My Champion(37)

Meryn shrugged. "He'll get over it; he always does," she said an upbeat manner.

Ryuu chuckled where he was standing off to one side. Kari looked at him, and he nodded. "Denka is correct, he usually does."

Avery looked at her. "Did you need me?" he asked.

Kari nodded. "Our things were sent to the Unit Level, to Declan's house. We are about to head there now to grab clothes and some toiletries for tonight, and I was wondering if you would like to come with us."

He stood, nodding. "Yes, please. I need to get my books too," he said, reaching for his backpack. He turned to his new friends. "Be right back."

Together, the three of them walked toward the transport tunnel. One in each hand, she held onto Avery and Declan and flew them up to the Unit Level. Stepping away from the entrance, they looked around. To Kari, it looked as if someone had taken a tiny village and put it underground. Off to the left she could see individual stone houses and, to the right, other larger buildings stood.

Declan tugged her hand "This way," he said, guiding her down the wide street that separated the houses. At the end of the road, a larger house stood. Declan pointed. "That is where Adriel and Eva live. Ours is the one next to it on the right."

She stopped and stared. "Declan, it looks like a small castle."

Declan nodded. "There was all the stone to work with when the witches were remodeling for me. A castle was the first thing I could think of when they asked me how I wanted the house styled."

Avery's eyes were bugged out. "Is that a drawbridge?" he asked.

Declan nodded. "Ostentatious, I know, but I couldn't have a castle without one.

Avery looked down. "There's no moat."

Declan shrugged. "I couldn't get everything."

"How do you get in?" Avery asked, running to the walkway.

Declan went to the back of the mailbox and punched in a code. Slowly, the small drawbridge opened and lowered. Kari was feeling as excited as Avery looked. They walked across the bridge and looked around. Just inside the building was the foyer.

"Is this secure?" Kari asked taking in the design.

Declan looked at her funny. "Who in the hell would break in?"

"Good point." Right by the stairs was a stack of suitcases. Kari turned Declan. "Who brought them here?"

"Probably Grant, he's one of my closest friends after Adriel. He has access to the house, and he knew you'd want your things. He probably just took it upon himself to make sure they got delivered."

"He is very sweet, quiet, but sweet."

Declan nodded. "He is very much like Meryn and doesn't do well with others. But he is very loyal. It took me a long time to get to know him after we were assigned to Eta."

"Why?" she asked.

"It's hard getting to know someone when they don't talk much."

"I bet that was not a problem for you," Avery teased.

Declan grinned. "It's true, I like to talk, and that's what I did. I talked, and kept talking and finally, he started talking back. We been friends ever since."

Kari and Avery opened their suitcases right there in the foyer and dug through their things to get what they needed. When they both stood with a set of pajamas in one hand and toiletries in the other, Declan nodded. He had just closed the drawbridge behind them when they heard a low growl.

"Mine!" a voice called. Kari stood back in shock as the large warrior she had seen earlier with the children lifted Avery up and crushed his lips to her brother's. That was when Kari found her breaking point. So much had happened in the past day, and this was something she simply couldn't handle. Screeching, she launched herself at the warrior trying to steal her brother away.

Declan wrapped his arms around her to keep his mate from attacking Warrick.

"Put him down!" she screamed.

"Can I get some help?" Declan yelled out. Up and down the road doors opened, and men began to pour out. Seconds later, another set of hands helped to hold Kari still. Declan nodded his thanks to Goddard.

"Kari my love, calm down," he said in a gentle voice.

"Get away from him! Get away from my brother!" she yelled before breaking down into sobs.

Avery, in Warrick's arms, looked terrified and torn. Kari crying had him stepping away from his newly discovered mate and racing over to his sister.

"Goddard, can you get her and Avery back down to Level One?" Declan asked.

Goddard nodded and steered Kari back toward the transport tunnel. Avery scooped up their things and followed his sister closely.

Declan turned to Warrick who stood there looking stunned. He watched Avery disappear down the tunnel, a look of wonder on his face. "He is mine," he whispered. "I could smell his blood from the bandages on his arm, he is mine."