My Brother’s Keeper (Bewitched And Bewildered Book 5)

They ended up taking Anne’s CRV to the clinic since it hadn’t been assigned a parking spot yet and was still out front. Meryn argued with Ryuu that she didn’t need a babysitter, and she didn’t want him in the room when someone was looking up her hoo-ha. Ryuu managed to look annoyed and worried about his charge at the same time as he helped her put on her coat.

Once in the car and on their way, Meryn exhaled. ‘Freedom!’

Rheia laughed. ‘Have you had a moment alone since you moved in?’

Meryn shook her head. ‘Nope. I could kiss the one who cast the spell to put up the perimeter. Maybe now I can go to the city on my own and visit Sydney and Justice.’

Anne glanced to her right where Meryn sat. ‘I’ve heard their names before, who are they?’

‘Sydney and Justice run the coffee shop in the city called The Jitterbug. They’re both sinfully gorgeous and so lovey-dovey it should be illegal.’

Amelia’s ears perked up. ‘I think I watched an anime that had two men that ran a coffee shop in it. I’d love to meet Sydney and Justice, they sound fun.’

‘They are awesome peeps. Too bad I can’t sample any of their newest creations,’ Meryn sighed and rubbed her belly. She looked down. ‘You better be worth it, kiddo.’

Rheia cracked up in the backseat. ‘She will be.’

Anne smiled. ‘You’re having a girl?’

Meryn shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I told Rheia not to tell me. So she keeps changing up the pronouns to confuse Aiden.’

‘What about you Rheia, do you want to know?’ Anne asked.

‘I wouldn’t mind one way or the other. It might make it easier to decorate,’ Rheia replied.

‘So. You got claimed huh?’ Meryn asked out of the blue.

‘Meryn!’ Rheia gasped, sounding mortified.

‘What? She said she didn’t mind telling me,’ Meryn pointed out.

Anne couldn’t keep the smile off her face. ‘Yes.’

‘And?’ Meryn fished.

‘And… it was magical, for lack of a better word.’

‘My claiming was hot, but I don’t think I would use the word magical. I got bit though.’ Meryn pulled down the collar of her coat to reveal two shiny pink scars.

Rheia sighed. ‘I got bit too.’

Anne frowned. ‘I didn’t get bit. Was I supposed to get bitten?’

Meryn tapped the door. ‘I don’t think so, maybe it’s a shifter thing.’

Anne followed the road. ‘Maybe.’

After another couple minutes of silence, ‘Do you think I could use my sonic screwdriver as a wand?’ Meryn asked.

Anne could practically feel Rheia staring at Meryn. She looked in the rearview mirror.

Yup. The I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-you stare.

‘What’s a sonic screwdriver?’ Anne asked, breaking the silence.

‘It’s something the Doctor uses in that show I was telling you about. Keelan made me a magical version of one. Since Kendrick says I have some magic in me, I was wondering if I could use it as a wand to, you know, cast spells.’

Anne thought back to every instance she had seen Kendrick use magic. ‘Meryn, I don’t think real witches use wands like that. I’ve never seen Kendrick use one.’

‘I’ve never seen Keelan or Quinn use one either, Meryn,’ Rheia added from the back.

‘Hmmmm.’ Meryn stared out the window.

‘Besides, you’re forbidden to use magic, remember?’ Rheia reminded her.

‘If Amelia didn’t get in trouble for turning herself into a dog, I think I’m okay,’ Meryn protested.

‘Is this it?’ Anne asked as a large building came in view.

‘Yup, that’s it,’ Rheia answered.

Anne parked by the door and they got out. Rheia pointed out the different exam rooms and testing equipment as they walked by them.

‘What are all these boxes?’ Meryn asked, pointing into the supply room.

‘Those are gifts from Éire Danu and Noctem Falls. A little birdie by the name of Elizabeth Monroe made some phone calls, and suddenly, I’m knee deep in much needed supplies,’ a warm male voice answered.

‘Hey Adam!’ Meryn yelled, running up to the large stranger.

Adam swept her up into a tight hug. ‘Hello, baby sister!’ He set her down and looked at Anne. ‘And who’s this? A new patient?’

Rheia wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her forward. ‘This is our new nurse. Adam meet Anne Bennett, Kendrick’s mate. She was the one who helped me with the casualties from the hostage situation. I swear she was amazing. She always seemed to be exactly where I needed her. She’s also the one taking care of Keelan for us at the house.’

Adam stretched his hand out, and when they shook hands, she noticed he had calluses on his palms.

Adam rubbed the back of his neck when he caught her staring. ‘I started training with the Beta Unit. After the past couple attacks, I wanted to get back into top fighting condition.’

‘Who in the hell would want to fight you? You’re huge.’ Anne asked, looking up.

Adam’s booming laughter made her smile. He was so much more open and friendly than his surly younger brother. Then again, Adam didn’t have a mate like Meryn to keep an eye on, either.

‘You’d be surprised how many ferals don’t pay attention to such things.’ Adam held up his arm. ‘Ladies, let’s get these exams over with so I can check on my little niece or nephew.’

Rheia turned to her. ‘Anne, could you go back to the supply room and try to get it organized? If we have enough supplies to spare, can you pack up some basics to take back to the house?’

Anne nodded. ‘Sure thing. Kendrick’s joke about me counting tongue depressors has come true.’

‘Thank you so much. We won’t be long, so don’t feel like you have to organize everything. We’ll leave the bulk of it for Adam to finish, but anything you can do to get him started would be a help.’ Rheia looked back to where Meryn waited for her in the hall.

Anne shooed her away. ‘Go on, I’ll be fine.’

Anne walked down the hall and went into the supply room. After about an hour, she had grouped boxes together and had opened enough of them to put together four field kits. If they needed anything else, they could grab it later. She swung the backpack full of supplies on her shoulder and stepped out into the hallway.

The hairs on her neck began to stand straight up. Trying not to be too obvious, she stopped at the water fountain and turned her head to look down the hall. It was empty, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the air shimmer. It was a cross between what the air looked like before Felix had appeared and the heat waves that rose off the road on a summer day. Something was stalking her. 

She turned and fought every instinct screaming at her to keep her pace normal. She walked as normally as she could until she was in front of Adam’s office door. ‘Guys, all clear to come in?’ she yelled.

‘Yup, our legs are closed and we’re clothed,’ Meryn quipped.

Anne forced herself to laugh. She opened the door and closed it quickly, throwing the lock. Swallowing hard, she felt like her heart was in her throat.

Adam stood. ‘Anne?’

Anne shook her head, pointed to the door, and mouthed the words, Something is out there.

Adam picked up the receiver on his desk phone and lifted it to his ear. Seconds later, he put it back on the cradle and shook his head.

Meryn dove into her backpack and pulled out her phone. Her tiny fingers began moving. Seconds crawled by like hours. With tears streaming down her face, Meryn shook her head. ‘I never had this problem when Keelan was the one answering Aiden’s phone,’ she hissed.

Anne looked at Adam and Rheia. ‘Cell?’ she whispered.

‘I left mine at home,’ Adam confessed.

‘Mine’s in the car,’ Rheia said, her voice shaking.

Anne was about to respond when the doorknob jiggled. Seconds later, something slammed against the door. Adam jumped over his desk and braced himself against the door.

‘Adam!’ Rheia screamed as the door was hit again.

Anne took a deep breath and thought of Kendrick. She found that warm energy from the night before and began to follow it. Slowly, very slowly she floated back toward the Alpha estate. When it came into view, she passed through the walls to the second floor.

Kendrick was smiling and talking excitedly to Basil who was holding a crystal in his hands.

Kendrick!

Kendrick turned quickly in the direction of the clinic; there was no trace of laughter on his face now.

Kendrick! Help! 

That was all she could say before she felt herself being pulled back. When she opened her eyes, Rheia cradled her in her arms.

Anne looked around. ‘What happened?’

Suddenly, Adam was jolted against the door. Whoever was out there was trying very hard to get in.

‘You collapsed. I thought you’d fainted, but your eyes were open.’ Rheia helped her to sit up.

‘I think I was able to reach Kendrick.’ She put her hand over her chest. ‘I’m sure of it.’

‘I hope to the Gods you’re right. This door won’t last forever,’ Adam said, repositioning his feet.

Rheia looked across the office to the window. ‘I suppose putting bars across the windows seemed like a good idea at the time?’

Adam grinned. ‘We can open them from the inside, they can’t be opened from the outside.’

Rheia stood. ‘Then why don’t we just go out that way?’

Adam shook his head. ‘That’s how they lost you last time. I have a feeling we’d be running right into a trap. It’s better to hunker down here.’ He looked at Anne. ‘How sure are you that help is coming?’

Anne stood and faced the doctor. ‘Kendrick is coming for me.’

He nodded. ‘Then the best thing I can do is hold on. The only way they are getting to my baby sister is by walking over my dead body.’

Meryn smiled weakly at Adam then glared at her phone. ‘When I see Aiden, I’m gonna kill him.’

Behind Adam the door began to crack.

Kendrick! Hurry!

*****

‘Do you see why we use quartz now?’ Kendrick asked.

Basil nodded, his eyes glued to the crystal that was changing colors.

Basil had soaked up everything he had taught him that morning, including the warding spell on the door. He couldn’t have picked a finer student.

Kendrick!

Kendrick turned and looked around. He could have sworn he just heard Anne.

Kendrick! Help!

There was no doubt in his mind; that had been Anne.

He whirled to face Basil. ‘Anne’s in trouble. I need you to stay here. These tests are about finished. I need you to stay here and record the results for me; can you do that?’

‘Of course!’ Basil looked scared.

‘Good lad!’ Kendrick turned and ran from the room. ‘Sei!’ he yelled as he ran down the stairs. Stress had him reverting to calling Ryuu by his first name.

Ryuu appeared below him in the foyer. ‘Something has happened hasn’t it?’

Kendrick nodded, and they both ran for the door. They headed to the open field where the unit warriors were training. ‘Aiden, to me!’ he yelled.

Aiden’s head snapped up. He saw Kendrick and Ryuu running toward him and roared. Kendrick knew that the commander had figured out that if they were running to them, then the women were in danger. Some of the men ran to the small back building and others ran to the garage.

Aiden checked his sidearm. ‘What do we know?’ he asked. 

‘Nothing, only that Anne called for me.’

Ryuu looked at Aiden. ‘Denka is scared, but also angry at you.’

Aiden groaned and ran back to his bag. He dug around and pulled out his phone. He put it on speaker. ‘Baby, I am so sorry.’

‘Later. Where are you?’ Meryn demanded.

‘We’re leaving here in about two minutes. What’s your situation?’

‘Rheia, Anne, Adam, and I are trapped in his office. So far they haven’t been able to get through the door.’

Kendrick felt his impatience building. He wanted to leave already. Behind them, SUVs began to roll up as the other men jogged forward carrying bags of tactical gear. In less than a minute, the men had mobilized. Normally, he would just use his magic, but there were too many men, and he’d never been to the clinic before to gauge the distance.

‘Anything you can tell us about the enemy?’ Aiden asked.

‘We think they are invisible ferals. They are being persistent and fucking annoying,’ Meryn yelled.

‘There’s my Menace,’ Sascha said, nodding at Aiden.

‘Hey guys, you need to hurry, no shit,’ Meryn said. The hiccup in her voice had the men scattering.

‘Wait! Tell them that they are invisible but are shimmering, as if they are giving off heat waves,’ they heard Anne yell into the phone.

Heat waves?

‘Let’s move it! Lorcan, your unit is assigned house detail. We don’t know where these bastards could pop up next,’ Aiden yelled.

‘Yes, sir!’ Lorcan yelled back, and began positioning his men around the house.

Kendrick, Gavriel, Colton, Darian, and Ryuu jumped into the SUV with Aiden. All Kendrick could think about was Anne. If anything happened to her, he didn’t know if he would be able to follow her peacefully into the afterlife. He was seriously scared for the men he rode with. Beside him, Ryuu was vibrating with energy. He knew that the squire would be focused on one thing and one thing only, Meryn. Between the two of them, their enemy didn’t stand a chance.

*****

When the men arrived, they simply kicked the door in and flooded the halls. When they got to the hallway leading to Adam’s office Aiden held up his fist.

Kendrick and Ryuu looked at each other and stepped in front of Aiden.

‘Wait, we don’t know what’s out there!’ Aiden hissed.

‘Doesn’t matter,’ Kendrick said and turned his attention to the hall. Thanks to Anne’s description, he knew what to look for. To Anne’s untrained eye, the invisibility spell through his magic looked like heat waves, which meant that he would be able to see them. ‘Can you detect them?’ He asked his friend.

Ryuu’s hair floated around his body as if ebbing back and forth in the water. He shook his head. ‘No, but my magic can follow yours. What is the plan?’

‘Kill them all,’ Kendrick said without emotion. Unlike Ryuu, Kendrick’s element was fire, and the air around him began to crackle.

‘What the hell?’ Colton yelled. 

Kendrick turned to look behind him. The unit warriors were backing up from the heat. Movement caught his eye from outside the window of the room they were standing next to.

‘Aiden, we have company outside. It would be safer for you and your men to handle them. Let Ryuu and I take out the ones in the hallway.’

Aiden hesitated. ‘That’s my mate in there.’

Kendrick let his power rise until Aiden stepped back again. ‘My mate is in there as well. Now go!’

‘You heard the man!’ Aiden led the men outside to deal with the ferals trying to flank them from behind.

Kendrick turned his attention back to the hallway where the hazy shapes were advancing on them. ‘Good, they want to play.’

He raised his power hand. ‘Inferno!‘

The hall was engulfed in heat and flame. The figures before him began to scream and fall to the floor.

‘Oh, my fucking god, that is rank! What the fuck are you doing out there?’ Meryn yelled.

Ryuu smiled. ‘And there is the helpless maiden,’ he said before lifting both hands. A wall of water rushed down the hallway extinguishing the flames that were climbing the walls.

Soot and ash covered bodies making them visible. They littered the hallway, blocking the way to the women.

‘Can you remove them? Denka and Rheia have such sensitive stomachs these days,’ Ryuu asked politely–as if there weren’t half burned corpses melting right in front of them.

‘It would be my pleasure.’ Kendrick raised his hand again and floated the bodies down the hall and out the door where he flung them against a tree, creating a pile of smoldering flesh and bone.

‘Is it safe to come out now?’ Meryn shouted.

‘No.’ Ryuu swiftly walked down the hall. When they were in front of the door, he knocked. ‘It is now safe, denka.’ The door opened slowly.

When Meryn saw Ryuu, she threw herself into his arms. ‘I’m so sorry! I never should have left without you!’

Ryuu picked her up as if she weighed no more than a child. ‘I am entirely to blame, denka. I forgot my first duty is to protect you. Like the others, I was lulled into a false sense of safety by the perimeter. But I can assure you, I won’t let that happen again.’

Meryn wiped her nose on her sleeve. ‘You can watch me pee for all I care.’

Ryuu smiled softly. ‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary.’

‘Anne?’ Kendrick looked around the room.

Anne stood on shaky legs, her hands balled up into fists at her side, her face surprisingly calm. ‘I told them you would come for us.’

Kendrick strode in and simply pulled her close. ‘This can never happen again. Never, do you hear me?’ he managed to choke out. He was having a hard time speaking past the lump in his throat.

‘Rheia! Rheia!’ They heard Colton yelling.

One second he was in the hallway the next he had his mate in his arms swinging her around. ‘That’s it! That! Is! It! No more clinic!’ Rheia shook her head, laughing at his antics, but Kendrick noticed the tears streaming down her face.

Kendrick pulled back and looked at Anne. ‘Are you okay?’

She nodded. ‘I may freak out later, but right now, I think I’m okay.’

‘Okay? She was amazing!’ Adam boomed. ‘This girl has nerves of steel. She kept Rheia and Meryn calm and helped me brace the door. She was also the one to notice that they had snuck in, and by remaining calm, she was able to get in here and lock the door without letting them know she saw them. That’s one hell of a woman you got there.’

‘Meryn? Meryn!’ Aiden’s shouting had Meryn wiggling to get down. Ryuu set her down and stepped back.

Aiden came barreling through the door and scooped Meryn up in his arms. ‘Baby, I’m so sorry! I swear I’ll wear my phone around my neck from now on!’ Aiden buried his face in her shoulder. 

Meryn wrapped her arms around his head. ‘I will kick your ass later. Right now, just hold me.’

Anne looked up at Kendrick. ‘How’d they get in? I thought the perimeter kept these things from coming into the city.’

Adam came back in from the hallway, waving a hand in front of his face. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get this smell out of my nose.’ He sneezed twice and looked at Anne. ‘I think the perimeter is working fine. I suspect this was a sleeper cell. They were hiding out waiting for a chance to attack.’ He turned to Meryn and Rheia. ‘They saw the two of you without escort and moved in. It was probably their last ditch effort to get to you.’

Meryn paled. ‘They were after our babies.’

Kendrick gasped as pieces began to fall into place. He had to step back while everything processed.

‘Kendrick?’ He heard Anne call out.

‘Leave him! He’s working something out,’ Meryn exclaimed.

Souls, shifters, abilities, necklaces, couples, recruit, babies…

Kendrick shook his head. He looked around to find that he had backed himself into a corner and everyone was watching him intently.

His eyes met Anne’s. ‘I know you need me, but I have to go. If I’m right…’

Anne pointed out the door, her eyes perfectly serene. ‘Go! I’m fine. Go check the tests, I’ll be right behind you.’

Kendrick turned to leave but had to kiss her first. He walked back over to her, kissed her urgently. He turned to Ryuu then Aiden. ‘I am trusting you both to bring her home safely.’

Ryuu bowed and Aiden nodded. ‘You have my word.’

Kendrick looked at Anne a final time and raced out the door. Once clear of the building, he took flight.

Just this one time, please. Just this one time, let me be wrong.

*****

Kendrick flung the door open and ran up the stairs.

‘Meryn? Rheia?’ Amelia yelled.

‘Fine, both fine!’ he answered and kept going.

He opened the door to Keelan’s room and Basil jumped.

‘What colors did you see?’ he demanded.

Basil picked up his notebook. ‘The crystals testing for abilities turned different colors based on the ability of the bead. Crystals one and two turned red. Crystal three turned green and crystal four turned blue. The last one that tested the container’s make up, well…’

‘Well what?’

‘Sir, it g-g-glowed,’ Basil stuttered.

‘Glowed?’ Kendrick began to pace. He stopped and returned to the table. ‘That can’t be right. Basil are you sure?’

‘Yes, sir. I’m sure, it glowed white,’ Basil answered.

Kendrick froze, and his heart seized. ‘Why didn’t you say that at first?’

Basil frowned in confusion. ‘Sir, the crystal is white.’

Kendrick dropped to his knees. Of course, a novice wouldn’t be able to determine the difference between a regular glow and a white light. He had been testing for centuries and had never seen anything glow white, because there was nothing on this earth pure enough to hit the scale and register white.

‘Sir! Sir, are you well?’ Basil circled him worriedly.

‘Basil, can you wait downstairs? As soon as the others arrive, can you send Ryuu directly to me and have everyone else assemble in the front room? I’ll need you and Noah to watch after Penny; she doesn’t need to hear this,’ Kendrick whispered trying to keep his voice even.

‘Yes, sir, anything you need.’ Basil ran out the door so fast he didn’t even stop to remove his lead testing apron.

Kendrick stared at the floor. What had their world come to?

Minutes began to blur, because the next thing he knew, Ryuu was kneeling beside him. ‘Heika, are you hurt?’ Ryuu asked sensibly.

‘My heart hurts Sei. I fear for our future, I don’t know if I want to live in this world anymore. I am so tired,’ Kendrick admitted.

‘You have a very good reason to live heika; she is waiting anxiously for you downstairs.’ Ryuu put a hand under his arm and helped him to his feet.

‘I’m glad Meryn has you, I am. But I would give anything to have you as my squire.’ He looked his oldest friend in the eye.

‘I understand and I am flattered.’ Ryuu bowed.

Kendrick refused to give in to this sorrow a second longer. He straightened his back and took a deep breath. ‘They will need you, especially Meryn and Rheia.’ He opened his pouch and pulled out a small leather bag. ‘This is blessed chamomile, a little goes a long way. It is spelled to bring peace. Make a couple pots of tea for us throughout the evening; we’ll all need it.’ He handed the bag to his old friend.

‘Heika, one thing I have learned living with my denka these many months is that humans are stronger than we give them credit for.’

Kendrick inclined his head. ‘I imagine they are. I’ll let you go down first to start the tea, then I’ll go down to the front room.’

Ryuu placed his fist over his heart, bowed, then left the room.

Kendrick waited five minutes then made his way downstairs. With each step he took, his feet became heavier and heavier.

When he walked into the front room, he looked around at the people who had quickly become his family. Quirky Meryn and grouchy Aiden. Fun-loving Colton and his serious mate, Rheia. His kind-hearted godsdaughter, her noble mate, and her parents. Elegant Elizabeth and her dark and mysterious mate, Gavriel. Off to one side, sitting quietly was Jaxon, who, surprisingly, met his gaze unflinchingly.

‘About damn time!’ Meryn groused.

Kendrick looked in her direction but didn’t say anything. He took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. ‘Some of the things I’m about to tell you, you either already suspected or knew. I am simply able to confirm them based on the tests I conducted. First, I can confirm that each bead is an individual soul. That being said, I can also confirm that each bead resonates with a different shifter ability.’

‘What didn’t we know?’ Aiden asked. He sat beside Meryn, holding her hand.

‘The beads themselves are an impossibility. Up until today, I didn’t think there was any way to create something that had the ability to contain a soul; unfortunately, I was wrong.

‘Our enemy has figured out a way to harvest the purest of souls to act as containers.’ He looked around the room. The men figured it out first and held their mates closer. ‘They are killing unborn babies and newborns to use their pure souls to house the souls and abilities of the murdered shifters, their own mothers and sometimes fathers.’

Sobbing, Amelia and Rheia turned to their mates. Elizabeth looked so pale that Kendrick thought she was going to pass out, but Meryn’s reaction gave him hope. She wasn’t crying; in fact, she didn’t even appear to be outwardly upset. Nevertheless, Kendrick could tell by the look in her eyes that she was already mentally killing her enemies. Yup, she was picturing herself knee-deep in entrails.

Kendrick turned to Anne. She was pale, yes, but her eyes were tranquil. She watched him with a steadfast faith that humbled him. He could see in the way she looked at him that she believed he would stop these atrocities from happening. And she was right. As much as he wanted retribution for his parents, his father would never forgive him if he didn’t do everything in his power to stamp out this insidious evil and protect not just his people, but all paranormals.

Elizabeth drew a shaky breath. ‘It’s why they went after expecting couples. They would get the baby’s soul as a container, the ability of the shifter, and possibly a new recruit for their army.’

The sound of snapping wood drew Kendrick’s attention to Gavriel. He had broken off both chair arms and his eyes were glowing bright red. ‘No male would move on to the next world honorably and leave their mate and unborn child trapped in endless torture. They would start out wanting to destroy the ones that killed their family but become lost in the bloodshed until they became mindless drones.’

Ryuu pushed a cart into the room and silently began serving the fragrant tea. Ryuu held a cup out to him, but he shook his head. Ryuu didn’t move, he just kept his hand extended, holding the cup. Kendrick relented and accepted the offering from his friend. As everyone sipped their tea, their breathing slowly evened out and their muscles relaxed. The sadness was still there, but the mind-numbing terror was fading.

Elizabeth set her teacup down on its saucer. ‘Ryuu, where did you get this amazing blend. I’m still horrified of course, but I feel like I can breathe again.’

Ryuu bowed. ‘Heika, thought that this tea would help everyone with the tragic news he had to share.’

Meryn allowed herself to topple to one side and hugged the sofa pillow to her face. ‘I don’t want to face this right now.’ She peeked out and looked at Anne. ‘Do you know of any happy anime shows we can watch? I wouldn’t even mind a lot of pink and glitter right now.’

Anne nodded. ‘I think that’s a great idea. Let’s just spend the afternoon relaxing; we can face reality in a little bit.’

Lily looked at her mate and they both stood. ‘We’ll go to the council and update them on what we’ve learned here today. You kids take it easy.’ Lily kissed her daughter’s tear-streaked cheek before going to Meryn to kiss her temple, and hand-in-hand, she and Marshall left. 

Aiden stood. ‘I’ll be right back baby, I’m going to ask Lorcan to escort them into the city.’ He rubbed her back and jogged after the older couple.

Gavriel shook his head. ‘Kids? I wonder if they realize most of us are older than they are?’

Darian shrugged. ‘I don’t think it matters. Adelaide treats us like her boys, and she’s much younger than most of the warriors.’

Colton tugged on Kendrick’s sleeve and jerked his head toward the door. ‘We’re running out for a bit, but we’ll be right back.’ He announced to the women.

 Kendrick set his tea down and reluctantly followed the wolf shifter out into the foyer along with Gavriel and Darian. He noticed that most of the women were so out of it that they didn’t even wave goodbye.

Aiden shut the front door, and when he turned around and saw them standing there, he frowned. ‘What do you all want?’

Colton brought a finger to his lips. ‘Shush, the women will hear.’

‘Hear what?’ Aiden asked.

Colton pulled them into a huddle. ‘I have discovered something that is guaranteed to make the women happy, but we have to go to town.’

The men were smiling as they looked at each other and then turned to stare at Kendrick. Aiden’s smile was more like a smirk. ‘Well Kendrick, do you think you’re ready to take on the Duck In?’