stared unblinking. ‘Yes, actually I do.’

‘Oh well. I’ll need to call in a contractor to remodel the study into functional wardrobe.’

‘Contractor?’ he asked, his face taking on a worried expression.

‘You do have contractors and craftsmen in Lycaonia don’t you?’ She looked around the table.

Aiden was smiling widely. ‘Of course we do, Elizabeth. In fact I will call them in the morning and have them come by to go over designs with you.’ He turned to Gavriel. ‘I knew there had to be something she seemed too perfect.’ He threw his head back and laughed.

Gavriel scowled at his friend before turning to her. ‘The whole study?’

‘Yes, the whole study. Do you have any idea how much ventilation quality clothing requires?’ she demanded.

Aiden laughed and banged his hand on the table. ‘Say goodbye to your study,’ he teased mercilessly.

Meryn sighed. ‘I wish we had a study.’

Gavriel looked at Meryn in surprise before a sly smile crossed his lips. ‘Aiden does have a study Meryn.’ Aiden immediately stopped laughing and glared at Gavriel.

‘I know, his office downstairs,’ Meryn pouted.

Smiling broadly Gavriel shook his head. ‘No, he also has one upstairs. Each warrior suite comes with a master bedroom and bath and two additional rooms.’

Meryn turned sharply in Aiden’s lap to face him. ‘We don’t have a study.’

He ran a hand across the back of his neck. ‘Actually we do.’

‘No, we don’t.’

‘Yes, we do.’

‘Then where in the hell is it? I’ve been living here over a month, I would have noticed a whole other room!’

‘The door to the study is partially covered by the aquarium, you probably missed it.’

‘We have a study?’ She asked again.

‘Yes.’

‘We have our own study?’ she asked this time sounding more excited.

‘Yes?’ Aiden looked down at her confused.

Elizabeth sat back and held up a hand and began a countdown. And in five, four, three, two …

‘Holy shit balls, I have my own game room!’ Meryn hopped off Aiden’s lap and darted out of the room. Seconds later they heard the sound of small feet pounding up the stairs and racing down the hall.

Aiden groaned and dropped his head to the table.

‘Serves you right.’ Darian laughed.

‘But I keep my weights in there for when I can’t sleep,’ Aiden complained.

‘I’m sure that contractor will be more than happy to help you get rid of them,’ Gavriel said congenially.

A minute later they heard the sound of feet thumping down the stairs. Meryn appeared in the doorway breathless.

‘It’s so fucking cool! The door is almost hidden, it’s like I have my own bat cave. But those weights totally have to go; I’m calling dibs on that room.’ She walked over and sat down in the empty chair next to Aiden.

Aiden frowned down at her. ‘How can you call dibs on a room I’ve been using for the past five hundred years?’ he demanded.

Meryn looked up and smiled. ‘Did you call dibs?’

Aiden shook his head. ‘Of course I didn’t.’

‘Ha! Then I get it fair and square,’ Meryn countered.

Elizabeth turned to her mate. ‘Do we seem dull and staid in comparison?’

Gavriel shook his head. ‘I think it’s more that Meryn lives in and rules her own world.’

‘Why would I call dibs on my own room?’ Aiden asked.

Meryn ignored him and looked over to her. ‘Will you help me design a game room? I’ve always wanted one.’

Elizabeth nodded. ‘Sure, I don’t know much about games, but I can help you pick out furniture and decor.’

‘But that’s my weight room; I’ve used it for hundreds of years!’ Aiden protested.

Meryn turned to her mate. ‘Then you’ve had it long enough and now it’s my turn. Be an adult and share. Besides, I called dibs.’

‘Whatever makes you happy, baby,’ Aiden said, leaning back in total defeat.

‘Sweet! Then later it can be a game-themed nursery.’ Meryn grabbed the last pastry so that Ryuu could take the empty plate to the kitchen.

Aiden was mindlessly nodding his agreement when her words sunk in. He stood so fast his chair flew back.

‘A … a … a … are you? Could you be?’ he stuttered.

‘What pregnant? Technically … yes. You never did pick up condoms when you raided the grocery store for tampons. Maybe, but I don’t think so,’ she stopped and looked down at her hands and counted. ‘Yeah, maybe. But if you want to explore the possibility of getting me pregnant, I won’t wear the amulet. That is, if you go buy condoms.’

‘We can have a baby if I go buy condoms?’ Aiden asked breathlessly.

‘That’s kinda contradictory, but yes.’ Meryn nodded.

Aiden looked the other men.

‘Ryuu, I’m leaving my mate with you. Come on, men.’ He bolted for the front door.

Gavriel kissed her cheek then joined the other men as they followed Aiden out of the room.

Ryuu shook his head as he stacked the plates on his arm. ‘Meryn, you are terrible.’

Grinning, she popped the last bite into her mouth. ‘That should keep him busy for a while.’

Elizabeth chuckled. ‘Won’t you have to get pregnant now?’

Meryn shrugged. ‘I think I may already be pregnant, it’s why I haven’t put the amulet on. I’m not sure what it would do to Meryn 2.0.’

Elizabeth and Ryuu stared at Meryn. Finally Ryuu asked the question bouncing around her own head. ‘Then why did you tell him to get condoms?’

Meryn shrugged and spread her hands. ‘Because it will be funny watching him try to use them later?’

Elizabeth grabbed her stomach and laughed so hard she thought she was going to wet herself.

‘Meryn, I think you’re my hero,’ she said gasping for air.

‘I know. I kick ass!’

Laughing, Ryuu leaned down and kissed Meryn’s forehead before carrying the plates to the kitchen.