Page 18 of My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16)

Caiden leaned against the counter. “Zoe was the most vulnerable. Serenity was running the Water Temple and had her parents support if needed. Technically, father is head of the Earth Temple, but he’s had Luka Mandrake, Lucius’ son serving there for experience.

” He glanced over to Kendrick. “Celeste Silverwood is head of the Air Temple, and our cousin, but she basically told the Witches’ Council to go fuck themselves when they started pressuring her to produce heirs. ”

Meryn sat up. “I want to meet her.”

“She left Storm Keep a while ago, but you’re right, I think she’d be worth tracking down,” Caiden agreed. “That leaves Zoe, underage and alone. If the Witches’ Council was angling for more power, taking over the Temples could completely solidify their positions.”

“Mikel should have, like an escort, while he’s here,” Meryn suggested.

Caiden laughed. “He was an Alpha warrior before coming home to lead Sigma, he’s now an Elder, I doubt he needs much help.”

Meryn looked at him flatly. “And Prince Magnus was injected with the deadly virus in his own antechamber, with the Dark Prince, Gavriel Ambrosios at his side, your point?”

Caiden turned to Kendrick. “Who is that baker you keep ordering from, for her?”

“I’ll text you his number,” Kendrick said, smiling wryly.

Meryn ate her last piece of bacon. “I think I need to meet the Witches’ Council.”

Aiden sat forward. “Is that a good idea? You reacted horribly to Karl. I don’t want you or the baby upset.”

Meryn rubbed his arm. “It’s the fastest way to sort them out.”

Genevieve eyed the smaller woman. “How so?”

“I have a built-in asshole detector,” Meryn explained.

“Man, I could have used one of those dating,” Arlo said, cutting up his french toast.

“Meryn, I was going to show Genevieve and Arlo around today, you could tag along,” Caiden offered. “I can almost guarantee someone will pop up. We can have them escort us to the castle and make introductions then. Just pretend you’re overheated on the way in case you have another bad reaction.”

“He’s sneaky, I like him,” Meryn announced.

Anne laughed. “You love him, and you know it, goofball.”

Meryn blushed and ducked her head. “Anne!”

Caiden just smiled and turned back to the stove. Wordlessly, he walked over with the frying pan and added more bacon to her plate.

Meryn picked up a piece and began to happily munch.

His love language is food . She realized.

“He’s so perfect for you,” Arlo said.

Aiden eyed both Ryuu and Pierce, both men just nodded. “If anyone so much as lays a finger on her, make them regret it and I’ll deal with the political fallout later,” Aiden ordered.

Meryn held out her arms, smiling Aiden shifted her over onto his lap. “You have your screwdriver thingie charged?”

“Always.”

“Don’t worry Aiden, I’d never let anything happen to either my mate or my sister,” Caiden assure him.

“We’re going too,” Nigel said.

Kendrick frowned. “That may not be the best idea. The Witches’ Council has already asked for you once.”

“We’re not staying behind without Meryn,” Neil asserted.

“Yeah! We stay with Meryn,” Pip agreed.

Caiden looked from the boys to Meryn, then to her and Arlo. “I’d prefer more warriors, but don’t want to turn this into a procession.”

Nigel stood. “We may not be currently serving as unit warriors, but Neil and I were good enough to be placed in Noctem Falls. We can fight if we have to.”

Genevieve smiled at Nigel. “You both were warriors?”

“Yeah. Though after we met Meryn, we wanted to focus on our magic, so we stayed with her and Kendrick to learn. Prince Magnus needed Travis and Lief more anyway,” he replied.

“Come on Caiden,” Neil wheedled. “We can at the very least cast Tangled Web, give us a little credit.”

“Fine. Me, Genevieve, Arlo, Meryn, you, Nigel, Pip, Ryuu and Pierce. Any more and we will attract more attention than it would be worth going out together,” Caiden conceded.

“I don’t want my pregnant mate on that ATV,” Aiden said.

Genevieve spoke up. “I can drive my van over. There’s a bed and a TV in that, she’ll be perfectly safe.”

“Dude, your van has a bed?” Meryn asked.

“It’s my home. It has a bed, a toilet, a small shower and even a tiny kitchen. In places where we can’t or don’t want to stay at a local hotel, we crash in the van,” Genevieve explained.

“It’s the best when we park by the beach and open the doors. Better than any hotel resort,” Arlo added.

Meryn began to bounce. “I wanna go in the Scooby van.”

“It is not a Scooby van,” Genevieve argued.

“Ryuu, I need Scooby treats,” Meryn said, ignoring her.

“Yes, denka ,” Ryuu said, then began assembling a small snack bag for her.

Genevieve, seeing that everyone was getting ready to go, focused on her breakfast. Every bite had been perfection, and she really wished she had more time to enjoy it.

Before she knew it, she had her keys and Meryn, Pip and Ryuu were in the back of her van, Arlo joined her up front. Nigel and Neil decided to ride the ATVs out with Caiden and Pierce.

“I want one of these,” Meryn announced. “I bet Uncle Bren would get one for me.”

“They’re kinda expensive Meryn, this one set me back almost a hundred and fifty thousand,” Genevieve said.

“It’s like a mobile command unit with a kitchen and a bed,” Meryn chewed on her lower lip. “Ryuu, Uncle Bren did offer to buy me an island, a van wouldn’t be too bad right?”

“Girl! Your uncle offered to buy you an island!” Arlo exclaimed.

“Yeah, but he may have been joking,” Meryn admitted.

“He did and no, denka , he was not joking. Even if he said no, Prince Magnus or Queen Aleksandra would buy one or five for you,” Ryuu assured her.

“Are we still calling her Queen?” Meryn asked.

Ryuu smiled. “Ten-thousand years of habit won’t change overnight. I imagine she’ll be Queen Aleksandra to most, for some time. They just have a Queen Amelia now too,” he said.

“Wait, queens?” Genevieve asked.

“Yeah, that’s the dad’s side of the family I was telling you about. My Auntie is the former queen of the fae. My cousin, Caiden’s sister, is the current queen of the fae,” Meryn said.

“Girl, ask for the damn van,” Arlo said. “I’m texting you the specs to ask for. I’ve been dying to see this configuration in a Sprinter ,” he admitted.

“Sweet!” Meryn put her phone on speaker. “Hey, Uncle Bren.”

“Hello, darling. How’s my lovely niece doing today?” a warm male voice asked.

“Fine. Do you remember when you offered to buy me an island?” she asked.

“Yes. Did you change your mind?”

“No, but I want a van instead,” she said.

“A van? That’s it?”

“It’s a super macked out van! It has a bed and a bathroom and a shower with a tiny kitchen. I want to make it a mobile command central van,” she exclaimed excitedly.

“Is this for your sixth man project?” he asked.

“Yup!”

“Would you need one per unit?” the wonderfully kind man asked.

“They’re kinda expensive,” she admitted.

“Darling, I didn’t ask if they were expensive, I asked if every unit should have one,” he clarified.

Meryn hesitated only for a second. “Yes.”

“Consider it done, just send me what you need,” he promised.

“You’re the absolute bestest Uncle Bren!”

“And you are very missed here in éire Danu. Hurry up and set those witches straight and come home,” he insisted.

She laughed. “I will.”

“Goodbye, darling,” he said, then the phone beeped.

Genevieve turned her head and caught Arlo staring, open mouthed. “How many units are there?” he asked.

Meryn thought it over for a second. “Six per pillar city, four pillar cities, so twenty-four.”

“He’s buying you twenty-four converted Sprinter vans?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Probably twenty-five. He’ll get me my own.”

“Does he need another kid?” Arlo asked.

Meryn just smiled. “He’s always begging to buy me stuff. So far, I’ve only asked for Toast Em ’s and a baby blanket for me and Amelia. I bet he’s happy now.”

“Man, I love Toast Em ’s,” Arlo agreed.

“Too processed,” Genevieve argued.

“I don’t care if Kryptonite is in it, they are delicious,” Meryn said. “I got my Auntie eating them too, though she wanted Cord to make a fae version. I’m still waiting to see if it was the preservatives that make it good,” Meryn said.

“Meryn, go back to your dad’s side. Your aunt is the former queen and Amelia, Caiden’s sister is the current queen?” Genevieve asked.

“Yeah. They had the coronation ceremony back in June. Darian, Amelia’s mate declared his sons would be of House Alina, but his daughters would belong to House EirDan, which is my Auntie’s house. That way it doesn’t die out.”

“House means family, right?” Genevieve asked.

“Yeah. Auntie adopted Darian and raised him, so this is his way of ensuring that her line doesn’t end.”

“Earlier, Ryuu said Prince Magnus would also buy you the vans, are you close?”

Meryn smiled. “Magnus is kinda like a dad, a big brother, and best friend all rolled up in one. He’s Beth’s uncle, but we got close when I stayed with them when we went to Noctem Falls.”

“And you said Beth took you under her wing to show you how to navigate politics,” Genevieve said.

“Yup. Said I was too adorably homicidal to leave alone.”

“That was a compliment?” Arlo asked.

“I think so,” Meryn said.

“Be honest with me Meryn, how bad do you think it will get here?” Genevieve asked.

Meryn thought it over for a minute. “Worse than I think the guys are anticipating.”

“Why?”

“We’ve had things happen in the other cities. Bad things. All of those efforts are pointed to an accumulation of something brewing here. If it turns out to be just politics, I’ll be happy, but surprised. The missing element that hasn’t really been focused on is our demon friend,” Meryn said.

“Lord, have mercy! You’re serious, like a real demon?” Arlo asked, turning pale.

“Kinda, not forked tongue or anything. It’s the closest definition to what he is.

A couple months ago, when we were in éire Danu, he said he almost had everything he needed for whatever he has been working on and we haven’t really heard from him since.

I think that tower has been siphoning off magic this whole time and that’s what he needed.

I think the Witches’ Council has been helping, but we have no way of proving it…

yet” Meryn said, twisting the black ring on her finger.

“So why aren’t we investigating the towers?” she asked.

“Because the Witches’ Council has that shit on lock. The general public doesn’t even have access to the castle anymore, that’s where the Witches’ Council convenes. Trust me, I’d love to poke around up there, but I doubt we’d get to the foot of the stairs, much less the tower itself.”

“Right now, you’re focused on the Witches’ Council, because everything seems to be swirling around them?” Genevieve asked.

“Yeah, but it’s been agonizingly slow. They’re never really overtly evil, just assholes, and as people keep telling me, you can’t kill someone just because they’re a douchebag.”

“You hear it that often?” Arlo asked, looking amused.

“Pretty much on a daily,” Meryn confirmed.

“You’re wanting to meet the Witches’ Council, are you hoping to provoke? Because, not going to lie, that’d be shitty on your part. We don’t have the full escort Caiden wanted,” she pointed out.

“True. And good on you for looking out for your mate. But the way I see it, we may not get them to drop their guard enough unless they feel like they have the upper hand. Us showing up with little support may be just what is needed to catch a break. Besides, we have Ryuu, and he can pretty much handle that council on his own,” Meryn said, smiling up at her squire.

Ryuu nodded. “I will prioritize your health and safety above all else. I believe that is the crux of Ms. Genevieve’s concern. After I act, certain political avenues may be closed to us.”

“It’s a politics thing, isn’t it?” Meryn asked.

“Yes, denka ,” he confirmed.

“Alright, I won’t push the envelope today. I’ll just try to get a bead on them,” she said, compromising.

“I know Caiden would thank you if he heard that,” Genevieve said.

“Look at you being all lovey dovey,” Meryn teased. “Did he whip out the sex magic last night?”

“I knew it! I told her someone that old with magic had moves!” Arlo exclaimed.

“Meryn!” Genevieve said, swerving slightly. “I’ve known you and Caiden less than a day. I didn’t sleep with him yet and if I did, I’m not sure I’d share details.”

Meryn tilted her head. “Why?”

“Because!”

“Anne didn’t tell me everything, but she did share that air and fire magic in the bedroom was like having a threesome,” Meryn said, wagging her eyebrows.

Arlo huffed. “I changed my mind. I want to find a witch, not a shifter. Preferably a built one like I’ve been seeing.”

Genevieve kept one hand on the wheel and used the other to cool her cheeks. Behind her Pip was giggling with Meryn. “You’re bad.”

Meryn nodded. “I know. But, I’m fun too. That has to count for extra.”

A light that she thought was Felix glittered on Meryn’s shoulder. She could tell the sprite was laughing too.

Arlo turned to her. “I will want details. All of them. Leave nothing out.”

“Arlo!”

“I’m single. I have to live vicariously through you, so, you better make it good missy!”

“I can’t handle both of you.”

Arlo smirked then winked at Meryn. “We may be bad, but we are fun.”

“Arrggh!”