Page 32 of My Haven (Bewitched and Bewildered #16)

Genevieve placed a plate of cookies in front of Meryn and took in the scene before her.

Caiden and his brothers carried in additional seating and tables to the dining area.

Ryuu started on refreshments and drinks.

She offered to help and he waved her off pointing at Meryn.

“If you could help limit the cookie consumption, I can handle serving the visiting dignitaries.”

She nodded quickly. She could handle cooking, but serving the elite was way out of her wheelhouse.

Before she knew it, she was standing next to Caiden as the room began to fill.

The first ones to arrive were the Storm Keep Elder Council and the Founding and Noble family heads.

Both sets of Ashleigh and Ironwood brothers sat by Marshall.

Second to arrive was Aiden’s dad and Lycaonia’s Elder Council.

Then Magnus, his squire Sebastian and the rest of the Noctem Falls’ Elder Council arrived, with the visitors from éire Danu arriving last. Which included the éire Danu Elder Council, King Darian, his mate Amelia, former queen Aleksandra, and her mate Brennus.

Since some of the Founding and Noble family members of Storm Keep also served as Elders, there was some overlap.

Caiden pulled in for a hug. “How are you holding up?”

She thought about how she actually felt.

“I don’t think being kidnapped has sunk in yet.

I knew you would come for me, but it really drove home how different your world is.

I didn’t have any rights; I had no recourse to save myself.

I know I said I imagined silver-eyed children, but I’d be terrified trying to raise them here.

I couldn’t save myself, how could I save a child? ”

“Then I will change things so that you feel safe here,” he promised.

“How? How can you change an entire city?”

“One day at a time.” He pointed to the larger room where the Elders sat waiting for the meeting to start. “We aren’t alone anymore. The other cities are getting involved. Listen to what they say and see if that helps you feel better.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

He stepped back and took her hand and led her to their seats. Once they sat down his father began.

Marshall cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?” He then proceeded to introduce everyone for those new to their world, for which Genevieve was truly grateful. She kept the spreadsheet Meryn sent her open on her phone just in case.

“Meryn, did you offend the Witches’ Council?” Alastair Primrose asked.

Meryn rolled her eyes. “Ha ha, very funny. It wasn’t me this time.”

“Father, it’s true, this time the Witches’ Council went too far,” Troy said, taking Meryn’s side.

“Forgive us, Your Highness, but we do remember a certain young lady that had her witch brothers fly a bespelled crystal into the detainment cells to cast an embarrassing spell on Ivan DeLaFontaine,” Dagda Vi’Ilsimir said, looking amused.

“Never was there a better use of magic,” Rex Lionhart said, nodding to Alastair and Dagda, his fellow council members from Noctem Falls.

Byron chuckled. “Are we compiling Meryn’s Best Moments? Because I can add a few.”

“Daaadd!” Meryn complained.

“My niece has never been anything but appropriate and ladylike,” Celyn refuted.

“I have yet to see her in action, but I am looking forward to it,” Lucius commented.

“She has an uncanny way of getting the best results in an efficient manner,” René added, begrudgingly.

Meryn’s mouth dropped. She hopped out of chair, padded over to him, and began petting his arm. “I was told you aren’t a douchebag on purpose. I am realigning you in my brain.”

René looked two seconds from bolting. He took in Meryn’s expression and heaved a huge sigh. “You aren’t the menace I thought you to be.”

Around the table the men laughed. Marshall looked at René. “She absolutely is, but she means well.”

René patted Meryn’s hand once.

Meryn stared for the longest time, then nodded, before returning to her seat.

Mikel looked down the table at his fellow council members. “Godwyn, Jerek, Frédéric, do you have any exploits to add before we get started?”

Godwyn placed a hand on his heart and gave a half bow in his chair. “Our princess served her home city well. We will stand by her, even if she did manage to alienate the Witches’ Council.”

Aiden leaned forward to look at Godwyn. “Lycaonia is her home city.”

The older fae just smiled. “Sure.”

Meryn spun circles in her chair slowly. “Now that we have established, I didn’t cause trouble this time, can we figure out how to kill the Witches’ Council?”

Marshall, Aiden, and Rex palmed their faces. Notably, Magnus, Celyn, Godwyn and Byron all nodded.

Darian smiled wickedly. “Though I’m not technically a council member, I appreciate you allowing me to attend.

” He stretched. “In addition to the heinous act of kidnapping a unit warrior’s mate, the Witches’ Council has also avoided talks to re-establish the alliance they broke when they closed the fae portals,” he reminded them.

Genevieve watched as the witch next to Darian fidgeted constantly. He looked like he wished he were anywhere but here.

Thane noticed the man twitching and smiled. “Welcome young Kincaid Bayberry. Congratulations on your family’s elevation to Founding Family status.”

Kincaid sighed. “I’m not made for this.”

Brennus clapped him on the back. “You’re doing fine.”

Alastair, Lucius, and Alaric all nodded at Kincaid.

“Congratulations on accessing a third power, that’s not a feat many can claim,” Alastair said.

Kincaid smiled nervously.

“Soooo? Killing people, right?” Meryn asked.

Both Aiden and Marshall turned to her at the same time and said. “No.”

She slumped backward. “Then why am I here?”

Caiden stood and recapped exactly what happened earlier that afternoon, making sure to report the bystanders’ reactions. When he finished the room was quiet.

Brennus crossed his arms over his chest and sat back. “Besides causing housing issues for them, we’re really no closer to determining what their goals truly are.”

“Meryn brought up the point that the Witches’ Council made a move against the Fire Temple years ago. She believes that could be the start of the thread that helps us understand what is going on now,” Mikel explained.

“What move?” Lucius asked. “Forgive me for being somewhat behind on what is happening in Storm Keep, we never had issues like this in éire Danu,” he explained.

Mikel stood. “A few years ago, my parents left my underage sister Zoe in the care of the Witches’ Council. They immediately stripped the Fire Temple of all heirlooms and valuables. In addition, they transferred all the money from the family account to them, leaving Zoe with nothing.”

“They did what?” Alastair demanded. He turned to his son. “Have they tried anything with the Water Temple?”

Troy stood. “As you know they forbade Serenity from leaving Storm Keep to help in Noctem Falls. Technically, they have no say in Temple affairs. Luckily Serenity found a way out.” He scowled.

“They made mention of putting someone else in charge, that’s when I reminded them that I was the Water Temple Head, that I let Serenity run the temple so I could continue my research.

I told them if anyone stepped foot in my Temple, I would flood the castle so it could never be drained. ”

Meryn gave him a thumbs up. “I knew I liked you.”

Alastair looked relieved. “They haven’t touched the accounts?”

Troy scoffed. “Not unless they’ve learned how to breathe underwater.”

At his side Arlo took his hand. “So sexy.”

Troy blushed but didn’t remove his hand from Arlo’s.

Alastair looked at both of them fondly. “After all this, you must visit us in Noctem Falls. Your mother wants to meet your mate as soon as possible.”

Troy nodded and sat down, Arlo’s hand still firmly clasped in his.

Alastair turned to Marshall. “I know there haven’t been any issues with the Earth Temple, or you would have said something. Has anyone checked in with the Silverwoods?” he asked, turning to Thane.

Thane stood when addressed. “Celeste left Storm Keep a while ago when they began pressuring her to have children. I believe she left a relative in charge of the Air Temple.”

“Do we know who?” Marshall asked.

Law stood. “Malic Nettleclaw, a cousin on her father’s side.”

Alastair looked at the Ashleigh brothers. “You are relatives as well, are you not?”

Thane nodded. “Our mothers were sisters. She is our only cousin on her side of the family.”

“As your mother is a Silverwood, you do have the right to check in on the Air Temple,” Lucius pointed out.

Thane smiled. “We’ll happily check in with them tomorrow.” Both he and Law sat back down.

“That still begs the question, why on earth would they seize the Fire Temple’s accounts,” Alaric asked.

“Money,” Meryn answered.

“We knew that Meryn,” Byron said.

She spun her chair. “Yeah, but this was money that wasn’t being watched, that they felt could use with impunity.

I bet you anything the Witches’ Council ledgers are squeaky clean.

They’re probably meant to be a showcase piece to prove how aboveboard they are.

They needed money that no one would miss. ”

“But they were obviously caught, Mikel called them on it,” Marshall reminded her.

Meryn smiled. “And why is he home? If Caroline hadn’t made sure Zoe got the request for the Fire Temple Head and got her out of Storm Keep, Zoe would still be stuck in that hellhole eating garbage.”

That quieted the room.

“Was taking Genevieve meant to be a smoke screen, to distract us from their activities at the Fire Temple?” Mikel asked.

Meryn shrugged. “No idea. But you said they weren’t handing over any money, right? They said that your parents took most of it and left. I’m close to getting into those accounts, so we’ll see where that money went.”

Marshall looked at his niece nervously and went to ask her a question.

She held up a hand. “Plausible Deniability.”