My Defender(62)

"Yup. I love it when you get all snarly."

Aiden scooped up his tiny mate and swaggered toward the tunnel. "Maybe I can find someone else to get snarly at. Do you think Colton is awake?" Ellie heard him ask as they walked away. Ryuu gave them a half bow and followed his charge.

Ellie turned to Rheia. "Did you want to warn your mate?"

Rheia shook her head. "Torturing each other is the foundation of their relationship. Who am I to ruin a good thing?"

Grant watched them walk away. "I'm not really feeling like breakfast on Level One today." He looked down at her. "Want to grab something from the vendors?"

Ellie giggled. "Are you sure? It's bound to be entertaining."

He shook his head. "Colton will pull me into it."

Kendrick nuzzled his mate's neck. "How about you?"

Anne shrugged. "It's up to you. Breakfast at home has been so boring without Meryn."

Kendrick chuckled. "That is true." He turned to Ellie and Rheia. "How about we grab something up here then head to the lab? I have a feeling Grant is right; if we go down, we'll get pulled into Meryn's shenanigans, and the sooner we can get to the lab the better." He jerked his thumb toward the twins. "I promised them I would show them how some of the human testing equipment worked."

Anne thought about it. "You're probably right, but we have to eat lunch with them."

Kendrick's smile turned downright evil. "I wouldn't miss lunch for anything in the world."

Anne's eyes narrowed. "Meryn's shenanigans, my foot. What are you up to?"

Kendrick's eyes widened. "Who me?"

Ellie smiled. "Lycaonia must be an exciting place to live with those two." She looked up at her mate. "Lead the way, looks like we're eating up here." She turned to Kendrick. "I'm eager to see what you think of the samples." Kendrick raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

Grant reached down and grabbed her hand. He led them between the stalls until they came across one that looked slightly shabbier than the rest. It was tucked off to one side catty-cornered so it couldn't be seen right away from the eating area.

"Stella, you open?" he called out.

"Of course, I am open. What else would I be doing?" a cranky voice answered.

Grant steered them to the small table and benches in front of the stall. Moments later, an older woman stepped out from her cart and looked at the crowd in front of her booth. "Well now, who are all these folks?" She wiped her hands on her apron.

"Stella, this is my mate, Dr. Eleanor Kimball." He pointed to Rheia and Anne. "These two are Dr. Rheia Albright, Nurse Anne Ashwood, and her mate, Kendrick Ashwood. Prince Magnus called them in to help with the children." He nodded to the twins. "And you know the twins."

"Aye, I do. Twin troublemakers the pair of 'em." She eyed the women. "Medical folk, huh? I don't know much about medicine, but I do know food. Iffn' you need any broth or soup for the wee ones, just let me know. I can whip up a mean batch of chicken stock."

Ellie was entranced at the cadence of the woman's speech. "You're not from here, are you?" she asked.

Stella snorted. "No, I'm not. Came here with me mate a century or two ago when humans began to settle out here. Before that, we lived in Scotland, but it got to be too crowded with so many older bloodlines in one place." She looked them over. "Now, what can I get you for breakfast?"

Ellie looked at Grant; she had no idea what was offered here and didn't want to offend by asking for the wrong thing. Stella patted her on the shoulder. "Poor thing, I won't bite. I may bark a lot, but it's mostly harmless."

"She makes the best breakfast burritos I've ever had," Grant said, licking his lips.

"Ohhh, that sounds wonderful! May I have one of those?" Ellie asked.

Rheia nodded with Anne and Kendrick. "We'll take some as well."

"Porridge for us, please!" Nigel pleaded.

Stella chuckled. "Of course. Wee bairns like you need your sustenance. You be still growin'."

Neil blushed. "We're not children," he muttered softly.

Stella patted his cheek. "Aye, ya are."

Kendrick looked over at the twins, and Ellie noticed a sheen in his eyes. "You are both young, and you know it. There is no shame to it. Be proud of what you've accomplished in your short lives. Not just any paranormal can become a unit warrior," he admonished gently.

Both Neil and Nigel bobbed their heads. "We know. It's just hard being the youngest."

Kendrick's look became icy. "Have any of the other warriors been cruel?"

Stella's belly laugh was deep. "Look at you acting like a fierce older brother." She eyed Kendrick when his cheeks turned pink. "Aye, they look like you, too. Always did have a soft spot for redheads." She winked. "Be back with breakfast."