My Protector (Bewitched and Bewildered, #2)

by Alanea Alder

"My name is Elizabeth Monroe; I'm your mate." He stopped circling. "I know. I dreamt of you." His voice sounded deep and raspy. "What did you see?" she asked. "You. You falling all the time."

"What is Meryn like?" Gavriel shook his head. "Meryn cannot be described, only experienced."

"Meryn, be good," Aiden said walking away with Gavriel. Meryn rolled her eyes. "I'm always good." She turned to Elizabeth "So. Do you know anything about dead bodies?" So much for girl talk.

"So. What kind of paranormal are you?" Meryn sat down on the couch cross-legged, pulling a laptop in front of her. Elizabeth walked over and sat down in one of the room's chairs. "I'm a lepus curpaeums." Meryn nodded. "So you're a bunny." "I'm a lepus curpaeums..." "A bunny. That's cool."

Elizabeth stared at Meryn in horror. She stood. "Where is his office?" Meryn's eyes widened before a grin appeared. "I'll show you." "Meryn, remember what Aiden said about interrupting unit work?" Ryuu warned. "It's not me this time," Meryn said happily and stood.

"Thank goodness. One Meryn in the world is enough," Colton teased, looking relieved. "It's because I'm a 'Limited Edition'. Y'all should be grateful for even knowing me," Meryn huffed. "We are, my love. We are." Aiden scowled at his men over Meryn's head. "We wouldn't trade you for a sane version any day," Colton reassured her. Meryn smiled then frowned. "What do you mean 'sane version'?"

"I watched entire empires emerge and fall. Gods rule and disappear. The undocumented miracles of magic and science, kings, queens, wars, and you ask about Elvis?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who said anything about strippers?" Aiden demanded, pounding the table. Elizabeth pointed to Meryn. "She did."

"I never had a mother either you know, and I plan to totally rock being a mom. I mean you get to mold their little minds from the second they are born." Meryn perked up. "What do you mean?" Elizabeth continued. "My kids are going to be awesome. I will read to them and make sure they know how to get to Narnia or what to do if the Doctor ever grabs their hand and says 'run!' and they'll know what the one true ring is." Meryn smiled. "I never thought about it like that. It would be like getting a brand new laptop and you can install whatever new apps you want on it or dress it up with a new skin."

"You are too cute!" She laughed as Meryn tried to spit out yarn fuzz. "I am not cute. I am sexy and alluring," Meryn protested. "Sorry to burst your bubble, short stack, but you're so cute, it should be illegal." "You were an only child weren't you?" Meryn asked sourly. "Yes and I have always wanted a sister. You're it." "Is it just me or are you teasing me more today than yesterday?" "Of course, I am. I have adopted you, so gloves are off. You now matter to me, so I don't have to be nice." "Wait. So, because I'm now family, you can be mean to me? How does that work?" Meryn demanded.

"Maybe she's upset about something else?" Sascha suggested. "Do you hog all the blankets?" Quinn asked. The men turned and stared at him. "What? My mom is always complaining to my father about that," he said defensively.

"Let's look at this logically..." Ben started. All eyes swung to him. He backtracked. "Okay, as logically as possible when dealing with Meryn.

She's pretty surface level when it comes to her emotions. If she's mad, she punches you. When she's happy, she jumps a...

"Elizabeth Monroe, a bunny?" the garish woman asked, her tone condescendingly neutral. Elizabeth watched Meryn hunch a little; she could tell that her friend was fighting to keep a scowl off her face. Poor Meryn. She hadn't been raised around women like this one; luckily Elizabeth had. "Actually, it's lepus curpaeums," Meryn corrected. The woman smiled at Meryn patronizingly. "That's just another way to say bunny, dear, why get so wrapped up in the technicalities? Of course, as a human, you wouldn't understand." Meryn blinked and then smiled. "So, if it's okay to call Elizabeth a bunny, then could I call you a bitch?" Meryn asked sweetly.

"Only you. Only you could accidentally find yourself in this kind of situation," she heard her father murmur.

"I've never met anyone like her in all my days. She isn't motivated by greed or power. She doesn't judge people by their race or position. She's very special." He turned his heavy gaze to Elizabeth. "You mean she's motivated by coffee and nerd gear and judges people solely on whether they're an asshole or not?" Elizabeth grinned.

The man was a master at Meryn manipulation. How extraordinary.

"Boogeymen are derived from the legend of boggarts. Boggarts are said to be evil sprites, which actually makes them sound more harmless than they really are. In all actuality, what you're describing are demons."

"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.

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

"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."

"Not to make Beth sound juvenile, because she is not childish by any stretch of the imagination, in fact, when she is not actively tripping, falling or tumbling, she is very graceful and poised, but you may want to consider 'baby proofing' the estate," Caspian advised. "Baby proofing? What's that?" Gavriel got out a pad of paper and pen. At the top, he wrote a reminder to get her alert necklace reset. "Oh hell, I guess you wouldn't have much experience with children. But doing things like placing pillows around a brick fireplace so that the angled edge isn't exposed or replacing glass furniture with blunt edged pieces. Lots of soft surfaces and padding. Stairs will always be a danger but by now she's learned how to fall down them with minimal damage," Broderick explained. "If you are together, try to keep one hand on her at all times, you never know when she will just topple over." Caspian added. "Never, ever let her in the kitchen, ever. There are too many ways something can go wrong." Gavriel could almost see Broderick shuddering. He took notes quickly.

"Do not let her order fish too often; we had a scare when she choked on some bones that were supposedly removed," Broderick continued. "Bathrooms are dangerous too, but, well, we had to let her on her own in there for obvious reasons; but you are not restricted in that area," Caspian said then cleared his throat. "Garages, hardware stores, warehouses, and workshops are especially hazardous." Broderick went on listing the places his mate

couldn't go. Gavriel paused in writing the list. "We have an armory on premises." "Oh. My. Gods," Broderick whispered. "No. Just, no! Not only do you need to lock the door you need a biometric sensor to keep her out!" Caspian sounded like he was hyperventilating.

"Gavriel, Beth isn't klutzy; she literally has the worst luck I have ever seen. She'll walk into the armory and for some unknown reason a stack of crates holding grenades, that haven't moved in years will suddenly come tumbling down. In the process, several pins will dislodge and she'll be trapped under the fallen boxes."

"I don't suppose you watch human movies?" "Meryn has been having us watch them more so we can understand her." "Have you ever seen Final Destination?" he asked. "Oh fuck," Gavriel whispered.

"Do they make bubble wrap body suits with tracking devices?" Gavriel joked. "We could start on a prototype...

"If you are constantly holding on to her and guarding her every step, she won't have the strength or confidence to stand on her own. If you tell her how and where to step, she won't be able to walk through life, and if you don't let her walk, you'll never see her fly. And when she is confident and flying through life, she shines."

I didn't need my heart anyway; I guess it's safe enough in his pocket.

"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."

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.

"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.

"We can have a baby if I go buy condoms?" Aiden asked breathlessly. "That's kinda contradictory, but yes." Meryn nodded.

I think I fell asleep when Meryn was trying to talk to me." She yawned

When she looked up there was panic on her face. "Well, fuckity fuck!" Elizabeth laughed. "Your word choices are descriptive and surprisingly accurate." Meryn blinked. "Was that a compliment?" "Yes, hun."

Elizabeth had a feeling that Meryn had no idea exactly how 'cool' Sei Ryuu could be. But if the man himself hadn't said anything, she wouldn't either.

When they reached the training grounds, Aiden was trying to get one of the wooden swords away from Meryn who held it up at eye level in what looked to be a samurai stance. "Okay baby, time to go in now, see here's Elizabeth." Aiden, despite the cold, had sweat beaded across his forehead. "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?" Meryn quipped and brought the sword down making what Elizabeth guessed by the quote, were lightsaber noises. Aiden looked heavenward. "I still don't understand you!"

"Mu-wa-ha-ha." Meryn wagged her eyebrows. "You goof!

Elizabeth and Meryn's eyes followed their mates as they walked by again, bicep muscles bulging. "Yum," Meryn murmured. Aiden looked at her suddenly and stumbled. Gavriel got caught up in Aiden's legs and he too went down. Both men sat up looking disgusted with themselves.

"Seriously. Damn." Meryn stared. "You can say that again." Elizabeth nodded. "Seriously. Damn." Meryn repeated.

"You boys do realize that now that's she's pregnant she can't have any caffeine, right?" All sound ceased. The men froze looking at each other as their terror mounted. "We won't survive," Keelan whispered. Darian stepped forward, swallowing repeatedly. "When you say no caffeine, does that mean chocolate, too?" Elizabeth nodded. She was shocked when Keelan whimpered. "We're done for the day. I'm going to my room until dinner," Darian said, a blank look on his face. "Good idea," Colton agreed and started walking toward his suite. "Maybe an invisibility spell," Keelan muttered to himself as he turned in the opposite direction to his suite.

Maybe he had stored her heart away with his other treasures from myth and legend.

They all turned when they heard footsteps. Aiden appeared in the doorway alone. He looked around and shrugged. "She said she wasn't going to get up until she was awake. Don't ask, I don't know."

Meryn stopped dancing and turned to Aiden. "And he can't say I wasn't nice. He left all on his own so he can't complain. I am learning about politics." Aiden shook his head smiling. "I don't think that your version of 'politics' is quite right, but that's okay."

"Look at him; he's like a little boy with a new toy to break in." Meryn sighed happily before her eyes went wide. Wincing, she turned to the trainees. "Sorry."

"You can teach us what you know about hacking. We can help you," he offered. "It's internet security..." Meryn started. "Hacking," both Jaxon and Noah said together.

Jaxon turned to Meryn, concern in his eyes. "Condition?" Meryn shrugged. "We just found out that I'm preggo." Jaxon and Noah looked at each other confusion on their faces. Noah turned to her. "How did that happen?" Meryn shrugged. "Aiden has this thing he likes to do that I just can't say no to..." Ryuu placed a hand over her mouth. Both men blushed furiously.

"I fell out of a tree when I was very young, before I could shift. Unfortunately, it has inhibited my wolf so I'm stuck like this. It doesn't bother you, does it? My affliction?" he asked. Elizabeth could only imagine the kind of life he had led living in a predominately shifter city with a handicap. "Why would it bother me? I'm kinda jealous; you always have a place to sit."

"I have minions," Meryn whispered in awe. "Gods above save us," Elizabeth muttered. "Ryuu!" Meryn yelled. He appeared in the doorway almost immediately. "Yes, denka?" "I'm calling dibs on one of the guest suites downstairs for my minions; can you make sure the meatheads know?"

"I love that movie! You're like my Yoda and my Gandalf," Meryn said, easily finishing off her half glass. Elizabeth smiled, she could think of no higher praise from Meryn.