My Defender(61)

"Put me down, you barbarian!" Meryn wiggled.

"Her tongue and mouth are black!" Aiden yelled.

Meryn stopped wiggling. "Seriously? That's why you freaked out?"

Rheia stepped back. "Meryn, what's going on? Let me see your mouth."

Meryn dutifully opened her mouth, and sure enough, her entire tongue and gums were black. Ellie caught a whiff of licorice and smiled. Ryuu winked at her.

"I was eating some black jellybeans when Drama Bear here flipped his shit." Meryn pointed to her mate. Aiden set her down and eyed her suspiciously.

"I thought you were dying. Why didn't you say something!" he roared.

"When exactly? One second I was minding my own business watching Supernatural then bam! You scoop me up like a sack of potatoes and book it to the tunnel, and then we were here."

Ryuu stepped forward. "Denka, your coffee and breakfast are ready downstairs."

Aiden glared at the squire. "You knew."

Ryuu raised an eyebrow. "Of course I knew."

Aiden was about to answer when they heard laughter in the distance. The group turned to see a man kneeling in front of Kendrick, the twins Nigel and Neil behind the older witch.

"What now?" Aiden muttered.

They reached Kendrick as the crowd closed in around them. One of the nobles saw Aiden and strode over. He poked Aiden in the chest. "Tell that no-name upstart to remove the spell from my brother."

Aiden looked down at the man, both eyebrows nearly to his hairline. "Do you have a death wish?" he asked.

The man stepped back, realizing that in his anger that he had literally poked a bear. "He has no right to interfere with Javen challenging the prince."

Aiden looked back at Meryn. "Did Kari post the edict this morning?"

Meryn nodded. "She actually typed it up herself and posted it last night."

Aiden turned to the suicidal noble. "As you know, Prince Magnus has declared that the unit warriors can respond to any challenge set forth for Rule by Combat."

The noble snorted. "He isn't a warrior."

Aiden stared at him flatly. "Who am I?"

"What?"

"Who am I?" Aiden repeated.

"You are Aiden McKenzie."

"And my rank?"

"You are the Unit Commander."

"Exactly and if I say that Kendrick Ashwood is a member of the Alpha Unit, then Kendrick Ashwood is a member of the Alpha Unit."

"But..."

"Did I stutter?" Aiden demanded.

"No. But that witch did not even allow Javen to make the challenge before casting a spell on him, which is against our laws!"

"Look you... do you have a name?" Aiden asked.

"I am Jahin Régis. That is my brother Javen Régis. Our father is head of the Régis Founding Family," Jahin announced, as if that would change things.

Aiden turned to Kendrick. "Is what he said true? Did you cast a spell on him before he could issue the challenge?"

Kendrick gave a one shoulder shrug. "I heard him boasting what he would do, and I decided to be proactive."

Aiden scratched his ear. "What'd you do to him?"

Loud clucking noises erupted from Javen. Ellie fought hard to keep a straight face, as did Rheia and Anne. Meryn, however, didn't seem to care. She laughed loudly and openly.

Aiden bent his head down and rubbed his forehead. To anyone else, he looked annoyed, but Ellie could see the grin he was trying to hide. When he looked up, he was back to scowling. "I see no harm done here. When Javen is able to speak again, he can come to me to issue the challenge."

Javen paled and squawked. Jahin swallowed hard. "But you are the Commander."

"And?"

"The edict said unit warriors."

"Do we have to have this conversation again?" Aiden asked sarcastically.

Jahin pulled on Javen's arm. "Our father will hear of this!" he threatened.

"Oh dear, I don't feel well," Meryn placed a hand on her forehead dramatically. She opened her mouth wide and coughed without bothering to cover her face.

"Oh gods, look at her mouth," Jahin gasped. "Stay back!" he screeched.

Meryn coughed in their direction, and they both ran. She turned to them and gave her Spock sign. "Boo-ya! That's how you get rid of douchebags!"

Ryuu shook his head. "No, denka."

Meryn became thoughtful. "That didn't work huh?" Even the twins were shaking their heads. "Damn," she cussed.

"Come on, baby, you need to eat something other than those damn jelly beans," Aiden said, wrapping an arm around Meryn.

"You were so hot when you were putting that jerk in his place." Meryn rubbed her face against Aiden's torso.

His face brightened, the incident with the jellybeans clearly forgotten. "Really?"