My Savior(40)

Ryuu poured milk into a tiny creamer on his serving cart. He set the creamer and a sugar bowl on a small silver tray and set them beside her coffee cup.

"Thank you, this smells amazing." She lifted the cup and inhaled deeply.

Ryuu nodded, his expression intent. "We take our coffee very seriously around here."

"Thank the Gods we do! Ryuu, can I get what you normally serve Rheia? The coffee with the espresso?" Keelan collapsed into his chair. Ryuu immediately headed for the kitchen.

"What's the matter buddy? Sandman kick your ass?" Colton laughed.

Keelan looked up with a murderous glare. "Why in the fuck are you so happy?" he growled.

Colton jerked back as if he had been electrocuted. Everyone around the table stared. To Amelia Keelan just seemed more like Kendrick than usual.

Colton stood, his eyes wild, and looked down at his mate. "Fix him! He caught a case of Meryn!"

Rheia rolled her eyes and pulled her mate back down into his chair. Penny giggled at her father's actions.

Meryn growled. "I am not contagious, asshole."

Ryuu swept in from the kitchen, a tall mug in hand. "I made it extra strong." He set it down in front of the witch and stepped back.

Eyes half closed, Keelan took his first sip and grimaced but kept drinking. His eyes opened slowly, and he blinked, looking around the table. "What's for breakfast?"

"We have an assortment of bagels and pastries," Ryuu answered turning to head back into the kitchen.

Keelan nodded and yawned. "Sounds good."

Aiden stared at him. "Everything okay?" he asked in a very neutral voice.

"Yeah, I'm just working through some stuff. Oh! Here, I finished it last night when I couldn't sleep." He stood and walked to the other side of the table, stopping in front of Meryn. He handed her something, and she stared at it for a second, looked up at him and then back down, and squealed. She popped out of her chair and threw herself at Keelan, hugging him tight.

Amelia exchanged looks with Darian who shrugged. Amelia turned back to Meryn. "Meryn, what is it?"

Meryn was hopping up and down, trying to kiss Keelan's face. Aiden scooped her up and set her back down in her chair. She was so excited she was practically shaking. Keelan made his way back to his chair and sat down.

"He made me a sonic screwdriver!" Meryn waved the cylindrical metal object around.

Beth turned to Keelan. "I didn't know you knew that much about science."

Keelan shrugged and took another sip of coffee. "Who needs science when you have magic?"

Meryn turned it over in her hands. "What does it do?"

"I recorded the sound that the sonic screwdriver makes from the show; it plays that when you press the button," he explained.

Meryn looked crestfallen. "Is that all?"

Keelan shook his head. "No, it plays that sound when you press the green button and launches a stun spell when you press the white button. Each spell is set to knock out a full-grown vampire, the paranormal race least susceptible to electric shock. I think it has a hundred charges stored. When you run out, Ryuu should be able to charge it for you."

Meryn covertly began eyeing her mate, her finger twitching over the button.

"No," Aiden said.

"But..."

"No, Meryn, you cannot test it on me." Aiden gave her a stern look and kissed her forehead.

Amelia could tell that her baby sister-cousin was dying to see it in action.

Meryn turned and stared at Colton.

"No," Rheia said.

"Y'all are no fun." Meryn set her screwdriver down next to her plate, but kept looking at it longingly.

"Breakfast is served," Ryuu announced as he wheeled the cart in. One by one, everyone picked what they wanted. Amelia was stuck. She wanted a bagel but also wanted something sweet.

Darian leaned in. "Get both."

She kissed his cheek and did as he advised. She selected an asiago cheese bagel and a raspberry and cream cheese danish.

"Look who is all kissy-face this morning," Meryn teased.

Amelia looked up and Meryn winked. She grinned back and gave Meryn a thumbs up. The men chuckled.

Darian turned to her. "Speaking of last night, you said you had three brothers and three half-brothers. As far as I know Caiden, Kyran and Tristan are the only Ironwoods I know."

"Well, technically, Caiden, Kyran, and Tristan are my half-brothers. Thane, Justice, and Law aren't related to me at all; they are Caiden, Kyran, and Tristan's half-brothers. But growing up, we never made the distinctions, and they all looked after me."

She heard a fork drop and looked over at Colton who was staring at her.

"What?"

"You can't mean Thane, Justice, and Law Ashleigh?" he choked out.