My One and Only (Bewitched and Bewildered #10)(45)

Micah was poking Jourdain with his foot. "Not a thing this time Gavriel. Meryn protected her."

"She what?" Aiden demanded. Both he and Gavriel turned to their mates and started looking them over.

Beth batted at Gavriel's hands laughing. "I am perfectly fine. He never even got near me. Meryn and Keelan protected me."

Serenity's breath caught. "Keelan?" she asked.

Beth pointed down at the device in Meryn's hand. "He made that for her."

"Why can't I kill him?" Aiden growled.

"Because I am running out of Founding Family members to promote," Magnus growled back.

Behind them Hugo, Javier, and Simon were propping themselves up while laughing themselves silly. Leana and Marie glared down at Jourdain. "It is about time someone put him in his place. He has been terrorizing poor Bethy for decades," Marie said.

Kari covered her face with both hands. "I cannot. I just cannot." Adriel was rubbing her shoulders and trying not to laugh.

Serenity pulled Micah away from Jourdain when he kept lightly kicking him to see if he would respond. "You are without a doubt the biggest goofball I have ever met."

He spun her around and dipped her low. "You knew that."

Serenity turned her head. Kari was still having a bit of a meltdown, Aiden and Magnus were arguing that Jervasius had three sons, Gavriel was still looking Beth over and the other Founding Family heads were cackling like hyenas.

She looked back up at her mate as he held her in his arms. "So why does it kinda scare me that you're the normal one?"

He kissed her nose. "At least we're never boring."





CHAPTER TEN





Micah looked down at his sleeping mate and quietly rapped on the arm of the platform bed. He hoped the swaying motion would keep her asleep until dinner. She had used a lot of magic today and needed time to recharge.

He eased the door shut behind him and looked over to where Hawthorne had made himself at home in his living room. His feet were propped up on the coffee table and he was on his iPad.

"Thanks again for watching after her."

Hawthorne grinned. "It's the easiest assignment I've had all week. Does she know where you'll be?"

"Yes, I told her I'd be on Level One in a meeting with Kendrick. I don't imagine her waking any time soon though."

"I felt what she did at the hospital, she deserves a break."

"She did even more during that Founding Family meeting." Micah glanced back at the door leading to the garden. "Maybe I should stay here."

"You said that you needed to talk to Kendrick while the kids were knocked out before it got crazy again," Hawthorne reminded him.

"Shit. You're right."

"Go, on. I can manage here while you're gone."

"Okay, okay, I'm going. Thanks again."

"Anytime," Hawthorne said.

Micah left the house and jogged to the transport tunnel. He jumped down to Level One and headed straight to the Royal Garden. When he asked Kendrick if they could speak alone, Kendrick arranged for them to meet here to avoid being interrupted.

Kendrick was waiting for him by the door. "Right on time," he said and placed his hand on the door.

"You have access?" Micah asked.

"I pretty much have access everywhere except the vaults." He motioned with his hand. "After you."

Micah entered the garden and smiled. He always loved plants, a byproduct of being raised by an earth witch. They walked over and sat at the picnic benches the twins installed.

Kendrick folded his hands in front of him. "So, what did you want to see me about?"

Micah closed his eyes and cast the strongest soundproofing spell he could. Kendrick's eyes widened. "Micah is everything okay?" he looked around as if assessing any potential danger.

Micah took a deep breath. "After mating with Serenity, I told her some things about my family. She pretty much begged me to come to you for your help."

Kendrick's eyebrows snapped together as he frowned his concern. "I know I tease Serenity terribly, but there isn't much I wouldn't do for her. She's the bratty kid sister I never had."

Micah hesitated. The next question would determine a lot. "What do you know about the massacre that happened five thousand years ago?"

Kendrick blinked. "What do you need to know?"

Micah stared. "You know of it?"

Kendrick slowly nodded. "Yes, but how do you?"

Micah shook his head. "Please, it's important. How do you know?"

Kendrick watched him for a moment before he answered. "My father told me about it. I was out of the country at the time."

"And how did he know?"

"He was there that night."

Micah exhaled. "So few remember the actual events of that night. I was fully expecting to have to peel back centuries of false memories before I could ask for your help." He wanted to lay his head on the table. "You have no idea how relieved I am that you're one of the very few who know."

"Micah, how do you know? You're not that old and you were raised in Storm Keep," Kendrick asked.

"You know about the mental manipulation."