Chapter Ten
Pip jogged back, handed Meryn her laptop. “I’ll tell Ryuu to make you an iced coffee and grab snacks,” he said, then diverted to the kitchen.
Meryn opened her laptop and started typing. “Boston?”
“Yes,” Kiera answered.
“Five years ago, right?”
“Yeah.”
Behind them, they heard the door slam shut. Rory stomped into the room. “Where’s Caiden?”
Hunter and Augustus stood. “Why?” Hunter asked.
“I need permission to kill an insufferable, vulgar, mouthy prat!” Rory growled.
Connor stood and just opened the back door. “Caiden, you’re being paged!” he yelled.
Moments later, Caiden, Zev, Aedan, Konstantine, and Aiden came through the door.
Caiden took one look at Rory’s flared nostrils and exhaled. “What now?”
Kiera heard Rory’s description and had a bad feeling. “You wouldn’t happen to be talking about a guy, maybe six-foot tall, blond hair, Ken style good looks, probably wearing a button down with a sweater draped around his shoulders?”
Rory stopped mid-pacing and stared. “You know him?”
“I could be wrong, but that sounds like my ex.”
Hunter looked from Rory to Kiera and back. “That Jaden Greymoon guy? Rory did you see him?”
“See him? I heard his mouth running to anyone that would listen at the tavern.” He pointed to Kiera. “He couldn’t say enough about my new cousin.”
Kiera groaned. “I knew he acted too tame when we broke up.”
Caiden sat down on the ottoman. “What was he saying?”
Rory took a deep breath, then began recounting what he heard. “That he supported her while she tried to make her way in the human world, that she led him on and then abandoned him, breaking his mother’s heart, since she viewed you as a daughter.”
Kiera snorted. “That bitch hated my guts.”
Rory pulled a chair in from the kitchen. “He said he’s here to talk to your uncle, so they can talk some sense into you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, good luck with that.”
Ryuu and Pip walked in. Ryuu held a tray and went right to Meryn. He set down a large, iced coffee and two bowls of snacks. Pip took his seat next to her and made sure that the straw was facing toward Meryn and scooted the bowls a bit closer.
Ryuu looked around the room, then he snapped his fingers. Chairs appeared in open spaces around the room.
Aiden smiled. “Thanks, Ryuu. What would we do without you?”
“Stand, obviously.”
Everyone took a seat.
Hunter looked at her. “Does your ex know your uncle?”
“No, in fact, I think he was dating me just to get close to my uncle.”
“Why would he want that?” Hunter asked.
“His family has money, but not a lot of clout in the paranormal world. To him, my uncle represented influence in Storm Keep, especially since the Academy sets witch scores,” she explained.
Meryn looked confused. “I thought the Witches’ Council did the scores.”
“A lot of people mix up who does contracts and who does the scores. But honestly, the Witches’ Council and Academy have been working together for so long regarding both that people use them interchangeably now.
The Witches’ Council creates and assigns out contracts.
They also track the money those contracts bring in, but the Academy is the place that actually teaches and tests witches.
” Kiera sighed. “I was always seen as a disappointment, since my uncle was a Proctor, everyone always assumed I would do well.”
“Another random question,” Meryn said, still tapping away on her laptop.
“At this point, I dare not say no,” Kiera said.
“Did your banker chick say anything about your accounts being locked?”
Kiera frowned. “I think so, especially after she flagged my uncle for being suspicious. Why?”
“Well, if it hadn’t been inaccessible, then he probably woulda offed the kids a while ago,” Meryn said casually, munching on a pretzel stick.
Kiera dug out the card that Lena gave her. She called the number.
“Ms. Sorrel, how can I help you?” Lena asked.
“Augustus called earlier asking about what would happen if the kids were to pass.”
“Yes, I must admit, that did cause some concern.”
“Can we change it so that me as the Trustee gets their money instead of their guardian?”
There was silence. “I believe we can. One moment.”
As Kiera waited, she turned to look at Hunter. He placed a supportive hand on her leg.
“Ms. Sorrel, normally this is not something we can do over the phone, but given the circumstances, your uncle’s persistent aggression and your valid concerns, my manager has approved this change.
I will email you the updated terms of their accounts.
Sign them and email them back to us tonight. I will file them immediately.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much this helps.”
“Unfortunately, I do. Remember, we are here to help day or night.”
“That chick kicks ass,” Meryn said, still absorbed with whatever she was looking at on her laptop.
“Lena, that was Meryn McKenzie. She is very impressed with you,” Kiera said, knowing how much Lena adored Meryn.
“Your Highness, I..I am only doing my job,” Lena stuttered a bit, a true testament to how nervous she was.
Meryn looked up, hearing Lena’s voice. “Do you take new clients?”
“If it is for you, Your Highness, I will start the paperwork tonight.”
Meryn turned to Aiden. “Move nugget’s money over.”
Aiden nodded. “Can I call you tomorrow to continue setting things up?”
“You can call anytime. I will handle the princess’ accounts personally,” she assured them.
“Rock on. I saw your notes and knew I needed someone as aggressively petty as you in my life.”
“I am humbled by your words.”
Meryn tilted her head, then looked at Kiera.
“She’s from Noctem Falls,” she explained.
Meryn’s mouth made a lil ‘o’. “I freaking love vampires. They always have the biggest dick swinging energy packaged in elegant language with hidden ‘fuck yous’ and smiles.”
“We do our very best,” Lena said.
“Lena, right?” Meryn asked.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Can I add you to my friend list?”
“It would be an honor.”
“Sweet.”
“Ms. Sorrel, I will ensure that your paperwork is submitted first thing. If you will excuse me, I will start on setting up, Her Highness’ accounts now.”
“Thanks Lena!” Meryn called out.
“Of course.”
Kiera saw the call disconnected. “You probably gave that poor woman a heart attack.”
“She’ll be fine. Anywho. Found some interesting stuff about your parents' accident.”
Kiera leaned forward. “What?”
“Dude that hit them, career alcoholic.”
“They were hit by a drunk driver.”
“Except toxicology came back clean. It was labelled a processing error, especially as the autopsy showed severe cirrhosis.”
“Anything else?”
“Nope, but it’s packaged too cleanly. I’ll keep looking and let you know.”
Beside her, Hunter’s phone rang.
“Hello?” he said, before putting it on speaker.
“Hey man, there’s this prissy guy talking shit about your mate in mid-city,” Zev said, sounding mad.
“We know.”
“We gonna let him?” Zev asked.
Meryn closed her laptop. “I wanna meet this guy.”
Kiera groaned. “Why?”
“He’s a puzzle piece. I don’t know how big of a piece he is, but it wouldn’t hurt to peep him out. Plus, if you show up with your mate in tow, he might change his mind about running his mouth,” Meryn said, trying to stand.
Pip stood, held out his hand, and helped her off the sofa.
“Baby, are you sure?” Aiden asked, immediately going to her side.
“Yes. I need to get out of the house or I’m going to get stabby.”
He shuddered. “Gods above help us.”
Aiden looked to Hunter, then to Rory. “Let’s leave Nu here.”
Caiden opened his mouth to protest, but Aiden held up a hand. “Hunter handling someone slandering his mate is reasonable, even Rory tagging along to help makes sense. If all of Nu shows up, it could be seen as unit warriors throwing their weight around.”
Caiden’s expression soured. “Why Rory?”
Aiden held up a hand and started ticking off reasons.
“He’s Hunter’s cousin. He’s an Armstrong and built like a tank.
He’s the public relations guy, so if things go sideways, he can put out fires on site and won’t have to wade through information second-hand.
And last but not least, he’s not the lawyer, leaving Augustus available to represent us at Tribunal if needed. ”
Caiden sighed, looking disgruntled. “I cannot fault that logic.”
Kendrick kissed Anne’s cheek. “Stay here?”
Anne searched his face. “I’ll stay here, where you know the warriors will babysit me.” She pointed to the ceiling. “I have an anime I need to catch up on anyway.”
Aiden looked at Pip and just gave a nod, knowing he couldn’t get the smaller man to let Meryn out of his sight. “Me, Meryn, Pip, Ryuu, Hunter, Kiera, Rory and Kendrick. Any more and it will look intimidating.”
Meryn chortled. “Three bear-shifters are going, it’s gonna be intimidating.”
Aiden leaned down and kissed her nose. “Three and a half.”
She beamed up at him. “Nugget is providing emotional support.”
Augustus stood. “I’ll consolidate our petition for tomorrow’s meeting. We’ll casually let it slip about the account changes, so that your uncle knows the money is beyond his reach.”
Kiera went to the back door and opened it. Like Connor, she yelled. “Keran! Nicol come say goodbye.” She closed the door behind her and waited for them.
The kids ran up, Eoin panting behind them. “Where are you going?” Keran asked.
“Meryn wants to go to mid-city so Hunter can intimidate my ex, and she wants to get out of the house.”
Keran scowled. “Do I need to go up there as your brother?”
Kiera ruffled his hair. “Rory and Aiden are going.”
Keran thought it over. “They’ll do.”
Nicol hugged her arm. “No uncle?” she asked softly.
“Not if I can help it.”
“Good,” the small girl said, giving her arm a squeeze.
Eoin looked down at her siblings. “We’re about to head to Aunt Myra’s anyway. She promised chicken and dumplings.”
“In that case, give me an extra hug, because I won’t see you tonight,” Kiera said, kneeling down.
Both kids wrapped themselves around her, giving her the best hug ever.
Keran sighed. “I know you need alone time to give us a niece or nephew, but we miss you.”
Eoin cracked up.
Kiera lightly flicked Keran’s forehead. “Enough of that.”