My Brother's Keeper(16)

Kendrick smiled and detached a small pouch from his belt. He held it up swinging from his fingers. "It's bigger on the inside."

Meryn dropped her fork and stared. "Can I see?"

Kendrick nodded, and Meryn ran around the table. He set the pouch in her hands and watched as she opened it.

A look a disappointment bloomed on her face. "It's empty."

Kendrick winked and cupped his hands around hers and whispered a word.

Meryn's eyes widened. "Holy shit balls! It's like a whole castle in here. Wait! Go back! Was that a library?"

Kendrick nodded. "It's called the Bag of Wishes. I can place anything I want inside, regardless of shape, size, or weight."

Meryn looked at his clothes. "So you have a closet in here too?"

He shook his head. "No, these" he plucked at his blazer, "are the Gentlemen's Garments. I received them as a present from the queen of the fae."

She smiled. "Like my dress."

Kendrick tilted his head. "You're the new owner of the Gown of Éire Danu?"

She bopped her head yes and kept tilting the pouch side to side.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Elizabeth snorted. "You have no idea."

Meryn placed the bag in his hands and turned to Aiden. "I want one."

Aiden's mouth dropped. "Baby, I can't just go out and buy you one. Enchanted fae items are extremely rare."

Meryn walked back to her chair and sat down. "I need it in my life."

Aiden turned to Darian who was chuckling. Darian nodded at Aiden. "I'll see what I can do."

Meryn smiled brightly at Darian. "Thank you big brother-cousin."

Darian looked around the table. "We never really stood a chance, did we?"

The men all shook their heads. Kendrick laughed. "Never has a truer statement been spoken. Women always have the upper hand, always."

Meryn pumped her fist in the air. "Because we kick ass!"

Kendrick smiled slyly. "It's because you have the magic bean."

Meryn frowned as Aiden choked on his coffee. "What magic bean?"

Elizabeth blushed. "Oh, dear."

Anne had to suppress a giggle.

"I only know of two magic beans: the cocoa bean and the coffee bean," Meryn insisted.

Kendrick clucked his tongue. "Commander, you have been remiss in your duties."

Around the table, the other men were trying not to laugh and failing horribly.

Finally, Gavriel took pity on the confused Meryn and leaned in to whisper what the third magic bean was. Meryn's reaction caught Anne by surprise when she erupted into giggles.

"Ha, ha, ha, magic bean! Hey baby, want to swallow my magic bean later?" Meryn leered up at her mate.

Aiden smirked and shook his head before leaning down to nip Meryn on the neck. "Only if you're very, very good," he promised.

Meryn reached over her head and traced a halo before folding her hands in front of her as if in prayer. "I'm always good."

Colton chuckled. "Hey Meryn, did you have to get a custom-made halo to fit between those devil horns?" he teased.

Anne lifted her hand and tapped her lips. "What do you think Meryn? We could sew his lips shut in his sleep."

Meryn's eyes brightened, and she turned to Rheia. "You don't need to kiss him for a while do you?"

Rheia shrugged. "I could go without."

Colton's mouth dropped as he cuddled his mate. "Darlin', you wouldn't let them do that to me, would you?"

Rheia just winked at Meryn and Anne.

Meryn leaned back in her chair. "Face it gentlemen, you're no longer the baddest motherfuckers in the room anymore."

Aiden kissed the side of Meryn's head. "Don't let the other warriors find out."

Anne smiled. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with us," she promised, and the other women laughed. Anne finally felt like she belonged in this house with these people.

Kendrick cleared his throat. "Not to put a damper on things but..."

Colton smiled ruefully. "But we still have some pretty serious allegations against us."

Kendrick set his empty cup down. "Thanks to Anne's suggestion, I may have a plan for that. But that wasn't what I was talking about. I was talking about the perimeter."

Aiden blinked. "But the perimeter is the one good thing that came from this whole mess. The ferals haven't been able to breach it since it went up; we're safe."

Kendrick twisted the cup in his hands. "Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but when something looks too good to be true, it usually is."

Amelia turned to him. "How can the perimeter be a bad thing?"

Kendrick stopped turning the cup. "What if the perimeter wasn't designed to keep you safe by keeping the ferals out. What if it was designed to keep the ferals out to keep them safe?"

Aiden frowned. "I don't like where this is going."

Kendrick looked at the men. "Over the centuries, I've seen many different types of magic, but I've never seen anything like this perimeter. No one in the city is stepping forward to lay claim to it, and if any of the warriors had done it, they would have told you right away. So, if no one in the city cast the spell, who did?"

Colton swallowed, looking ill. "The enemy."

Kendrick nodded. "What if the perimeter is keeping the ferals out because when the perimeter goes down it will shrink into the center of the city, stripping people's souls as the magic collapses? If ferals are in the city when that happens, their precious necklaces could be destroyed."

Aiden thumped his fingers on the table. "Do you have any proof?"

Kendrick shook his head. "No, but I thought it would be irresponsible if I didn't put the theory forward. You're included in more high-level meetings than I am. If you hear something that may explain a portion of my theory, at least you could make the connection."

Aiden stood and stretched his arms up over his head. "I'll keep an ear out. In the meantime, we have drills, gentlemen."

Kendrick stood beside her. "I may join you."

Aiden looked pleased. "I thought you didn't do drills."

"I don't, but I need to speak to a few of your men."

Aiden laughed. "I'll get you on the course eventually."

Amelia shook her head vehemently. "You really don't want that, Aiden."

Aiden's brows snapped together. "Why?"

Amelia squirmed in her chair. "Do you remember that time Caiden had to request that the council approve renovations to the Storm Keep obstacle course?"

Aiden nodded. "He said that the men had gotten used to the..." he looked over at Kendrick.

Kendrick smirked back at the commander.

Aiden turned toward the door. "Never mind. Come on men." He leaned down, kissed Meryn on the top of her head, and walked toward the door.

Anne watched as the other men around the table said goodbye to their mates. Kendrick stood and looked down at her. "When you check on Keelan, stay away from the table. If you see anything glowing bright red, evacuate the house and come get me."

"I heard that!" Aiden yelled from the foyer.

Kendrick winked at her then turned to Meryn. "Tell your little friend that he has access to Keelan's room. The warding doesn't apply to sprites."

Meryn reached up and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks Kendrick. Felix has been spending a lot of time with Keelan."

Anne looked at Meryn but didn't see anything. "Sprite?"

One second there was nothing, the next, a tiny fairy sat on Meryn's shoulder, fluttering his wings. He waved and she waved back. When she blinked, he was gone again.

She turned to Kendrick. He leaned down, and their eyes met. She was surprised at their intensity. She thought he was about to kiss her, but at the last moment, he moved his head so that he whispered in her ear, "Thank you for sticking up for me. No one has done such a thing in a very long time. I'll give you a treat later. Have fun with the girls." He ruffled her hair and walked out behind Darian.

Once the men were gone, the room was silent. Meryn gulped down the last of her orange juice. "So, I don't feel like adulting today. Let's watch anime and eat snacks."

Rheia, Elizabeth, and Amelia looked at each other and grinned.

Amelia nodded. "That sounds like a great idea." She turned and looked at Anne. "In this you'll be our Yoda."

Anne frowned. "He was the green one right?"

Across the table, Meryn began making sounds as if she was having an epileptic fit.

Amelia wrapped an arm around her. "Ignore her. Beth usually handles Meryn when she's like this. Let's hit the kitchen and get some post-breakfast snack foods."

Anne looked over her shoulder to cast a worried glance at Meryn. She figured if Rheia wasn't concerned, she wouldn't be either. Maybe she was getting used to the dynamics of this house.





*****





"Why am I here again?" the dark haired young man asked. After checking on Keelan, Anne was formally introduced to Jaxon and Noah when the women invaded command central to take over the sixty-five inch television.

"Because I'd miss you if you weren't here," Meryn answered.

"You do realize this isn't in English right?" Jaxon asked.

"Yup, now hush. I think Tezuka is about to confess to Yuri." Meryn threw popcorn at Jaxon who laughed.

Noah sat on the couch with his legs drawn up, a look of enthrallment on his face. He had been immediately sucked into the story line and had teared up a time or two already at Yuri's plight. Anne had to admit, Noah had to be the prettiest boy she had ever met. If he was drawn to be in an anime, he would be a bishōnen, or beautiful boy.