My One and Only (Bewitched and Bewildered #10)(30)

Pip looked around at everyone's expressions and frowned. He hopped out of his seat and stood in front of her. "She is not bad"

Aiden blinked. "Oh, Pip. We don't think she's bad. We're upset she said something that should have been evident to us all along. It's something terrible so we're a bit shaken, but we're grateful for her pointing it out."

Pip's lower lip trembled. "You were staring."

Meryn pulled Pip back into his chair. "Say ahhhh!"

Pip opened his mouth dutifully. "Ahhh."

Meryn shoved her chocolate filled spoon in his mouth. "Thank you for defending me."

Pip's eyes widened as he chewed. Serenity was seriously concerned for the small vampire when his eyes rolled back in his head. Meryn chuckled. "I know right."

Pip quickly swallowed. "I did not try any because it looked like poop. What is it? It makes me feel like heaven!" He picked up his spoon and dug in.

"It's chocolate Pip. Besides coffee, it's one of the best substances on earth," Laelia explained.

Aiden nodded. "Chocolate is very powerful."

Everyone watched Pip and Meryn eat their dessert and somehow despite the horrendous things they discovered, everyone was smiling.

"I don't know if it's the Blessed Chamomile, but I feel like I should be sadder than I am," Serenity said pointing at Meryn.

Micah smiled. "Lately I have found that it's easier to face the darkest of moments when you share the burden with loved ones." He indicated to everyone seated around the table. "What we learned tonight truly terrifies me for the future, but I know I am not alone. Each one of us lightens the load and in small ways chips away at our enemy's plans. I bet DeLaFontaine never imagined his deepest secrets would be revealed by the amazing son he ignored. His life choice to mistreat Pip led us to tonight." He made sure Pip met his eyes. "Every single person born has a role to play and is precious to Fate. Never forget that Pip. Your help could be the turning point to saving our entire world."

Pip looked stunned. "Me?"

Warrick nodded. "Yes you, and Meryn too. She was smart enough to see how special you are. What if the two of you never crossed paths?"

Pip shook his head. "I do not want to think about that. It would make me sad."

Meryn smiled slyly at Micah. "That's what I meant when I said that it was 'mostly' a win-win scenario. I bet they never factored in the warriors' mates being so kick ass." She pointed to her chest. "I beat sense into Aiden,"

"Hey!" Aiden protested.

Meryn continued. "Beth got us organized, Rheia saved Colton and helped figure out the necklaces, Amelia survived being drained and was able to tell us what the enemy had planned, Anne was everyone's rock when we discovered the beads being unborn babies." She looked over at Eva. "Here in Noctem Falls Eva abandoned me to become the voice for the refugees." Eva snorted, and Meryn kept going. "Kari, I don't even think I can wrap up all the good she's done keep us on track, Ellie, Vivi and Serenity have worked miracles keeping everyone alive. The virus probably should have plunged the city into chaos, but the city has become stronger and better than before." Meryn took a deep breath looking a bit embarrassed. "All I'm saying is maybe the enemy's supposed power play in getting the warriors mated is actually our power play." Around the table the women were sitting straighter as if filled with a grander purpose and the men radiated a hope that hadn't been there just moments before.

Magnus turned to Sebastian. "That child gets whatever she wants, whenever she wants it." Sebastian nodded as he beamed down at Meryn looking like a proud parent.

Meryn winked at Magnus. "You do that anyway."

Aiden shot a desperate look to Magnus. "Can we put some parameters on that?"

"No way! Magnus can spoil me whenever!" Meryn fussed.

"Maybe our biggest weapon is the smallest of us," Kendrick whispered as Meryn argued with her mate. Nearly everyone around the table heard him except for the small human who could quite possibly be the salvation of them all.





CHAPTER SEVEN





Serenity stared up at the impossible night sky above Micah's garden. "I feel like everything has changed."

He stretched out beside her as the bed rocked them back and forth. "Everything has changed, yet nothing has changed. Everything is exactly as we left it when we went to dinner, but our perceptions are different."

She turned to face him. "Doesn't it scare you that someone or something is out there trying to destroy us?"

He reached out and pulled her into the curve of his body. "Not really, but then again, I'm trained to expect that everything is trying to destroy me."

She just grunted and rested her head on his bicep. "Well, I've always believed that the council was out to get me, does that count?" she asked playfully looking up at him.

He had the type of face where his expression changed how you saw him. Usually he was smiling, laughing, or teasing. His eyes would light up and he looked safe, dependable and kind. But when he dropped his guard, his expression became pensive, dark and intense.

She wanted to kiss along his sexy jawline and see the heat flare in his eyes. In less than a day she had seen so many different sides to her mate, except one. She was desperate to see what his face would look like as he drove his body into hers as they both drowned in lust.