by Alanea Alder
"Another one of those invisible bastards showed up here at the Alpha estate not five minutes ago. Start north and head around east. I'm going to find Aiden and send a second group south. Check in every five minutes."
"Those fucks! I'm getting real sick of this shit." Christoff bared his fangs and hissed. The large fae clapped him on the back. "Cheer up, we may find them this time." Christoff's answering grin was scary. Oron turned to Gavriel, "We'll be back, sir."
Gavriel went inside to search for Aiden. He found him and pulled him and Colton into the hallway. "I just had a feral stop me outside, seemed he wanted to talk. I didn't see a bloody thing though." Gavriel ran a hand through his hair.
Colton growled. "Sonofabitch! They are getting bold coming up to the Alpha estate. What did he say?" Colton asked. Gavriel could see his jaw was tight. Aiden hadn't said a word but anger was rolling off of him in waves.
"Basically that 'they' knew I was in transition and at my weakest." He turned to Aiden. "Maybe these alarms and defense enhancements aren't such a bad idea. We need to also check into figuring out a spell that can be used to set a perimeter. I don't like how close they're coming, especially when we can't see them."
Aiden had to take two deep breaths before he answered. "We need to get a unit out there looking for them."
Gavriel nodded, "I sent Oron and Christoff out, they are heading north."
"Then we'll get the rest of their unit to join them and send Beta south. Tell Keelan and Darian that Alpha Unit is house sitting for a couple days while we figure out a way to set a perimeter."
Colton nodded and pushed off the wall. "I'll get everyone moving. I can't sit still right now. What if Meryn or Elizabeth had been back there?" he asked quietly clenching his fists.
Gavriel felt his stomach turn. "We can't think like that, it will be a distraction. Let's concentrate on what we can do."
"I'm going to pull Keelan, Quinn Foxglove from Gamma and Kade Burdock from Beta to start on spell research." Aiden didn't say another word and walked away. Gavriel knew how he felt.
Colton laid a hand on his shoulder. "Thank the Gods they still seem to be afraid of Ryuu's shikigami. Don't worry; we won't let anything happen to Meryn or Elizabeth."
"Thank you my friend."
"I'll be getting Graham and Sascha together if you need me."
Gavriel watched as Colton walked towards the front door. He had only just found his mate, he couldn't lose her, not when he had just found her.
*****
"What the fuck!"
Gavriel recognized Meryn's voice and went running. He nearly collided with Aiden in the hall as both men ran for the front door. When they got there they came to a grinding halt. Both women were huddled together and were being shielded by Ryuu, all three were covered in blue flames. Shopping bags lay at their feet. In a perfect circle on the porch, scorch marks showed where the fire spell had gone off around them. Aiden immediately went to the wall by the door and removed the hanging brass ornament. He carefully moved it to the second peg located on the outside of the drawn spell circle disarming the alarm.
He turned to his mate. "Oh my Gods! Meryn! Baby, are you okay? I thought we had disarmed the front door. It shouldn't have been active while you were still out." Aiden rushed forward only to be brought up short by a growling Ryuu. Gavriel had never seen the normally calm squire ever look so angry. Ryuu stepped forward and bumped chests with Aiden.
"Do you know what could have happened if I had not been with her!" he shouted.
"Back off squire. You don't know what's happened here today," Aiden said, getting in Ryuu's face.
Gavriel pulled a shaken Elizabeth into his arms. Meryn was trying to wedge herself between her mate and her squire.
"Calm down both of you! Aiden, why in the hell is our house booby-trapped? What happened?" Meryn was rubbing her hand up and down Aiden's arm.
Glaring at Ryuu he pulled Meryn against him and rubbed his chin on her head.
Elizabeth turned to him. "Gavriel, what is it? What's happened?"
He and Aiden exchanged looks. Gavriel sighed, there was no point in keeping them in the dark.
"We had a feral come on to the property today. He got extremely close to the house." Gavriel watched as Ryuu folded his arms over his chest.
Meryn turned to Aiden. "Is that why you booby-trapped the door?"
"It isn't booby-trapped. Initially I had the men help set alarms through the house for you. So you'd feel safer in our home, but after today I have Keelan, Quinn and Kade looking into creating a perimeter spell. I don't even want them close enough to set off an alarm."
Gavriel watched Meryn's face soften. "You're the best husband any woman could ask for."
Aiden looked down at his mate. "Do you really mean that? We can have a real wedding if you want one."
Meryn shook her head. "I was being petty this morning and I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I was scared about something else and took it out on you."
"Come on Meryn, I need to inspect every inch of you to make sure you're okay." He scooped her up and turned to Ryuu.
"Thank you for saving her. Have Colton show you where the alarms are set."
Ryuu nodded. "I'll also work with Keelan, there may be some things I can do to help with a spell." He bowed to Meryn and walked away.
Aiden turned to Gavriel and grinned before he sprinted up the stairs with his giggling mate.
"Never a dull moment around here is there?" his mate asked him. When he looked down her eyes were twinkling.
"No." He looked around. Everyone else was busy. He held out his arm. "Could I interest you in a mid-afternoon respite?"
Her eyes widened and she blushed. She laid her hand on his arm. "That sounds lovely."
Gavriel waited until they reached the top of the stairs before he began to grab his mate's rounded ass. The thrill of the chase had his blood boiling. He shut the door and began to strip out of his clothes. Laughing, she jumped on the bed. Unfortunately, momentum carried her off the bed and into the wall. He watched in horror as she slid down out of sight.
"Beth?" He ran over to the bed. There was only a few inches gap between the wall and the bed. He looked up frustrated. The headboard was built into the wall.
"Beth, answer me." He was about to rip the bed away from the wall when he felt something on his foot. When he looked down, a tiny snow white bunny was nuzzling his leg.
Carefully, he picked her up. "You constantly amaze me. My little bunny." His mate licked his face then wiggled in his hands. He set her down on the bed and watched in wonder as she shifted back to human. She shook out her long blonde hair and smiled up at him impishly.
"I've had to shift to my rabbit form on more than one occasion to get out of a sticky situation. Of course shifting back without clothes was always tricky."
He finished unbuttoning his shirt and let it drop to the floor. Smiling, she turned over until she was on all fours and began to crawl towards the head of the bed. Gavriel felt his fangs burst through his gums as her ass swayed back and forth, tempting him. He kicked off his shoes and dropped his pants before pulling off his socks. The fabric of his boxer briefs against his cock was almost painful. He shucked out of them and climbed onto the bed. He reached out and pulled on her ankle until she was flat on her stomach. He began to tickle the arch of her foot. Laughing she thrashed around on the bed.
Gavriel watched her unguarded expression and couldn't help the joy in his heart. Over the centuries he had been with many women, but he had never experienced these types of simple moments.
"I'm ... I'm ... so ... gonna ... kick your ass. Just ... as ... soon ... as ... I can ... breathe!" his mate yelled. He took mercy on her and released her leg. She turned over on to her back breathing hard and smiling. "You're crazy."
"I prefer the term eccentric." He relaxed next to her and lazily ran his fingers down her body. He started at her collarbone, he followed the line of her body between her breasts, down the slope of her stomach until he reached her ro
unded mound. Watching her expression carefully he lightly teased the tiny, soft hairs before moving to trace down her leg.
"Humph." She practically growled at him.
He raised an eyebrow at her sour expression.
"Did you say something, darling?" he asked.
"Oh yes, yes I did. I said, please fuck me now."
He rolled and in an instant lay nestled between her legs. When he ran his tongue over his lips, he saw her eyes glaze over with lust at the sight of his fangs. Not many women could orgasm from being bitten, he was a lucky bastard that Elizabeth was one of the rare ones that did.
"Are you ready for me? If I tease you again will my fingers find you wet?" he growled in her ear.
"Gods yes, please Gavriel, don't make me beg," she panted.
"I would never make you beg my sweet Beth, if anything I would be the one begging to have one more taste of you." He reached down and rubbed the head of his cock up and down between her folds making sure she was ready before plunging as deep as he could.
They moaned in unison. Slowly he glided in and out of her taking his time. He wanted to make this last. Pushing himself up he felt the muscles of his arms flex, but it was worth it, he could now reach her neck. Instinctively she tilted her head, her hands coming up to cup his ass. He felt her fingernails digging into his flesh and loved every second. He thrust deep and she cried out. The look of wild abandon on her face was his undoing. Leaning in, he sank his fangs deep in her neck. She screamed her pleasure and met him thrust for thrust as he increased the pace.
He felt her body spasm around his cock signaling her first orgasm. Grinning against her neck he continued to feed. He waited until the spasming stopped before he changed his rhythm. He thrust as deep as he could and began to hammer into her. When he heard her breath hitch he reached down and twisted her nipple before immediately moving to her clit. The second he touched her she exploded again.
His own orgasm came in a rush of blood and cum. Lifting from her neck he watched as her blood dripped onto the sheets. He threw his head back and roared as his balls emptied. Breathing hard with shaking arms he leaned down and swiped his tongue over the holes on her neck to close them. Gently he pulled out of her and collapsed to one side.
"At least I didn't black out this time," she said, yawning drowsily.
"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, ple
ase."
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.
