"Be careful," she said.
He nodded then both men headed for the door.
Keelan came from the family room looking concerned. "Umm guys, we can take this stuff down right? Guys? Hello? Fireballs?" Keelan trailed after them voicing his concerns.
Meryn laughed. "Poor Keelan." She turned to Elizabeth. "Come on let's get started."
They walked to the office and looked around at the cluttered mess of stacked papers and the one small desk. They looked at each other.
"Tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.
"Totally! I don't know how your afternoon went, but I'm wiped. I don't know how Aiden is out there doing drills. I'll work on the databases after dinner when Aiden and I are upstairs relaxing." Meryn stretched and yawned.
"My afternoon was probably similar to yours and I agree, the men must be monsters." They walked to the family room. Meryn collapsed on one of the large leather couches, Elizabeth the recliner. Elizabeth reached over to the side coffee table and picked up the forgotten pastry bag. She pulled out a cookie smiling happily.
"I don't want to move." Meryn curled up into a small ball.
"Me either." Elizabeth kicked back the recliner chewing her chocolate chip cookie. It was scrumptious.
"Ladies, would you like some tea?" Ryuu asked from the doorway.
Meryn opened one eye. "What time is it?"
Ryuu leaned back and checked the foyer clock. "It's one thirty denka."
"Can you wake us up before the guys come in?" Meryn yawned.
"Of course," he was about to leave the room when the phone rang. He turned and picked up the old-fashioned receiver.
"Alpha Unit Estate, oh yes. How are you today sir? We're fine here. He is outside at the moment but Meryn is here. Yes, hold please." Ryuu covered the mouth of the receiver.
"Denka, Lord Byron is on the phone for you."
Meryn perked up and hopped off the couch. She took the phone from Ryuu. "Hey Dad. Probably, I'm not sure. I can ask him. Yeah, hold on." Meryn set the receiver down on the sofa table and turned to her.
"I gotta run ask Aiden something." She turned to the door.
"Denka, your coat," Ryuu said.
Meryn shook her head, "I should only take a second."
Elizabeth stood. "I'll go with you; maybe the fresh air will wake me up."
Elizabeth followed Meryn out the door to the side of the house. The clearing beside the driveway provided the men the space needed to work in larger groups. They walked up to the open area where the men were sparring with each other. Smiling they waved as she approached.
"Hey Aiden..." Meryn called out.
Aiden turned, a frown on his face. "Meryn what did I just tell you about interrupting our training? These drills could save your life one day," Aiden practically shouted.
"But I.."
"No. Go back into the house. I'll come to you when we're done." Aiden deliberately turned his back dismissing her.
"Aiden..."
Aiden ignored her.
"Aiden, please."
Aiden stared down at his clipboard steadily ignoring his mate.
Nostrils flaring Meryn turned to her. "Wait here."
Oh dear.
Meryn marched back into the house with a determined look on her face.
A few seconds later Meryn walked through the front door and down the porch steps around to the back. A minute later, when she pulled up in a large black Camaro, she had everyone's attention except Aiden's.
Elizabeth watched as Colton jogged up to Aiden. He watched Meryn, his eyes growing wide.
Meryn pulled a gas canister from the trunk and started to douse the car. Elizabeth watched smiling. Her eyes met Gavriel's. She raised an eyebrow and nodded to where Meryn was gleefully saturating the car. He shrugged. She noticed not one warrior breathed a word to their commander.
Aiden turned to Colton. "Colton, did you spill gasoline in the armory? That could be a potential disaster waiting to happen," he admonished.
Colton shook his head. "No. But Aiden, Meryn..."
"I told her I'd speak to her later."
"But Aiden..." Colton gulped.
"Later," Aiden said in a curt tone.
Meryn threw the gas canister into the car and pulled out a pack of matches. She tried the first match and it didn't light. Scrunching up her nose she kept trying.
"Aiden..." Colton tried again.
"I will talk to her later," Aiden said firmly.
Meryn's third attempt worked, she looked up and smiled at everyone before dropping the entire matchbook into the backseat. She stepped back as the entire car erupted in flames.
Colton brought both hands up and threaded his fingers behind his head. Rocking back on his heels he grinned. "Aiden, what I was going to say was, Meryn is setting your car on fire." Colton jerked his head to the side pointing to the driveway.
"What?" Aiden yelled. He turned to see his car rapidly becoming a small bonfire.
"Meryn! What the hell?" He raced over to stand in front of his mate. He looked at her satisfied smile and back to his car. He pulled at his hair with his hands.
His gaze was furious when he turned back to his mate. "Meryn!" he roared.
She pulled her foot back and kicked him in the shin.
"Fuck! Dammit Meryn!" Aiden dropped down to one knee and rubbed his leg. Elizabeth walked over to stand next to her friend. She may not be a bear, but she was a shifter and Meryn wasn't; she could at least get between them if Aiden needed a second to calm down.